Online Concussions Management Training:  In Ohio, individuals are not allowed to serve as a coach or referee for a youth sports organization, whether volunteer or paid, without: successfully completing, every three years, a program that trains in recognizing the signs and symptoms of concussions and head injuries provided by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) – OR – holding a Pupil Activity Permit (PAP) from the Ohio Department of Education.

There are three free online concussion training programs available that are recognized by the ODH.   Two are offered by the National Alliance for Youth Sports, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Only one free approved course, however, has a tracking feature. The course offered by the National Federation of State HS Assocations (NFHS) allows individuals and organizations to search for an track coaches who have completed the course.  The search function allows for searches by date, name, state, city or school. Below is a direct link to that course:

National Federation of State HS Associations (NFHS) –  Concussions in Sports: What You Need to Know

Click here for more information from the Ohio Department of Health

Each individual school is responsible to ensure that their coachs has been certified in concussion training before registering them as coaches in the GWAC. 

Ohio Department of Health Concussion Information Sheet

Ohio’s Return to Play Law: Frequently Asked Questions

Ohio’s Return to Play Law: What Coaches and Referees Need to Know – Youth Sports

Ohio’s Return to Play Law: What Coaches and Referees Need to Know – School Sports

Ohio’s Return to Play Law: What Parent/Guardians Need to Know – Youth Sports

Ohio’s Return to Play Law: What Parent/Guardians Need to Know – School Sports