Training is only 1st step

Is it a cure-all? No.
Could it help? Yes.
That’s our verdict on State Sen. Travis Holdman’s efforts to require football coaches using public facilities to undergo training on ways to help prevent head injuries.
Required training seems to be the new fad at the Indiana General Assembly.
Lawmakers now require teachers to take a two-hour, online course in how to help prevent suicide in order to keep their teaching licenses. Similar courses have been set up on how to prevent bullying, and an anti-bullying curriculum has been initiated.
So football seems to be the next target.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Head injuries have become a serious focus for the NFL and — to an extent — the NCAA. It’s inevitable that high school sports and youth programs would be in line for the same sort of attention.
Holdman, R-Markle, pushed for legislation in the last session. He’s indicated he’s going to sponsor a bill again next year, and our guess is that he’ll find enough support for passage.
That’s good.
But it’s not good enough.
There’s an unfortunate tendency on the part of legislators to believe they can pass a bill and correct a problem. Life is never that simple.
Holdman’s right that education is the first and most important step, but for this to be more than window dressing, coaches and volunteers and parents are going to have to take this issue seriously.
An online class is a start. But it’s only a start. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]