PHOENIX - With a push from the NFL, all 50 states and the Di

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PHOENIX - With a push from the NFL, all 50 states and the District of Columbia passed youth concussion laws over the span of about five years. Matthias Ginter Jersey .They were modeled after legislation passed in Washington state in 2009. But an Associated Press analysis shows just 21 of the laws that followed included all four key elements in Washingtons bill.Washington state is the gold standard, said Peter Carfagna, the founder of a sports marketing company and a teacher at Harvard Law School. I have a hard time thinking of a good reason why youd deviate from it.Heres an explanation of why those basic tenets are considered important:IMMEDIATELY REMOVING ATHLETE SUSPECTED OF HAVING A CONCUSSIONThis is the most rudimentary of the provisions, and yet its not mandated by two states, Illinois and Wyoming.Immediately leaving a game or practice is important because a person is at increased risk for a second, more dangerous, concussion while the brain is still healing from one.One and youre out. No same-day return, said Richard Ellenbogen, co-chairman of the NFLs head, neck and spine committee. Anybody suspected — the key word is suspected — of having a concussion, (is) pulled out.Arizona and South Carolina allow a player to return the same day if cleared by a doctor whos present.EDUCATING COACHESAs news about head injuries connected to sports has spread, its become easier to drive home the importance of recognizing symptoms so a coach, for example, knows when to send a player to the sideline.Awareness has risen, and were evaluating more students for concussions than ever, said Cynthia Clivio, a high school athletic trainer for the private Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii. Part of it is, our coaches are more educated.New Yorks law, for example, says schools coaches, gym teachers, nurses and athletic trainers must take a course that covers how to recognize, treat and monitor students concussions.INFORMATION FORM SIGNED BY ATHLETE AND PARENTPart of the process of increasing awareness is making athletes and parents aware of the dangers of concussions — and of the dangers of continuing to play or practice when suspected of getting a concussion.Dr. Dawn Comstock, who is studying the laws effectiveness as part of a project funded by the Centers for Disease Control, called those forms an important part of the overall education piece.WRITTEN CLEARANCE BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WITH CONCUSSION TRAININGThe more specific this part of a law, the lower the chances an athlete will return to action before its safe.This element of the laws was the least consistent. Only 30 states other than Washington contain both elements — that the clearance be in writing, and that it come from a health care provider with concussion training.That language was very carefully chosen, said Jay Rodne, the Republican who sponsored the law in Washington state. We wanted to make sure ... a school district could not just have an uncertified or unlicensed athletic trainer who was given the title athletic trainer but had no certification or no credentials to clear an athlete.Rodne, along with academics who tracked the laws, said advocacy groups for various types of health care providers tried to influence decisions on who would be allowed to clear athletes.As for requiring something in writing, Harvards Carfagna said: Without having something in writing to establish who gave the clearance, theres a better chance it could be someone unqualified. Theres no fingerprint.EVEN LAWS THAT MEET ALL FOUR STANDARDS ARENT AS STRONG AS THEY COULD BERodne said enforcement mechanisms were too costly to get approved.In Oklahoma last year, a bill that failed would have suspended athletic trainers, coaches or referees who allow an athlete with a concussion to return to action later that day.Other attempted improvements were rejected, too. In Massachusetts, for example, baseline concussion testing for all high school athletes — to allow someone treating them to better gauge whether they have a head injury — was considered in 2013. In Maryland, a 2014 bill would have made players on one high school football team per county wear concussion impact sensors to track brain injuries.Our work is not done. Its not even close to being done, Ellenbogen said. Were changing the culture, but weve got to reach all Americans.___Follow AP Pro Football Writer Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrichFollow AP National Writer Eddie Pells on Twitter at http://twitter.com/epells___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Mario Gomez Jersey . With the Pirates in the thick of the race in the NL Central, the timing couldnt be better. Liriano struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings to win consecutive starts for the first time this season and Pittsburgh beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Tuesday night. Mario Gotze Jersey . Brassard and Coyotes defenceman Derek Morris were battling for position in the crease when a nudge from Morris sent Brassard on top of Smith late in the third period. http://www.germanyfcsoccershop.com/c-13-marco-reus-germany-jersey.aspx . The Rangers announced after Thursdays 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees that they would purchase Williams contract from Triple-A Round Rock. The 32-year-old Williams was released by Houston earlier this month after going 1-4 with a 6.LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - David Price has two more years before he can test free agency, and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon knows that means he cant count on his lefty ace being in the Rays rotation next year. The low-budget Rays are rumoured to be entertaining trade offers for the 28-year-old 2012 Cy Young Award winner who could be in for a huge payday after the 2015 season. Maddon says thats how the Rays have to operate in their organization. Manuel Neuer Jersey. Maddon was at the baseball winter meetings near Orlando on Monday. Last winter, Tampa Bay traded pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis to Kansas City for a package of prospects. Among the players the Rays got in return was this years AL Rookie of the Year, Wil Myers. 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