Ind. Code § 20-34-7-1 "Association"
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "association" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-26-14-1.
As added by P.L.144-2011, SEC.1.
Ind. Code ch. 20-34-7
Ind. Code ch. 20-34-7
in effectInd. Code § 20-34-7-1.5 "Organizing entity"
Sec. 1.5. As used in this chapter, "organizing entity" means any person that:
(1) operates:
(A) a recreational;
(B) an intramural; or
(C) an extracurricular;
athletic or sports program for individuals who are less than twenty (20) years of age; and
(2) uses a facility, field, park, or other property that is owned, leased, operated, or maintained by any of the following:
(A) The state.
(B) A political subdivision (as defined in IC 36-1-2-13).
(C) An agency or instrumentality of an entity described in clause (A) or (B).
As added by P.L.34-2014, SEC.1.
Ind. Code § 20-34-7-1.6 "School"
Sec. 1.6. As used in this chapter, "school" refers to a public school and a state accredited nonpublic school.
As added by P.L.135-2016, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.92-2020, SEC.86.
Ind. Code § 20-34-7-1.7 "Student athlete"
Sec. 1.7. As used in this chapter, "student athlete" means any student who:
(1) attends a school;
(2) is in grade 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12; and
(3) participates in any:
(A) interscholastic sport, including cheerleading; or
(B) intramural sport, including cheerleading, in which the head coach or assistant coach elects to comply or as part of the head coach's or assistant coach's coaching certification requirements is required to comply with this chapter.
As added by P.L.135-2016, SEC.2.
Ind. Code § 20-34-7-2 Dissemination of guidelines, information, and forms
Sec. 2. (a) Before July 1, 2012, the department shall disseminate guidelines, information sheets, and forms to each school corporation for distribution to a school to inform and educate coaches, student athletes, and parents of student athletes of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury to student athletes, including the risks of continuing to play after concussion or head injury.
(b) The department:
(1) may consult with the association, medical professionals, and others with expertise in diagnosing and treating concussions and head injuries; and
(2) may request the assistance of the association in disseminating the guidelines, information sheets, and forms required under subsection (a).
(c) The department may disseminate the materials required under this section in an electronic format.
As added by P.L.144-2011, SEC.1.
Ind. Code § 20-34-7-3 Information and forms required before beginning practice for sport
Sec. 3. Each year, before beginning practice for an interscholastic sport or an intramural sport in which a head coach or assistant coach elects to or is required to comply with this chapter, a student athlete and the student athlete's parent:
(1) must be given the information sheet and form described in section 2 of this chapter; and
(2) shall sign and return the form acknowledging the receipt of the information to the student athlete's coach.
The coach shall maintain a file of the completed forms.
As added by P.L.144-2011, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.135-2016, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 20-34-7-4 Player suspected of sustaining concussion or head injury; removal from play; prohibition against returning to play
Sec. 4. A student athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice or game:
(1) shall be removed from play at the time of the injury; and
(2) may not return to play until the student athlete has received a written clearance under section 5(a) of this chapter.
As added by P.L.144-2011, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.135-2016, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 20-34-7-5 Health care provider's clearance necessary to return to play; volunteer health care provider immunity
Sec. 5. (a) A student athlete who has been removed from play under section 4 of this chapter may not return to play until:
(1) the student athlete:
(A) is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and head injuries; and
(B) receives a written clearance to return to play from the health care provider who evaluated the student athlete; and
(2) not less than twenty-four (24) hours have passed since the student athlete was removed from play.
(b) A licensed health care provider who evaluates a student athlete under subsection (a) may conduct the evaluation as a volunteer. A volunteer health care provider who in good faith and gratuitously authorizes a student athlete to return to play is not liable for civil damages resulting from an act or omission in the rendering of an evaluation, except for acts or omissions that constitute gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
As added by P.L.144-2011, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.34-2014, SEC.2; P.L.135-2016, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 20-34-7-6 Certified coaching education course for football coaches; coaching services immunity
Sec. 6. (a) As used in this section, "football" does not include flag football.
(b) Prior to coaching football to individuals who are less than twenty (20) years of age and are in grades 1 through 12, each head football coach and assistant football coach shall complete a certified coaching education course that:
(1) is sport specific;
(2) contains player safety content, including content on:
(A) concussion awareness;
(B) equipment fitting;
(C) heat emergency preparedness; and
(D) proper technique;
(3) requires a coach to complete a test demonstrating comprehension of the content of the course; and
(4) awards a certificate of completion to a coach who successfully completes the course.
(c) For a coach's completion of a course to satisfy the requirement imposed by subsection (b), the course must have been approved by the department.
(d) A coach shall complete a course in a manner prescribed by the state board.
(e) An organizing entity shall maintain a file of certificates of completion awarded under subsection (b)(4) to any of the organizing entity's head coaches and assistant coaches.
(f) A coach who complies with this chapter and provides coaching services in good faith is not personally liable for damages in a civil action as a result of a concussion or head injury incurred by an athlete participating in an athletic activity in which the coach provided coaching services, except for an act or omission by the coach that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
As added by P.L.34-2014, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.222-2015, SEC.16; P.L.135-2016, SEC.6; P.L.92-2020, SEC.87; P.L.250-2023, SEC.37; P.L.214-2025, SEC.186.
Ind. Code § 20-34-7-7 Certified coaching education course for interscholastic sport coaches; intramural sport election; coaching services immunity
Sec. 7. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c)(2), this section applies after June 30, 2017.
(b) This section applies to a head coach or assistant coach who:
(1) coaches any:
(A) interscholastic sport; or
(B) intramural sport and elects to comply or as part of the head coach's or assistant coach's coaching certification requirements is required to comply with this chapter; and
(2) is not subject to section 6 of this chapter.
(c) Before coaching a student athlete in any sport, a head coach and every assistant coach described in subsection (b) must complete a certified coaching education course that:
(1) contains player safety content on concussion awareness;
(2) after December 31, 2018, includes content for prevention of or response to heat related medical issues that may arise from a student athlete's training;
(3) requires a head coach or an assistant coach to complete a test demonstrating comprehension of the content of the course; and
(4) awards a certificate of completion to a head coach or an assistant coach who successfully completes the course.
(d) A course described in subsection (c) must be approved by the department, in consultation with a physician licensed under IC 25-22.5. The consulting physician for a course described in subsection (c)(1) must have expertise in the area of concussions and brain injuries. The department may, in addition to consulting with a physician licensed under IC 25-22.5, consult with other persons who have expertise in the area of concussions and brain injuries when developing a course described in subsection (c)(1).
(e) A head coach and every assistant coach described in subsection (b) must complete a course described in subsection (c) in a manner prescribed by the state board.
(f) Each school shall maintain all certificates of completion awarded under subsection (c)(4) to each of the school's head coaches and assistant coaches.
(g) A head coach or an assistant coach described in subsection (b) who complies with this chapter and provides coaching services in good faith is not personally liable for damages in a civil action as a result of a concussion or head injury incurred by a student athlete participating in an athletic activity for which the head coach or the assistant coach provided coaching services, except for an act or omission by the head coach or the assistant coach that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
As added by P.L.135-2016, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.19-2018, SEC.1; P.L.92-2020, SEC.88; P.L.250-2023, SEC.38; P.L.214-2025, SEC.187.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026