Maryland to introduce bill to ban tackle football under age 14

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Maryland to introduce bill to ban tackle football under age 14

By Noah Frank | @NoahFrankWTOP
February 5, 2018 2:21 am

WASHINGTON — As evidence of the lasting cognitive damage caused by football to developing brains continues to mount, one Maryland lawmaker has decided to take the issue to the statehouse.

A new measure being drafted by state Del. Terri Hill, a Democrat, would prohibit the Maryland State Board of Education from approving tackle football programs for children under the age of 14 and require those 14 and up who want to play to take a course explaining the risks associated with concussions and brain injury. It would also include provisions against heading in soccer and checking in lacrosse for kids under the age of 14. ... The bill is expected to be finalized before Friday, the House deadline to be assured of a hearing.

Both New York and Illinois have introduced similar measures in recent weeks. But Hill, whose district covers parts of Baltimore and Howard counties, sees her bill not as an attack on the sport, but rather an effort to inform the public of a mounting health crisis.
....

Hill’s bill will follow on the heels of another measure she recently introduced, HB 552, which would mandate a licensed health care provider or an individual who has completed concussion risk and management training to be on the sideline for every practice and game for youth sports leagues that use any public facilities or those that occur on grounds that receive public money.

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Wish they would do it in Oklahoma but hell would freeze over first.