House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.
Adds a requirement that the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, approve one or more courses that meet the standards of the National Athletic Training Association, National Council of Youth Sports, or other nationally recognized organization for youth sports injury education by October 1, 2025. Prohibits approving a course that omits any of the seven listed topics, including safety techniques and methods that can be undertaken by coaches to decrease the likelihood of a youth athlete sustaining a serous injury while engaged or participating in youth athletics; concussions and head trauma; and heat and extreme weather-related injuries.
Changes the act's effective date from October 1, 2025, to August 1, 2026, and specifies that it applies to causes of action arising on or after that date.
Bill Summaries: H602 (2025-2026 Session)
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Bill H 602 (2025-2026)Summary date: May 6 2025 - View summary
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Bill H 602 (2025-2026)Summary date: Apr 29 2025 - View summary
House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.
Changes the proposed language for GS 130A-443.12(d) to specify that the statute’s requirement to complete a youth sports injury education course does not apply to any of the listed healthcare practitioners who have completed advanced trauma life support training.
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Bill H 602 (2025-2026)Summary date: Apr 2 2025 - View summary
Titles the act as “The Coach Safely Act.” Enacts new Article 18A, The Coach Safely Act for the Protection of Youth Athletes, in GS Chapter 130A, providing as follows. Defines association as an organization that sponsors or conducts high-risk youth athletic activities on property owned, leased, managed, or maintained by the State or any of its political subdivisions; specifies that this includes a city, county, business, or nonprofit organization that organizes community-based youth athletic events on such property. Also defines athletics personnel, coach or coaching staff, Department, and youth athlete. Requires associations to require a person engaged in or serving as part of its athletic or coaching staff to complete a free youth sports injury education course approved by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health (Department). Requires the course to be completed within 30 days after first becoming engaged in or serving as part of the athletics personnel or coaching staff, and annually thereafter. Requires the association to maintain records of course completion for as long as the person serves in that capacity. Sets out five categories of health professionals who are exempt from this course requirement.
Requires the Department to approve courses that meet the evidence-based, best practice standards of the National Athletic Training Association, National Council of Youth Sports, or other nationally recognized organization for youth sports injury education that may be used to fulfill the course requirements. Prohibits approving a course that omits seven specified topics, including emergency preparedness and planning, and rehearsal for responding to traumatic injuries sustained during youth athletic activities, heat and extreme weather-related injuries, and heart defects and abnormalities leading to sudden cardiac death.
Protects from liability a person who is actively engaged in or serving as part of the athletics personnel or coaching staff of an association, in any action arising from an injury sustained by a youth athlete due to their participation in a youth athletic activity upon a demonstration that the athletics personnel member or coach: (1) completed the sports injury education course and (2) reasonably conformed their conduct to the safety techniques and methods identified in the course.
Effective October 1, 2025.