Governor Newsom signs legislation protecting parents’ rights in youth football
What you need to know: Governor Newsom signed legislation guaranteeing parents the right to choose how their kids participate in youth tackle football.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed a new bill into law protecting parents’ right to choose how their children participate in youth tackle football. Assembly Bill 708, by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim), requires a youth tackle football league to allow participants to use safety equipment, including soft-shelled add-ons to football helmets.
With the advent of new safety protocols and the increased research on the impacts of youth football, today’s legislation preserves Californian parents’ right to choose how their kids play the game. Football is America’s Game, and in California we are working hard to make sure it’s enjoyed by all.
Governor Gavin Newsom
“Football is the best sport in the world. It is also one of the most physically demanding,” said Assemblymember Avelino Valencia. “As a former player and coach, I understand firsthand the physical toll that repetitive head impacts can have, particularly on our youngest athletes. Soft-shell helmet add-ons provide an additional layer of protection and are already used at the collegiate and professional levels, including the NFL. Parents should have the ability to choose this technology for their children, regardless of where they play, especially during these critical years of cognitive development. I thank Governor Newsom for signing AB 708 into law and prioritizing the health of California’s youngest athletes.”
Today’s legislation builds on the Governor’s youth football summit, which brought together healthcare providers, football team administrators, parents, youth football organizations and current and former football athletes. And in August 2019, Governor Newsom signed AB 1, the California Youth Football Act, which enacted minimum safety standards for youth tackle football leagues.