Zackery Lystedt Law - House Bill 1824

On May 14th 2009, Gov. Christine Gregoire signed the nation's toughest youth athlete return-to-play law.

The new law (House Bill 1824), known as the Zackery Lystedt Law, requires medical clearance of youth athletes suspected of sustaining a concussion, before sending them back in the game, practice or training.

The new law is the most comprehensive return-to-play law in the United States for athletes under 18. More than 3.5 million sports-and-related concussions occur each year in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Key provisions of the new law require:

• Youth athletes who are suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury be removed from play. "When in doubt, sit them out"
• School districts to work with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) to develop information and policies on educating coaches, youth athletes and parents about the nature and risk of concussion, including the dangers of returning to practice or competition after a concussion or head injury.
• All student athletes and their parents/guardians sign an information sheet about concussion and head injury prior to the youth athlete's initiating practice at the start of each season.
• Youth athletes who have been removed from play receive written medical clearance prior to returning to play from a licensed health-care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussion.
• Private, nonprofit youth sports associations wanting to use publicly owned playfields comply with this law.

The new law was sponsored by Rep. Jay Rodne, R-North Bend, with support from BIAWA, Zackery Lystedt's parents Victor and Mercedes Lystedt, and a large coalition of supporters that include: The Center for Disease Control, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, Washington State Youth Soccer Association, Washington State Athletic Trainers Association, Cannfield & Associates Risk Managers, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle Children's Hospital.

As a direct result of the "Lystedt Law," Harborview Medical Center and Seattle Children's are launching a sports concussion program for children, teen and adult athletes to evaluate, treat and provide medical clearance to return to sports following a concussion.

Zackery Lystedt Law 

 Washington approves law that prohibits sports play after
concussion Experts say: “When in doubt, sit them out”
 - View Press Release (pdf)

The Zackery Lystedt Story

What is the Lystedt Law and why is the Brain Injury Association Involved.


May 14th, 2009 Governor Gregoire signs the "Lystedt Law"

The Brain Injury Association of Washington has worked with our key partners to have two bills; House Bill 1824 and Senate Bill 5763 introduced this legislative session. These two bills require the adoption of policies for the management of concussion and head injury in youth sports. The House Bill has been sponsored by Representative Jay Rodne, (5th legislative district) and the Senate Bill has been sponsored by Senator Curtis King, (14th legislative district).

The two bills are identical. They both do the following:

• Requires all school districts to work with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association to develop guidelines and informational forms to educate coaches, youth athletes, and their parents of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury
• Requires an informed consent must be signed by parents and youth athletes acknowledging the risk of head injury prior to practice or competition
• Requires that a youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury be removed from play. “When in doubt, sit them out”
• Requires that a youth athlete who has been removed from play receive written clearance prior to returning to play from a licensed health care provider.
• Requires private, nonprofit youth sports associations to be in compliance with the policies adopted by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association
• The law will be known as the Zackery Lystedt Law

Lystedt Law Moves Forward

On the morning of Friday the 13th, the House Education Committee voted unanimously to move the House bill, HB 1824, out of committee. The Senate Education Committee is expected to vote and move the Senate bill, 5763, this or next week. Both bills must clear their House of origin by March 12th.

On the morning of March 4th the House of Representatives voted unanimously (94 yes, 0 no) to pass the bill moving it to the Senate Education Committee.

March 4th was a very special day full of rare occurrences.

The Lystedt Family was invited to sit in the wings of the House Floor, not unusual, but not common.

The family was invited into the Republican Caucus to be recognized and then also invited to the Democratic Caucus for the same honor. It is very unusual to be invited into both Caucus sessions.

Zackery and his father were invited on to the House floor during the voting process where he witnessed the vote of his bill and was again recognized by the entire House of Representatives with a standing ovation following the vote.

Thank You

The Brain Injury Association of Washington would like to thank all of the individuals and associations who support this legislative effort and have come to Olympia to show support and testify on behalf of all the youth athletes and their families. We would like to acknowledge with special recognition the following key partners:

Richard Adler, president of the Brain Injury Association, Dr. Stan Herring, Dr. Reedy, Dr, Cain, Mike Colbrese with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, Mike Obergottsberger and Andrew Goss with the Athletic Trainers, Doug Andresassen, Washington State Youth Soccer Association, Kevin Griffin with the Seahawks and Sounders, and Dick Langum with Canfield and Associates.

Finally we’d like to thank Lisa Thatcher for her steady and helpful guidance through the entire bill process. It is hard to imagine where we’d be in this process without her help.

With the passage of this bill, youth sports will be safer for all young athletes in our state.

pastor craig sicilia productions 2008