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The Norwalk Recreation and Parks Committee approved the proposal earlier this month. The law would make Norwalk the first city in the state to adopt a citywide concussion program. Tuesday's meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.
Norwalk resident Katherine Snedaker, who has been pushing for a citywide program for two years, said Norwalk Youth Football and Cheer, Norwalk Cal Ripken Baseball, Norwalk Junior Lacrosse, Norwalk Little League and Norwalk Junior Soccer Association have pledged support for the law.
Snedaker is executive director of PinkConcussions.com. The proposal, Concussion Aware and Prepared Program, calls for the education of coaches, parents and athletes with free resources from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the removal of injured athletes from play; permission to return to play; and a report submitted to Recreation and Parks after each season of any concussion during a practice, game or activity.
The guidelines mirror most of the legislation in the Connecticut Concussion Law 2010, which was updated last year. The state law passed last year covers students who participate in middle and high school-based teams. Norwalk Recreation and Parks approved its new concussion guidelines modeled after SportCAPP, The Concussion Aware and Prepared Program.
Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling voiced support for the proposal when it was approved by the Recreation and Parks Department.
“It is important that our children are protected and that parents and coaches have the information they need to keep them safe," Rilling said. "Norwalk is proud to be a leader in providing these updated guidelines for all leagues who play on our public fields. We aim to make youth sports as safe as possible.”
Snedaker said 75 students in Norwalk public schools have reported concussions so far this school year, according to reports from school nurses. Nineteen of them, or 25 percent, were from non-school sports not covered by the state law.
“Hopefully the this program will be a model for the rest of state,’’ Snedaker said when the proposal was passed by Recreation and Parks. “Parents will now know their young children will have some of the same protections that benefit public middle and high school athletes.”
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