State Legislative Resources

Review of States Youth (aged 14 and under) Sports Legislation

States legislation on youth sports in the last 25 years primarily targets athlete safety, sexual abuse prevention, and the liability for the standard of care negligence associated the “high risk” with privatization of the $70 billion youth sports industry. While the regulation of youth athletics is mostly handled at the state level, Congress has passed a few major federal laws: 

State Legislation to Protect Aged 14 and Under Athletes, Previously Filed and/or Passed

• Concussions: In the last 25 years each State Has a Form of the Concussion Law: https://uwcla.uw.edu/2026/01/21/youth-sports-and-physical-activity-legislation-tracker/ The mandates are intended, as a public duty of care, to train coaching behavior in regards to immediate removal from play; medical clearance with protocols to return to play; and the certification of training of coaches, parents, and often the administrator. There is no regulating agency that provides surveillance, reporting or enforcement of its state law at the age 14 and under (non-interscholastic) sports.

• Coach Safely Act: Since 2018, eight states have filed a version of the Coach Safely Act. The course requirement is comprehensive for all youth sports injuries (including concussions) that are classified by public health as “High Risk”. Here is the Coach Safely Act Comparable Analysis of each states’ bill filing with the “Legiscan” tracking of the bill. These legislative bills are for codification of definitions and requirements with state public health as the regulator, the rules for course training, the reporting requirements and a statement of qualified immunity. The mandate is targeted for aged 14 and under injury recognition and prevention and liability mitigation for state properties.
• Background Check Legislation: As of December 19, 2025, the thirteen (13) states with background check laws for volunteers of non-school associated activities including youth sports and athletics are:  Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Utah. Little League baseball provides a link to each state law. https://www.little
  league.org/player-safety/child-protection-program/state-laws-background-checks-leagues/

2027 Pending Legislation & States Focus

• Coach Safely legislation is a model for every state in every region of the country. Considering that the Coach Safely Act to mitigates the risks to communities created by the rapid growth of the youth sports industry into a $70 billion ecosystem.