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Durbin Introduces Bill to Expand Concussion Safety in School Sports

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, has reintroduced the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act to strengthen school procedures for preventing, identifying, and treating students who sustain concussions in school sports. The bill is endorsed by major professional and college sports organizations. The legislation aims to implement a "when in doubt, sit it out" policy, which requires states to prevent student athletes suspected of having sustained a concussion from returning to play on the same day and only allows them to return to play once they have been evaluated and cleared by a qualified health care professional.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act aims to strengthen school procedures for preventing, identifying, and treating students who sustain concussions in school sports.
  • The legislation requires states to adopt a "when in doubt, sit it out" policy, which prevents student athletes suspected of having sustained a concussion from returning to play on the same day.
  • Over 254,126 students sustained concussions in the 2023-24 school year across a national sample of nine high school sports (National Federation of State High School Associations).
  • Concussions are not always easily diagnosed, athletes are not always honest about their symptoms, and symptoms do not always manifest themselves immediately.
  • The American College of Sports Medicine's 2021 report on concussions and the American Academy of Neurology's guidelines on sports concussions recommend that any athlete suspected of a concussion should not return to play on the day of their injury.
  • The bill is endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and other major sports organizations.

Statistics:

  • Over 254,126 students sustained concussions in the 2023-24 school year across a national sample of nine high school sports (National Federation of State High School Associations).
  • The American College of Sports Medicine's 2021 report on concussions found that concussions are not always easily diagnosed, athletes are not always honest about their symptoms, and symptoms do not always manifest themselves immediately.

Sources:

  • Durbin, R. (2025, September 19). Durbin Introduces Bill To Expand Concussion Safety In School Sports. Retrieved from [https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-introduces-bill-to-expand-concussion-safety-in-school-sports](https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-introduces-bill-to-expand-concussion-safety-in-school-sports)

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