Parents, athletes get briefing on new concussion law

Athletes and parents at Colfax Tuesday night received a formal introduction to the state’s new Zackery Lystedt Law which deals with the dangers of concussion. The law came out of the last legislative session and includes a big change in how coaches deal with players who sustain a concussion during the course of an athletic event, according to Colfax Athletic Director Mike Morgan.

Morgan informed the crowd at the annual fall sports meeting between parents and school coaches.

Parents and athletes at all levels of competition will be advised of the law and asked to sign off on it, Morgan explained.

The new law mandates that once an athlete is pulled out of a game because of a possible concussion he or she cannot compete again until receiving clearance from a doctor.

The law is the state’s attempt, through the WIAA, to avoid second impact concussions, Morgan explained. The bill last winter came out of the state House of Representatives and was approved into law.

Morgan said second impact concussion, essentially a player sustaining a concussion after not recovering from an initial concussion, stands a high probability of sustaining long-term damage.

“Once they sustain a hit and are taken out of a game, they cannot get back into a game. They have to obtain clearance from medical personnel,” Morgan explained.

The approach to clearing an athlete will be up to the treatment providers, Morgan said.

The state WIAA organization is requiring athletic programs around the state to notify parents and players of the new law to increase awareness. Morgan said coaches and school officials have already been briefed on the new law.

The new law was created after the injury of Zackery Lystedt of Maple Valley, according to the Seattle Times account of the state senate’s vote approving the bill with just one no vote. Zackery sustained brain damage as a 13-year old junior-high football player. He tumbled headfirst into the ground while chasing an opponent and suffered a concussion. He returned to the game 15 minutes later and collapsed after another tackle.

He was rushed to a hospital where doctors operated on his hemorrhaging brain.