CYO Athletics

Concussion Awareness for Coaches

All CYO coaches must complete a required concussion awareness course in order to comply with the Ohio Return-to-Play law.

The Ohio Return-to-Play law regarding concussions in youth sports went into effect in 2013. The law aims to assure the proper recognition of and response to possible head injuries in youth sports.

As part of the law requirements, all CYO coaches must complete concussion awareness training. Continue reading below to learn how to register for an approved online course, and what to do once you have completed and passed the course.

Concussion Awareness Course

All CYO coaches are required to complete Concussions in Sports, a free, online course provided by the National Federation of State High School. Click the button below to register for the online course. For registration instructions, continue reading below the button.

Register for Course

Registration Instructions

• Click the drop-down menu titled "Please Select Your State" and select Ohio.
• After selecting Ohio, click the button titled "Order Course." You will then be redirected to a page titled "NFHS Sign In".
• Click on the word "Register" at the bottom of the page, located after "Don't have an account?"
• Complete the registration form, as well as the "Additional Information" form, then click the "Finish" button.
• When your registration is complete you will be redirected to the Concussion in Sports course page. You may "order" the free concussion course at the top of the page.
• Continue following prompts. Although it may look like you'll be charged for the course, there is no cost.
• Click the "Checkout" button and continue to follow prompts. Once you've completed checkout, click the button at the top of the screen titled "Go To My Courses".
• You will be redirected to your courses page, and may begin the course by clicking the button titled "Begin Course".

Steps After Completing Course

• When you've completed and passed the course, you should print the certificate of completion and give it to your Athletic Director. The record of your course completion will also be registered and available online.
• If a concussion is suspected/diagnosed, an incident report must be completed immediately and the participant's parents notified. Click the button below to file an incident report.

Report an Incident

UH Resources

UH Sports Medicine is proud to partner with the Catholic Youth Organization, providing activities and services for our children and creating a healthier future for families.

UH has provided several resources for coaches and parents, including a concussion guide detailing how to be prepared, what to do at the time of an injury, and steps on recovery and return to play. The Sports Medicine & CYO resource includes information and tips for coaches on how to help CYO athletes safely excel in sports.

Click on the corresponding button below to download the free resource. 

Concussion Guide  Sports Medicine & CYO

Thank You

We would like to thank all athletic directors, coaches and officials for your commitment and timely follow-through to provide a safe and medically responsive experience by following these steps and attending to these requirements.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Diocese of Cleveland CYO if there is anything we can do to assist you regarding this matter. We look forward to working with you to provide all CYO participants with an environment and experience that inspires young people to know God, to love God, and to serve God through athletics.