Bill calling for concussion recognition course for sport officials turned down

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Without a provision requiring insurance for student and youth athletes participating in sports programs, the Senate last Friday rejected in second reading a House bill that calls for government agencies and private associations that are sponsors of youth athletic activities to require primary coaches and officials to complete an annual concussion recognition course.

The legislation also sets forth contents of the course; designation of the Health Department as responsible agency; setting forth required head trauma guidelines; providing limited immunity for coaches, officials, agencies and associations; and providing for injunctive relief.

The Senate vote followed a Senate Judicial Committee hearing earlier in the week where DoH acting director, Vesi Talalelei Fautanu recalled that he had sponsored a similar bill in the previous Legislative session, when he was faipule, and it passed the House but didn’t make it through the Senate.

For this new identical version of the bill, sponsored by five faipule and approved by the House in March this year, Vesi voiced his support of the measure, saying that DoH is prepared and can also prepare a program for two physicians to conduct training required under the bill.  He also said there’s only one person, Florence Wasko, who is a certified athletic trainer and is utilized in ASDOE sports programs.

Vesi shared with the committee that there are machines that must be brought in from off island to certify the sports helmets used by student athletes playing football.

Education director, Talauega Dr. Samasoni Asaeli, the other ASG witness during the hearing, told the committee that the department supports the bill. He said all coaches and sports officials and others involved in ASDOE sports programs take part in ongoing online-training  programs by the U.S. based National Federation of High School Sports.

The training courses provide what coaches and officials should look out for and signs of concussion and other sports injuries. For example, he said that in football, no individual can coach without completing this training and this is the same for referees as well as all ASDOE sporting officials. This training is also required, along with certification for all ASDOE sports — such as basketball.

Sen. Fai’ivae Iuli Godinet recalled the reasons the Senate rejected the first House bill, due to concerns over the lack of a provision requiring insurance, to cover an injured student athlete. He explained that soccer players are required insurance coverage to participate in any league by the Football Federation of American Samoa (FFAS).

And before the start of the league, the “parents have to sign a waiver” in which the local soccer federation is not responsible if anything happens to the player, said Fai’ivae who is president of the FFAS, and recommends that ASDOE work on brining in the needed machine to certify helmets used for American football in high schools, as the sport is also popular among younger students in the elementary level.

According to the Fofo senator, FFAS also utilizes Florence Wasko, who is probably used by other local sporting associations but suggested that the government also look at recruiting a medical doctor in the field of sports medicine, who makes the medical determination when and if a student-athlete is injured.

He suggested to have insurance for student athletes and the suggestion was supported by other senators including Sen. Muagututi'a M. T. Tauoa, who shared that during his many years as Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) president of Faga’itua High School, he focused on helping students who got injured during sports games.

He said he lobbied the PTA for students to have insurance.  And during his time as PTA leader, if a student was injured and sent off island for medical attention, $500 was provided from the PTA funds to the parents. And if a student athlete was hospitalized on island, the PTA pays for the student’s hospital bill.

Muagututia recalled that there about two or three student-athletes were sent off island for medical treatment during his time.

While there was consensus among committee members agreeing to the importance of the bill, they also agreed that there needs to be a provision requiring insurance coverage for athletes.

In the end, the committee’s majority agreed to reject the bill, due to the lack of a provision for requiring insurance.