Illinois § 1.15

§ 1.15.

Mandatory online concussion certification. (a) An association or other entity that has, as one of its purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State shall develop an online certification for high school coaching personnel and athletic directors in concussion awareness and reduction of repetitive sub-concussive hits and concussions. The certification program shall be offered free of charge to member high schools. The program may be offered to non-member schools or athletic organizations for a fee determined by the association. (b) On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, online concussion certification is mandatory for all high school coaching personnel, including the head and assistant coaches, and the athletic directors. Coaching personnel and athletic directors hired before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly shall be certified within one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly. Coaching personnel and athletic directors hired on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly must be certified under this Section before the starting date of their position. (c) The mandatory online certification program content shall be updated annually, include a video, and focus on, but not be limited to, the following topics: (1) concussion awareness training that includes general comments about the subject of concussions, concussion recognition, best practices for avoiding concussions, an athlete's removal from a game, and an athlete's return to play; and (2) repetitive sub-concussive head trauma awareness training that includes the potential long-term effects of sub-concussive head trauma and techniques to reduce its occurrence during practice and competitions. (d) To pass the concussion certification required under this Section, coaching personnel and athletic directors shall review the association's online material and demonstrate proficiency on the test developed by the association. The certification shall be renewed every 2 years. (e) High school coaching personnel and athletic directors shall annually require their student athletes to watch the video in the online concussion certification program under subsection (c) of this Section to increase athlete awareness of the risk of concussions and sub-concussive hits to the head. (f) High school coaching personnel and athletic directors shall encourage coaches of youth sports organizations to consider this certification. (Source: P.A. 98-1011, eff. 8-19-14.)