4732-17-01.1. Youth sports concussion assessment and clearance

(A) For purposes of this rule:

(1) "Interscholastic athletics" means an interscholastic extracurricular activity that a school district sponsors or participates in that includes participants from more than one school or school district.

(2) "Youth sports organization" has the same meaning as in section 3707.51 of the Revised Code and means a public or nonpublic entity that organizes an athletic activity in which the athletes are not more than nineteen years of age and are required to pay a fee to participate in the athletic activity or whose cost to participate is sponsored by a business or nonprofit organization.

(3) "Youth" means an individual between the ages of four and nineteen who participated in interscholastic athletics or in a youth sports organization activity and was removed from practice or competition under division (D) of section 3707.511 of the Revised Code or division (D) of section 3313.539 of the Revised Code, based on exhibiting signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with having sustained a concussion or other brain injury while participating in practice or competition.

(4) "Physician" means a person authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.

(5) "Zurich guidelines" means the consensus statement on concussion in sport: The 4th international conference on concussion in sport held in Zurich, November 2012.

(B) Psychologists may assess and clear a youth to return to practice or competition if the following requirements are met:

(1) The psychologist has education, training and experience specific to concussion identification, the clinical features of concussion, assessment including neuropsychological testing and test interpretation, sports concussion management, and the principles of safe return to play protocols consistent with the Zurich guidelines or subsequent updated consensus statements published following future meetings of the international conference on concussion in sport; and

(2) The psychologist maintains competence to assess and clear youth in accordance with this rule through consultation, peer supervision and/or continuing education activities in the areas of concussion identification, the clinical features of concussion, assessment including neuropsychological testing and test interpretation, sports concussion management, and the principles of safe return to play protocols consistent with the Zurich guidelines or subsequent updated consensus statements published following future meetings of the international conference on concussion in sport; and

(3) Pursuant to sections 3313.539 and 3707.511 of the Revised Code, assessments and clearances are done pursuant to a referral from or in consultation or collaboration with a physician.

(C) The board recommends that psychologists who conduct concussion assessments and return-to-play clearances of youth in accordance with this rule do both of the following:

(1) Ensure that a portion of the continuing education requirements for biennial license registration enumerated in section 4732.141 of the Revised Code include instruction in one or more of the areas listed in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule.

(2) Use the medical return to play after suspected concussion form located on the Ohio department of health website at http://healthy.ohio.gov.vipp/concussion.aspx (March 2015).

Effective: 11/29/2019
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 9/12/2019 and 09/01/2024
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3313.539(E)(4), 3707.511(E)(4), 4732.06
Rule Amplifies: 3313.539 , 3707.511 , 3707.521, 4732.10
Prior Effective Dates: 10/29/2015