Physical activity, Living healthy, Access, Youth development, and Safety in Youth Sports Act or the PLAYS in Youth Sports Act
This bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish a program to award grants to eligible national nonprofit organizations to improve the health and positive youth development impacts of youth sports participation and to increase access to youth sports for all children and youth, especially underserved populations.
The activities supported include
The bill sets forth provisions regarding background checks of coaches, mentors, and other adults with access to youth sports participants.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may establish a program to award grants to municipalities, counties, and states to fund efforts to establish and implement model standards, such as through surveys, studies, pilot programs, and guidelines, for out-of-school youth sports coaches.
The Government Accountability Office and HHS must report to Congress regarding youth sports.
The bill authorizes the CDC and the National Institutes of Health to undertake, support, enhance, and expand research and prevention efforts to advance youth sports safety.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8552 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8552
To provide for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish
grant programs to improve the health and positive youth development
impacts of youth sports participation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 28, 2022
Mr. Allred (for himself and Ms. Wasserman Schultz) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish
grant programs to improve the health and positive youth development
impacts of youth sports participation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Physical activity, Living healthy,
Access, Youth development, and Safety in Youth Sports Act'' or the
``PLAYS in Youth Sports Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAMS.
(a) Organization Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting through the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, shall establish a competitive grants program (in
this section referred to as the ``Organization Grants
Program'') to award grants, in accordance with paragraph (3),
to eligible national non-profit organizations to improve the
health and positive youth development impacts of youth sports
participation and to increase access to youth sports for all
children and youth, especially underserved populations as
defined by section 40002 of the Violence Against Women Act of
1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291), in accordance with paragraph (4).
(2) Eligible national non-profit organization.--For
purposes of this subsection, a national non-profit organization
shall be eligible for a grant under this subsection if such
organization--
(A) has experience with working with regional and
local non-profit youth sports organizations in the
areas of improved health, positive youth development,
and safe playing environments consistent with the types
of activities described in paragraph (5);
(B) submits to the Secretary a plan for awarding
subgrants to regional and local non-profit youth sports
organizations to improve physical activity or sports
programs carried out in the areas served by such
organizations to improve the health of youth through,
and have positive impacts on, youth sports
participation;
(C) can demonstrate a track record and plan for
serving low-income and under-resourced communities, as
well as providers of adaptive sports programming; and
(D) can demonstrate policies and practices in place
for ensuring background checks for staff and volunteers
working with children and youth.
(3) Administrative provisions.--
(A) Amount of grants.--Each grant awarded under
this subsection shall be no more than $2,500,000 for
national organizations and no more than $250,000 for
State and local organizations.
(B) Selection of grantees through grant selection
board.--
(i) In general.--Not later than one year
after the date on which funds are first
appropriated to carry out this section, the
Secretary shall establish a grant selection
board to select the eligible national non-
profit organizations to be awarded grants under
this subsection.
(ii) Composition.--Such board shall consist
of 10 members to be selected from the
Department of Health and Human Services,
including from the following:
(I) The Administration for Children
and Families (ACF), in particular the
Family and Youth Services Bureau.
(II) The Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Health, in particular the
Office of Adolescent Health and the
President's Council on Fitness, Sports,
and Nutrition.
(III) The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, in particular
the Office of Noncommunicable Diseases,
Injury and Environment Health, and the
National Center for Injury Prevention
and Control.
(IV) The Center for Faith-Based and
Neighborhood Partnerships.
(V) The National Institutes of
Health, in particular the National
Institute of Child Health and Human
Development and the National Institute
of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and
Skin Diseases.
(iii) Considerations.--In selecting
grantees under this subsection, the board under
this subparagraph shall, with respect to a plan
described in paragraph (2)(B) submitted by a
national non-profit organization, evaluate the
plan based on the ability of the plan to ensure
that the grant will help improve the physical
activity or sports program involved in at least
one of the following areas:
(I) Effectiveness, through
activities described in paragraph
(5)(B).
(II) Participation, through
activities described in paragraph
(5)(C).
(III) Health and Safety, through
activities described in paragraph
(5)(D).
(4) Uses of grants.--A grant awarded under this subsection
to an eligible non-profit organization may be used by such
organization only for awarding subgrants in accordance with
paragraph (5) and consistent with the plan submitted by the
organization under paragraph (2)(B).
(5) Uses of subgrants.--
(A) In general.--
(i) Permissible activities.--A subgrant
awarded to a regional and local non-profit
youth sports organization pursuant to this
subsection may be used by such organization for
only the activities described in the subsequent
subparagraphs of this paragraph in accordance
with the provisions of the respective
subparagraph.
(ii) Excluded activities.--A subgrant
awarded to a regional and local non-profit
youth sports organization pursuant to this
subsection may not be used by such organization
for any of the following:
(I) Any activity the organization
is in the process of conducting or
planning to conduct as of the date of
application for a subgrant under this
subsection.
(II) Any activity primarily
designed to expand the organization
among those portions of the community
that would otherwise participate in
youth sports, rather than those efforts
aimed at a particularly underserved
participating portion of the community.
(III) Efforts that are not likely
to be continued after funding from the
subgrant has expired.
(iii) Amount of subgrants.--A subgrant
under this subsection shall be not more than
$10,000 and not less than $1,000.
(B) Activities to promote effectiveness of youth
sports.--
(i) Activities.--The activities described
in this subparagraph are activities that
promote effectiveness of physical activities or
youth sports, including the following:
(I) Training and certification
programs for coaches, in accordance
with clause (ii).
(II) Developing and implementing
coaching guidelines described in clause
(iii).
(III) Training for youth
development and character development.
(IV) Developing or implementing
evaluation and results implementation
process.
(V) Instructing positive parental
involvement.
(VI) Developing and implementing an
athlete code of conduct and
instruction.
(VII) Developing and implementing
coach and volunteer retention efforts.
(VIII) Fostering a positive sport
experience for all involved that
emphasizes athlete development over
winning at all costs.
(IX) Activities to enhance effects
beyond the playing field, such as with
respect to nutrition practices,
academic performance, encouragement of
life-long practices, and promotion of
positive self-image.
(ii) Training and certification program
characteristics.--For purposes of clause
(i)(I), a training or certification program for
coaches described in such clause--
(I) shall be based on consensus
within the youth sports non-profit
community;
(II) should be interactive;
(III) should aspire to coaching
education at the youth sport level that
provides coaches with baseline
knowledge in the areas of coaching
philosophy and style, communication,
team management, practice and game-day
planning, first aid, and rules as well
as sport-specific content on teaching
the techniques and tactics of the
respective sport;
(IV) should include content that is
complete, comprehensive, affordable,
and user-friendly; a convenient online
24/7 delivery system; supplemental
resources and support materials, such
as coaching youth sports books, study
guides, forms, checklists, and plans;
and a web-based tracking and reporting
interface that documents a national
coaches registry;
(V) should emphasize whole child
development over winning at all costs;
and
(VI) should emphasize the stages of
youth development and the importance of
providing children with a level of
challenge commensurate with their
physical, mental and emotional maturity
and their emerging athletic ability;
and should emphasize the importance of
treating children with dignity and
respect and giving all children the
opportunity to have fun and grow as
people and athletes.
(iii) Coaching requirements.--For purposes
of clause (i)(II), the coaching guidelines
described in this clause, with respect to
planning and practice of youth sports, are
guidelines to achieve the following:
(I) Developing and refining the
philosophy and style of such coaching.
(II) Developing the character of
the youth athletes through role-
modeling, teaching, and exhibiting
appropriate citizenship behaviors.
(III) Communicating effectively by
role-modeling, teaching, and expecting
honest and effective communication.
(IV) Guiding athletes to develop
self-confidence by modeling and
teaching self-confident attributes and
behaviors and creating situations in
which athletes experience success.
(V) Teaching the sport involved
effectively by teaching the rules,
systems, and defined plays of the sport
involved.
(VI) Teaching technical and
tactical skills effectively by
instructing athletes in the use of
correct and safe techniques and
teaching how to process game situations
to gain a competitive advantage.
(VII) Teaching sport decisionmaking
skills effectively by modeling and
teaching perception, attention, and
concentration skills.
(VIII) Challenging athletes in
practice and competition by developing
season and practice plans to create
optimally challenging, safe, and
effective practices and competitions.
(IX) Physically preparing athletes
by modeling, teaching, and expecting
appropriate physical training,
nutrition, and drug-free habits.
(X) Taking all measures feasible to
ensure the safety of athletes by
checking facilities and equipment (and
how such equipment fits), monitoring
athletes' activities closely, and
correcting unsafe behavior immediately.
(XI) Managing relationships
effectively by modeling, teaching, and
expecting positive interactions between
coaches, athletes, parents,
administrators, medical personnel,
officials, and media.
(XII) Supporting scholastic
achievement by expecting commitment to
academics and teaching the value of
education.
(C) Activities relating to participation.--The
activities described in this subparagraph are
activities to lead to sustained increases in
participation in youth sports, including the following:
(i) Activities to lower barriers to
participation, such as by making it easier for
youth with disabilities to participate,
acquiring or modifying space, raising money for
an endowment to keep participation fees low or
free, including through scholarships.
(ii) Activities to target populations
under-represented in youth sports or
particularly at-risk communities, such as girls
and other under-represented minorities,
populations in geographical areas with
particular low participation rates, populations
with high obesity risk, populations in high
crime and violence areas, homeless youth, youth
with behavioral issues, youth with physical or
mental disabilities.
(iii) Activities for capacity building.
(iv) Activities to engage parents and other
family members to encourage life-long physical
activity.
(D) Activities to promote safety and health.--
(i) Activities.--The activities described
in this subparagraph are activities to promote
safety and health, including the following:
(I) Background checks described in
clause (ii)(I) and the establishment of
procedures for such background checks
in accordance with clause (ii)(II).
(II) Abuse prevention and response
activities described in clause (iii).
(III) Measures to implement program
improvements as broadly as possible
within the organization receiving the
subgrant by providing resources for
activities, such as administrative
guidelines and materials, training
opportunities, and codes of conduct.
(IV) Training programs to address
the matters described in clause (iv).
(V) Prevention efforts to prevent
and reduce the occurrence of
concussions (through baseline
screening, clear return to play and
other post-concussion protocols,
prevention efforts, parent and
participant education) and of overuse
and overload and injury risk.
(VI) Practices to encourage water
drinking, increased physical movement,
nutritious snacks, and national healthy
eating practices.
(VII) Targeted programs for
particular at-risk behavior or at-risk
populations, such as with respect to
lateral injuries in girls and for
participants with physical and mental
disabilities, such as Type 1 diabetes,
eating disorders, and sickle cell
trait.
(VIII) Parent education.
(IX) Parent code of conduct and
instruction.
(X) Athlete code of conduct and
instruction.
(XI) Bullying prevention.
(XII) Safety procedures for
engagement of youth sports
photographers.
(XIII) Venue and event safety.
(XIV) Participant comprehensive
health history and pre-screening
recording, evaluation, and privacy
securing, including in a standardized
form or way that make it easy for
participants to share their information
with other organizations.
(XV) Encouraging and facilitating
participation in the Presidential
Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) of
participants.
(ii) Background checks.--
(I) In general.--For purposes of
clause (i)(I), background checks
described in this clause--
(aa) check for known
offenses and pending actions of
abuse, harm, or violent
behavior and molestation of
youth by coaches, mentors, or
other adults with access to
youth sports participants;
(bb) screen employees,
contractors, and volunteer
forces who have regular contact
with youth participants,
authority or supervision roles
with respect to such youth,
opportunity to establish a
position of trust with respect
to such youth, or opportunity
for one-on-one contact with
such youth;
(cc) should utilize
advancements in technology that
make criminal history
information available to these
organizations;
(dd) must provide for
reliable, rapid, comprehensive,
up-to-date checks at a very
reasonable cost so that the
organizations can make informed
screening decisions;
(ee) provide access to
criminal background information
that has been recently updated,
and is dependable, complete,
and accessed from national
databases, county courts
(county of residence) and all
available State sex offender
registries; and
(ff) provide screenings
that generally cover identity
verification, using social
security number validation and
address trace report; National
Criminal database search,
updated regularly with more
than 300 million criminal
records; the Office of Foreign
Assets Control terrorist
database search; Sex Offender
Registry search of all
available States with at least
one county search that
generally covers longest and
most recent residency in the
past five years.
(II) Procedures.--For purposes of
clause (i)(I), the establishment of
procedures for conducting and reviewing
background checks described in
subclause (I) shall identify who is
responsible for conducting the checks,
reviewing the criminal history records,
determining fitness, notifying the
volunteer or staff of the decision,
managing legally compliant notices, and
the dissemination, control, storage,
and destruction of information gained
in the background check.
(iii) Abuse prevention and response
activities.--For purposes of clause (i)(II),
abuse prevention and response activities
described in this clause are the following:
(I) The development and
reinforcement of appropriate
communication, training, and response
protocols for abuse and other
inappropriate behavior.
(II) Awareness, prevention, and
response guidelines, including a
protocol to immediately report
potential criminal behavior on the part
of any coach or official to the
appropriate law enforcement agency.
(III) Reference checking of
volunteers, including previous clubs,
teams, or athletes with whom the
individual has worked.
(IV) Questioning about the
individual's behaviors and if anyone
has reported any inappropriate behavior
that might be of concern.
(V) Work with insurance providers
or other risk management experts to
help maintain a safe environment.
(iv) Training programs.--For purposes of
clause (i)(IV), the matters described in this
clause are the following:
(I) First aid, CPR, and
defibrillator.
(II) Mild traumatic brain injury or
concussion.
(III) Heat acclimatization and heat
illness prevention.
(IV) Human kinetics coaching
education.
(V) Risk management.
(VI) Legal issues.
(VII) Pre-participation Physical
Evaluation (PPE).
(VIII) Emergency planning.
(IX) Training practices.
(X) Strength and conditioning.
(XI) Nutrition.
(XII) Recognizing sports-related
illnesses and injuries.
(XIII) Prevention and care of
concussions.
(XIV) Equipment fitting.
(XV) Safe playing conditions.
(6) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this subsection $75,000,000; $15,000,000 for national
organizations, $50,000,000 for States, $5,000,000 for
prevention and research, including no less than $5,000,000 for
CDC to carry out the grant program to national organizations
and states and to manage an interagency committee.
(b) State and Local Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
may establish a grant program under which the Secretary shall
award one-time competitive grants to municipalities, counties,
and States to fund efforts of such municipalities, counties,
and States to establish and implement model standards, such as
through surveys, studies, pilot programs, and guidelines, for
out-of-school youth sports coaches.
(2) Requirements.--A grantee under this subsection must
agree to enact or improve implementation of standards that--
(A) do not conflict or otherwise negatively
interfere with standards that apply within the
jurisdiction of such grantee; and
(B) are aimed at improving effectiveness,
participation, and health and safety of youth sports.
(3) Permitted activities.--A grant under this subsection
may be used for activities including the following:
(A) Surveys.
(B) Studies.
(C) Pilot programs.
(D) Development of guidelines and standards.
(E) Education and outreach.
(F) Implementation efforts.
(4) Selection criteria.--Grants under this subsection shall
be awarded, with respect to model standards described in
paragraph (1), based on the following criteria:
(A) Number of coaches affected by such standards.
(B) Degree with which activities and standards, as
applicable, are easy and affordable to the organization
or coach involved.
(C) Comprehensiveness of such standards and the
number of subjects covered effectively by such
standards.
(5) Reports.--
(A) By grantees.--As a condition of receipt of a
grant under this subsection, a grantee shall submit to
the Secretary of Health and Human Services such
information as specified by the Secretary, by such time
as specified by the Secretary, to complete the report
described in subparagraph (B).
(B) By secretary.--Not later than five years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall publish a national
report on lessons learned from the model standards
implemented pursuant to grants awarded under this
subsection. The report shall--
(i) measure the effectiveness of such
standards in improving health, safety,
participation rate, and inclusion; and
(ii) describe the areas in which funding
under such grants was spent, including by
purposes and outcomes.
(6) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section such sums as are necessary.
SEC. 3. YOUTH SPORTS RESEARCH.
(a) GAO Study.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to Congress a report on--
(1) a history of the prior 50 years of Federal Government
programs used to help promote the effectiveness, participation,
health, and safety of non-school based organized youth sports;
and
(2) evidence available on the effectiveness and outcomes of
such programs.
(b) HHS Study.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
submit to Congress a report on--
(1) youth sports risk prevention efforts conducted or
supported by the Department of Health and Human Services and
other Federal agencies;
(2) beneficial practices in place relating to such efforts
and the effectiveness of such practices; and
(3) assessing further steps and resources needed to reduce
risks and increase the benefits of sports.
SEC. 4. SAFETY PROMOTION.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized, through
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National
Institutes of Health, to undertake, support, enhance, and expand
research and prevention efforts to advance youth sports safety.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line