While we have been advised that the Concussion Awareness Course produced by the CDC that is available on AYSOU satisfies this training requirement, access to that course requires that the parents and players register as AYSO volunteers and pay the $25 fee for the background check that AYSO requires for its coaches, referees, board members and other volunteers. In order to avoid paying the fee and skewing the volunteer information provided to AYSO National, it appears that parents and players who do not plan to register as AYSO volunteers but who are required by law to take concussion awareness training each year will need to complete the training offered by the Hawaii Concussion Awareness and Management Program ("HCAMP") administered by the University of Hawaii that can be accessed through the HCAMP website - https://hawaiiconcussion.com .

Each Region must forward this memo as soon as possible to either (1) the parents of AYSO players in 12U or older or (2) all parents in the Region notifying the parents that the requirement only applies to parents whose children are playing in 12U or older.

The training options available through HCAMP (https://hawaiiconcussion . com) for AYSO volunteers, parents and players are the following which can be accessed by going to the website and scrolling down to find the following categories:

This is not perfect and does not fit AYSO but HCAMP has limited resources and funds to reprogram their system. They are willing to work with us but it may take years for them to modify their system to meet our needs. However, we can use their system to get information in the following manner.

a.             Upon completion in any category, HCAMP provides a certificate that can be downloaded and emailed. So, parents and players and anyone else can complete the online presentation and download a certificate.

b.             HCAMP allows participants to login under Youth/Community and select AYSO – Big Island, AYSO – Kauai, AYSO – Maui, AYSO – Molokai, AYSO – Oahu and I believe that they will cooperate and give us the list of people who have completed in that category and selected those classifications. However, this option is not available in the other categories. For those who have completed in another category and do not want to complete in the Youth/Community category, see the preceding paragraph.

So, each parent and player completing the applicable course must download the completion certificate provided at the end of the course and be prepared to submit it to the Region once a system for collecting the certificates has been set up. Parents who register as an AYSO volunteer and pay the background check fee can continue to take the AYSOU Concussion Awareness Course each year.

While Section 7 is pursuing having a separate portal set up by AYSO National through which parents and players could take the AYSOU Concussion Awareness Course each year without having to pay the background check fee, and with reports provided to each Region, we have been advised that it may take a year or more before that option will become available. Section 7 is also looking into the establishment of a portal that could be used to access the AYSOU Concussion Awareness course without paying the background check fee and which would provide Regions within Section 7 with a report on the parents and parents who complete the course. However, that will also take some time and possibly require permission from the CDC among other things.

While AYSO’s requirement that its volunteers take the AYSOU Concussion Awareness Course once put Hawaii’s AYSO program ahead of many other youth sports activities in the area of concussion awareness training, Hawaii law now requires that Section 7 do more with our parents and players. With the assistance of the HCAMP program AYSO can make those participating in our soccer programs more informed and better able to identify and deal with concussions when they occur in practices and games. Section 7 very much appreciates your support in meeting the concussion awareness training requirements now required by law in Hawaii as part of our being “committed to kids”.

Bob Strand, Section 7 Director

2022 information:

REQUIREMENTS 

PARENTS of a player participating in 12U and Older
AND PLAYERS participating in 12U or Older

Parents of a player participating in 12U or Older - Complete HCAMP Brainspace (https://hawaiiconcussion.com/) training for "Parents". Upon completion, download Certificate of Completion and email the Certificate to your Regional Commissioner (or other person designated by your Regional Commissioner).

Players participating in 12U or Older - Complete HCAMP Brainspace (https://hawaiiconcussion.com/) training for "Student Athletes". Upon completion, download Certificate of Completion and email the Certificate to your Regional Commissioner (or other person designated by your Regional Commissioner).