The Club Sports Concussion Gap: What Happens When Your Travel Team Has No Athletic Trainer

Here’s a gap in youth sports safety that almost nobody talks about: most state concussion laws only apply to school-sponsored athletics. If your child plays club soccer, travel baseball, recreational basketball, or competitive gymnastics through a private organization, they may be completely outside the legal framework designed to protect young athletes.

The numbers behind the gap

According to the Aspen Institute’s State of Play report, participation in club and travel sports has grown significantly over the past two decades, with millions of young athletes competing outside the school system. These organizations often have no athletic trainer on staff, no relationship with a team physician, no formal concussion protocol, and no baseline testing program.

A 2021 review published in PMC noted that the vast majority of state concussion laws were written with school-based athletics in mind and do not extend to club, recreational, or travel sports. This creates what researchers call a “coverage gap” — the most at-risk athletes are often the least protected.

Two very different response chains

When a school athlete sustains a suspected concussion, a chain of events kicks in: removal from play, evaluation by a trained professional, symptom monitoring, graduated return-to-play protocol, and medical clearance. The CDC’s HEADS UP program provides standardized guidance that schools follow.

When a club athlete sustains the same injury, the chain often looks like this: the coach makes a judgment call, the parent decides whether to go to the ER, and the athlete returns to practice when they “feel better.”

The absence of structure in club sports doesn’t reduce concussion risk. It increases the consequences of concussion by removing the safety nets that catch these injuries early.

What parents and organizations can do

First, pursue baseline testing independently. An at-home computerized test is a minimum starting point ($15–$20 via ImPACT Baseline — see our at-home vs. in-clinic piece). A comprehensive clinical baseline is better.

Second, educate coaches on concussion recognition — the CDC’s free HEADS UP online training program (available at cdc.gov/headsup) is excellent and takes about 20 minutes.

Third, establish a simple written concussion protocol for the organization: remove from play if a concussion is suspected, require written medical clearance before return, and communicate the policy to all families at registration.

How we help

At Headquarters, we work with club and travel sports organizations to implement baseline testing programs that fit their structure and budget. No athletic trainer on staff? We can help. Contact us to discuss team baseline testing options for your organization, or check our sports organizations page for pricing examples.

Frequently asked questions