• Requires all school districts to work with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association to develop guidelines and informational forms to educate coaches, youth athletes, and their parents of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury

• Requires an informed consent that must be signed by parents and youth athletes acknowledging the risk of head injury prior to practice or competition

• Requires that a youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury be removed from play. “When in doubt, sit them out”

• Requires that a youth athlete who has been removed from play receive written clearance prior to returning to play from a licensed health care provider.

• Requires private, nonprofit youth sports associations to be in compliance with the policies adopted by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association

• The law will be known as the Zackery Lystedt Law

Click here to read the Seattle Times article surrounding the law. 

As a former goalkeeper I suffered concussions in professional games (my technique was wrong) on at least 5 occasions and played the very next games - sometimes only 3 days after the concussion.  I feel very fortunate not to have incurred some permanent damage as Zackery did.  I totally agree with the Law and hope that it goes world-wide.  

As a footnote, I was able to  correct my technique problem later.  

I tell young goalkeepers and coaches the hands go to the ball with the head behind it so that the hands become the protectors as well as the collectors.  But technique won't protect goalkeepers or avoid heading duels or collisions on every occasion.  Soccer is a relatively safe sport, but accidents and injuries do happen.