The CoachSafely Foundation made legislative history in 2018 when its advocacy, designed to create a new standard in youth sports safety, led to a breakthrough in public policy in the state of Alabama. The Coach Safely Act (AL Code 2018-496) – passed by the Alabama Legislature and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey – became the first law in the United States requiring youth coaches to be trained annually in a comprehensive course of injury recognition and prevention to protect their athletes ages 14 and under.
Since that groundbreaking achievement, the CoachSafely Foundation has worked with legislators in other states to introduce and adopt similar statutes. Those efforts have begun to bear fruit. Arkansas has passed a Coach Safely Act. Tennessee has added a Coach Safely Amendment to an existing sports safety law. Texas has introduced similar legislation. The Georgia State Senate has passed a resolution recommending that youth coaches be trained in injury recognition and prevention.
The CoachSafely Foundation’s legislative goal is to continue these efforts until all 50 states or the United States Congress have passed a law that mandates youth coach training, which provides the education these influential figures need to prevent sports-related injuries if possible and recognize them when necessary. The overall goal is to keep children active, healthy and safe so more kids will play and enjoy the many benefits of youth sports participation.
