ST. PAUL - Running back Jessey Grove ran with the football up the middle during a game with rival Luverne last season and was hit in the head.
The Windom Area High School senior immediately went out of the game, but didn't think he was hurt.
"I did not think anything was wrong until the trainer used her test and said I had a concussion right on the spot," Grove told a recent Minnesota legislative committee meeting.
After that, he felt fine, but sat out the rest of the season. When the holidays arrived, so did migraine headaches.
"I had every single test from every doctor," Grove said, but there was no cure.
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The young athlete missed 43 school days, some of which he couldn't leave his room at home.
With stories like that, Rep. Rob Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, has pushed a bill through three Minnesota House committees to require officials of any organization that sponsors youth sports events to learn about concussions. The bill also forbids officials from allowing youths to continue play or practice if a concussion is suspected.
"This bill really does need to be passed so people don't end up losing time like I did," Grove told lawmakers.
Concussions have been a prime issue for discussion at all levels of sports in recent months as the brain injury gets more publicity.
"Have you ever noticed that our student athletes are getting bigger, stronger, faster?" Hamilton asked.
Those factors and others are making injuries more common in many sports.
"This is to educate folks," Hamilton said about his bill.
The bill affects youth sports groups of all kinds, including schools, local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations.
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It requires coaches and officials of those organizations to take part in an on-line concussion class offered by the federal government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The bill also requires coaches and officials to remove an athlete from activity if there are signs of a concussion.
The bill has passed three House committees with unanimous voice votes and faces one more committee before reaching a full House vote. A similar bill awaits Senate action.
Hamilton said his bill would not increase legal liability on organizations that sponsor sports.
But attorney Dan Greensweig, representing the League of Minnesota cities, said city leaders have some concerns. He predicted that the Hamilton bill would increase government costs, due in part to increased paperwork. It also could hurt the recruitment of volunteers, he said.
Hamilton said questions remain and he is willing to deal with them before the bill reaches the full House.
Thirteen states already have laws similar to the Hamilton bill, and 28 others are looking into the issue.
The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota estimates that 50,000 young athletes suffer concussions each year, but many injuries are not reported.
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"We know we can prevent more serious brain injuries if we can prevent student athletes from returning to action or practice too soon," the association's David King said.
Don Davis works for Forum Communications Co. He can be reached at (651) 290-0707 or ddavis@forumcomm.com
