In addition to our Risk Management program, which incorporates national background checks and safety guidelines, Washington Youth Soccer also complies with all Washington State laws regarding youth athlete safety. Two important laws specifically apply to Washington Youth Soccer activities: House Bill (HB) 1824 and Senate Bill (SB) 5083.
Requirements for Member Clubs and Associations
In order to comply with HB 1824 (Concussion) and SB 5083 (Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Act), there are three required actions for our clubs and associations:
1. Annual Statement of Compliance from Parent/Guardian and Player – Each year, prior to the beginning of the soccer season, each registered player and the player’s parents and/or guardian must sign and submit to the club or association a statement of compliance that the player and parents and/or guardian have both read the online pamphlet for Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
2. Club Leadership and Administration (ie: Coaches, Managers, BOD)
Concussion: Required Annually
All participating Association and Club Administrators, Coaches, Team Managers and Board of Directors must complete online concussion prevention training through the Introduction to Safety course available in the US Soccer Learning Center. The certification of completion must be provided and verified by Washington Youth Soccer and/or member associations and clubs through Sports Connect.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Required Annually
All participating Association and Club Administrators, Coaches, Team Managers and Board of Directors must complete online Sudden Cardiac Arrest prevention training through the Introduction to Safety course available in the US Soccer Learning Center. The certification of completion must be provided and verified by Washington Youth Soccer and/or member associations and clubs through Sports Connect.
3. Statement of Compliance from Club/Association – When requesting to use a school facility, the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) requires our clubs/associations to comply with HB 1824 and SB 5083. Upon request, the club/association must be able to provide a Statement of Compliance to the school district. The statement is a signed letter by a club/association Board of Director member, stating that all registered players and parents/guardians have read and signed the Concussion consent and Sudden Cardiac Arrest pamphlet and all coaches/managers have certificates of completion in compliance with the HB 1824 and SB 5083. (confirm with the local school district if they require any additional information)
House Bill 1824
HB 1824, also called the Lystedt Law, addresses the nature and risks of concussions and head injuries in youth sports, with specific requirements for education and compliance by players, parents, coaches, and youth organizations, such as youth soccer clubs and associations. The bill was voted on by the Washington State House of Representatives unanimously and signed into law by Governor Christine Gregoire on May 14, 2009; it went into effect on July 26, 2009.
Policies for concussions and head injuries (Traumatic Brain Injury) in youth soccer:
- Prior to participation, parents and youth athletes must annually sign a concussion and head injury information form acknowledging the nature and risks of concussion and head injuries during participation of any/all Washington Youth Soccer activities.
- All coaches, managers, and any additional personnel involved with the care of players registered with Washington Youth Soccer are required to annually complete a CDC-approved online prevention training and submit the certificate to the club/association.
- A youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury will be removed from all forms of play; “when in doubt, sit them out.”
- A youth athlete who has been removed from play must receive written clearance from a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions prior to returning to play.
Washington Youth Soccer has developed guidelines, pertinent information, and documents to inform and educate coaches, youth athletes, and their parent(s)/guardian(s) about the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries in compliance with HB 1824 and the WIAA. Each member association and club will work in concert with Washington Youth Soccer to disseminate these materials and ensure compliance with the law and the WIAA.
Additional resources:
Washington Interscholastic Actives Association
Senate Bill 5083 – RCW 28A.600
SB 5083, also known as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Act (SCA), was voted on by the Washington State House of Representatives and signed into law by Governor Christine Gregoire on April 17, 2015; it went into effect on July 24, 2015.
The bill outlines the requirements that nonprofit organizations like Washington Youth Soccer and our clubs/associations must comply with prior to using school facilities, with specific educational requirements developed by the WIAA and the University of Washington for players, parents, coaches, and youth sports organizations.
SB 5083 policies regarding Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA):
- Prior to registration with Washington Youth Soccer, parents and youth athletes must annually read the SCA information pamphlet and sign a form acknowledging the nature, risks, symptoms, warning signs, prevention, and treatment of SCA in regards to any/all Washington Youth Soccer activities. Contact your club directly if you have not received the form or otherwise been instructed on how to indicate your acknowledgement.
- Every three years, all coaches, managers, and any additional personnel involved with the care of players registered with Washington Youth Soccer are required to complete the SDA online prevention training and submit the certificate to their club/association.
Additional resources: