[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 72 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 72

    Supporting the goals and ideals of the Secondary School Student 
                       Athletes' Bill of Rights.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 15, 2013

    Mr. Gerlach (for himself and Mr. Nunes) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for 
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Supporting the goals and ideals of the Secondary School Student 
                       Athletes' Bill of Rights.

Whereas over 7,700,000 student athletes participated in secondary school 
        athletics during the 2011 to 2012 academic year;
Whereas it is estimated that over the course of the 2011 to 2012 academic year, 
        secondary school student athletes participating in 9 of the most popular 
        high school sports, including football, boys' and girls' soccer, girls' 
        volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, wrestling, baseball, and 
        softball, suffered over 1,300,000 instances of injury;
Whereas 22 percent of injuries suffered by secondary school student athletes 
        during the 2011 to 2012 academic year were concussions;
Whereas the number of concussion injuries has steadily increased from 9 percent 
        of total injuries incurred during the 2005 to 2006 academic year to 
        nearly 25 percent of all injuries experienced by student athletes during 
        the 2011 to 2012 academic year;
Whereas secondary school student athletes with access to certified athletic 
        health care professionals have lower overall injury rates, lower 
        recurrent injury rates, and lower concussion rates than student athletes 
        without access to certified athletic health care professionals;
Whereas with an increase in both the exposure of secondary school students to 
        athletics and incidents of athletic-related injuries, schools are 
        encouraged to develop and adopt best practices and standards to prevent 
        and address student athlete injury;
Whereas the Secondary School Student Athletes' Bill of Rights sets forth that 
        secondary school student athletes have the right to--

    (1) be coached by individuals who are well-trained in sport-specific 
safety and to be monitored by athletic health care team members;

    (2) quality, regular pre-participation examinations and each athlete 
has the right to participate under a comprehensive concussion management 
plan;

    (3) participate in sporting activities on safe, clean playing surfaces, 
in both indoor and outdoor facilities;

    (4) utilize equipment and uniforms that are safe, fitted appropriately, 
and routinely maintained, and to appropriate personnel trained in proper 
removal of equipment in case of injury;

    (5) participate safely in all environmental conditions where play 
follows approved guidelines and medical policies and procedures, with a 
hydration plan in place;

    (6) a safe playing environment with venue-specific emergency action 
plans that are coordinated by the athletic health care team and regularly 
rehearsed with local emergency personnel;

    (7) privacy of health information and proper referral for medical, 
psychosocial, and nutritional counseling;

    (8) participate in a culture that finds ``playing through pain'' 
unacceptable unless there has been a medical assessment;

    (9) immediate, on-site injury assessments with decisions made by 
qualified sports medicine professionals; and

    (10) along with their parents, the latest information about the 
benefits and potential risks of participation in competitive sports, 
including access to statistics on fatalities and catastrophic injuries to 
youth athletes; and

Whereas the Secondary School Student Athletes' Bill of Rights, which sets forth 
        goals and ideals to improve the health, well-being, and athletic 
        experience of secondary school students, can serve as a valuable 
        resource to reduce injury, promote athlete safety, and encourage well-
        being: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the principles and values set 
        forth in the Secondary School Student Athletes' Bill of Rights;
            (2) recognizes the importance of proper safety measures, 
        timely medical assessments, and appropriate environmental 
        conditions in ensuring the health and well-being of secondary 
        school student athletes;
            (3) recognizes the role that teachers, parents, coaches, 
        and athletic health care team members play in ensuring the 
        safety and well-being of secondary school student athletes;
            (4) expresses support for secondary schools that have 
        successfully implemented programs, policies, and practices to 
        emphasize and encourage student athlete safety and well-being; 
        and
            (5) encourages secondary schools to continue to take all 
        available and reasonable efforts to ensure student athlete 
        safety.
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