Massachusetts Youth Sports Working Group Approves Three Policy Recommendations at Statehouse Hearing

BOSTON — May 21, 2026 — Massachusetts Youth Sports Working Group approves health, filming, and grant funding recommendations at third public hearing. The group, convened under the Division of Occupational Licensure and chaired by Josh Sakem, voted unanimously Thursday at the Statehouse to accept three policy recommendations that, if adopted as regulation, would extend concussion and health-risk protocols to youth sports settings outside of schools, bar facilities and organizations from prohibiting parents from recording their children's athletic events, and direct the state to create a low-to-zero interest grant funding program for youth sports facilities that meet equitable access benchmarks. John Moreshi noted that the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts had called for expanded concussion laws, heat safety rules, and mandatory emergency action plans at sports events — all potentially covered by the new health protocol language. Commissioner Sarah Wilkinson called the grant funding proposal "really profound, especially with that concept of attention to equitable access." No members of the public offered live testimony, though the group directed written comments to youthsports@mass.gov.