Umpire Resources - "Return to Play" Law

On April 26, 2013, a new State law goes into affect setting specific requirements for youth sports organizations regarding possible concussion injuries.  The WYBSL has always placed player safety first and had previously adopted rules and provided information from Sports Medicine specialists, and will now put additional measures in place as required by Ohio HB 143 (“Return to Play” law).

Most importantly, coaches, referees or officials must remove any player exhibiting symptoms of a concussion from a game or practice.  Players cannot return to play on the same day they are removed and are not permitted to play until they have been assessed and receive written clearance by a licensed physician (MD or DO) and that clearance is provided to the League.

Important Information for Referees

• You must complete a free online training course from the National Federation of State High School Associations (available here) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (available here).
• Upon completion of the online course, you will receive a certificate that must be submitted (hard or electronic copy) to the  WYBSL Umpire Director.

If choosing the NFHS course, you will need to click the “order here” button and complete a brief registration form to take the course) then follow these steps:

1.  Click on the button that says, please login to order.  In the window that appears, click Register Now.
2.  When your registration is complete you may “order” the free concussion course offered along the left     hand side of the page.  Continue following prompts.  Although it may look like you’ll be charged for the course, there is no cost.
3.  Once you’ve completed “checkout,” you’ll be able to take the free online course.
4.  When you’ve completed and passed the course, you have the option of printing a certificate of completion.

WYBSL Rules Regarding Concussion Symptoms

Any player who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems) must be immediately removed from the game, practice, or scrimmage and shall not return to play until cleared with written authorization by a licensed physician which needs to be provided to the WYBSL Baseball or Softball Director, as appropriate.

When a player is removed from a game, practice, or scrimmage due to signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion, his/her team’s Head Coach, or Assistant Coach acting as the Head Coach, will notify the Baseball or Softball Director, as appropriate, on the date of the occurrence.  Additionally if a player is removed during a game, umpires shall make note of the player removed on the umpire card and notify the Umpire Director on the date of the occurrence.