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Bill Summary · HB 602

Legislative bill overview

HB 602, the Coach Safely Act, establishes safety standards and training requirements for athletic coaches in North Carolina. The bill aims to protect student-athletes by mandating background checks, concussion awareness training, and CPR/first aid certification for coaches at various education levels.

Why is this important

Coach safety protocols directly affect the wellbeing of thousands of young athletes across the state. Inadequate coaching standards have been linked to preventable injuries, delayed medical responses to serious conditions like concussions, and in rare cases, abuse or misconduct. Uniform statewide requirements create accountability and may reduce liability for schools.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Schools, particularly rural and under-resourced districts, may face significant expenses for training programs, certifications, and compliance monitoring
  • Scope and enforcement: Questions about whether requirements apply equally to volunteer coaches, part-time staff, and private coaching organizations, and how compliance will be verified
  • Training adequacy: Whether mandated training hours and content sufficiently address concussion protocols, heat illness prevention, and other sport-specific safety concerns versus creating administrative burden

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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