Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act

Educational Requirements

Each middle school/high school should have an education program that includes:

1. A concussion information sheet to be reviewed annually by student-athletes, coaches, parents, volunteers and school nurses. These sheets are provided below for individuals to print and include all necessary components outlined in the law.
2. These individuals should sign this information sheet after review. These signature forms are also provided below for use by the schools.
3. These sheets should be returned to the coach of each team. It is up to each school’s principal to decide who keeps track of these forms, although it is recommended that this person be the athletic director or the athletic trainer.
4. These forms must be read and signed prior to participation in any interscholastic activity.

Links to Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act materials from the NCHSAA

NCHSAA Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act Materials

Online Clinician Education Course

Heads Up to Clinicians: Addressing Concussion in Sports among Kids and Teens

We strongly recommend that in addition to each student-athlete being required to read the concussion fact sheet that the coach and/or athletic trainer read and discuss the concussion information sheet with the team in a group setting, ideally in conjunction with one of the videos below. The NCHSAA’s required preseason meetings would be an ideal time to hold this group concussion education session. Parents and volunteers should also be included in these sessions.

To enhance and help with the educational component at your school, you may consider showing one or more of the following videos, video titles are hyperlinked:

1. Concussions in Football: Signs, Symptoms and Playing Safe.” Produced by the National Academy of Neuropsychology Foundation and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.
2. “HEADS UP for High School Sports.” Produced by the CDC.
3. “Keeping quiet can keep you out of the game.” 2:00 – Produced by the CDC
4. National Football League public-service announcement, 0:30 – Produced by the NFL/CDC