Teen Inspires "Shake It Off" Law

(CBS)  Zackery Lystedt has always been a fierce competitor.

So at 13, when he took a hard hit in a football game he "shook it off," and 15 minutes later was back in the game, reports CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes. He collapsed on the field.

"I was begging God to keep him alive," said Victor Lystedt, Zack's father.

He spent 30 days in a coma, diagnosed with a second impact concussion.

"One of the doctors was talking to his colleagues and saying, 'Well, he might wake up.' As if it were a rare miracle that he would even wake up," Victor said.

Every day has been a miracle on his long journey out of darkness.

When CBS News first visited Zack two years ago, he was unable to move his legs or speak. He communicated through blinking.

With relentless rehabilitation, his progress has been nothing short of amazing.

"How are you doing?" Hughes asked Zack.

"I'm doing good," he said.

The Lystedts have never known how far Zack can come back. But they are certain of one thing:

"We don't want another family to go through what we're going through," Victor said.

A recent survey of 100 high schools by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that of the more than 1,300 athletes with concussions, 41 percent went back in the game too soon.

"It's very important for the brain to have enough time to heal adequately," said Dr. Vernon Williams, the chief medical officer of the Sports Concussion Institute.

That's why Zack's family has been lobbying.

"His purpose I think now in life is to change other people's lives," Victor said.

On Thursday, the family watched as the governor of Washington signed the most far-reaching legislation in the nation to protect kids from concussions.

Zack showed his appreciation like a typical teenager - doing a hand bump with the governor.

Under the Zackery Lystedt law, a youth showing any signs of a concussion will have to get the approval of a medical professional before being allowed to play again.

"It's a great day for us, for Washington and for the country," Victor said.

Supporters want to take this law nationwide, hoping what happened to Zack will never happen to another young athlete.

[Evergreener]

That's nice, but wouldn't it be better to focus on turning kids away from sports that involve obvious high risk for brain injury, toward sports that don't? If we were talking smoking instead of football -- this would be like passing a law saying if a kid starts coughing after smoking a cigarette, s/he has to be checked out by a doctor to see if there's evidence of lung cancer (yet) before s/he can smoke some more. Great law for doctors collecting fees for the new legislatively required exams. Great law for personal injury attorneys who line their pockets on lawsuits filed against public school systems as soon as doctors? exams show a problem (notice and check background of personal injury lawyer Richard Adler here). Not so great for kids allowed, including by their parents, to keep going until they do get hurt.

[GB_Momma]

I've been through this with my own son. He was injured playing soccer. He went back after only a week off and got hurt yet again...mildly...on several more occasions. Now, 3 years later, his left leg doesn't work well and he has major cognitive deficiencies. But doctors don't always fully understand the delicate balance of the brain either. We seen 8 neurologists before finding one who understood the nature of the problem. He may not be able to fix my son, but I'm hoping he can just relieve some of the constant head pain that he has to live with every day. Parents, pay attention to your children and their responses. If you think you're being over-cautious, it's worth it! I think this bill should require a concussion-specialist as opposed to just a doctor's release. As in my son's case, not all doctor's understand the problem.

[perm3800a]

For everyone who feels that the Washington State law is redundant, as quote in BC Kelly's comments: According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

Soccer Rules - 2008/09 (should be same/similar in all other Sports)
" The player(s) ... who is deemed injured by the referee shall leave the field ..."
" If the injured player is determined by game officials to be UNCONCIOUS or APPARENTLY UNCONCIOUS, that player may not return to the game without written authorization from a physician."

The young man who was sent back into the game after suffering a concussion did NOT lose conciousness during the first event. He was dazed and dissociative but NOT unconcious so the NFHS rules PERMITTED his coach to send him back in. With an already damaged brain, the second hit made the damage permanent. He is regaining function by triaining surviving parts of his brain to fulfill the functions once performed by the now dead parts.

Pain alone is now know to cause permanent, irreversible brain damage. Such damage is cummulative (every bout adds to the total) and is responsible for such things as the Parkinsons' shown by the Great One and the addled behavior and speech of many other older atheletes from high contact or high injury rate sports. Some young atheletes knowingly continue to play after hearing that they are at risk of permanent damage to mind and/or body because they feel that sport is the only option they have for success. Sad.

But for a parent or coach to send a child back into play after an injury for a child's game - shame!

And, BC Kelly, the blood rules date back to Magic's diagnosis and the fears of the NBA players that they would be exposed to HIV contagions because bball can be high contact. You aren't preventing reinjury with such a rule since it is the mere presence of BLOOD that is the concern.

[novamba]

bigmo47, you forgot to mention the use of anphetamines and other uppers which goes back nearly a century.

[Rkohns]

CBS News ... HELP!!

Girl's Lacrosse wears NO HELMETS! My daughter suffered a major concussion when a player shot on the net, which is the objective of the game! My daughter's head was in the way.

The National Girl's Lacrosse Organization will NOT allow helmets saying "Its a no checking game." The Athletic Director of my child's high school wrote a letter requesting helmets noting that girl's hockey is also no check but has the same equipment as the boys for "safety" reasons. Hello!

Boy's Lacrosse nationally rolled out a concussion management program. Girl's lacross still doesn't ALLOW helmets. Dark ages or what!

[texasbeta]

When is some wacko lib gonna say it's all Bush's fault. Can't believe that hasn't happened yet.
Posted by Carvin82604

You are the only retard to bring politics into it.

[BC Kelly]

Oh, and p.s.


Although I don't know specific details of this particular situation in Washington State

I did read the .pdf summary of their new "Zackery Lystedt Law"

And it appears redundant to NFHS Rules. However, I'm no Lawyer, so that's a guess.


Is the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association not part of NFHS ?

Do they not follow the NFHS Rules ?

Or is this new Law an attempt to provide further guidance beyond what is already in place ?

And/or does this new Law apply to all youth sports no matter who's umbrella they're under ?

Just curious ;-)



Now, give you another "new law" adopted by many States, and here in Florida recently ...

Sports Officials Law

Basically - anyone who assaults a Sports Official is now guilty of a Felony.

No more misdemeanor with a warning or ticket.

You WILL be put in handcuffs and hauled away in by the Cops.

And "assault" has a fairly broad definition - "get in the face or threaten" will qualify.

If you "touch" a Sports Official - that just adds "battery" to any charges.

And this is for any Sport, any age, any group in Florida.


This is long overdue.

Too often we get some 35 year old parent in the face of a 12 year old Referee.

And no other adults, parents, coaches - no one - comes to help the 12 year old.


Imagine many can remember well known incident few years back of some Big Time Pro Baseball Player at his son's Little League game.

The Baseball Pro did not like some call the 14 year old Umpire made, so he came on the Field and, well, did what Baseball Players are famous for - argue with the Ump.

Maybe ok in MLB.

Is NOT OK when that Ump is a 14 year old in Little League.

And you are, supposedly, a grown adult.


Let's hope State of Washington - and all States - adopt their own Sports Officials Law.

[margroks]

The point is that when coaches don't exercise common sense laws have to make them act appropriately. I think it's a very reasonable approach to the matter. LEt a medical professional decide. Coaches are not doctors.

[goosfraba2]

Forced? I don't THINK so!
No one can be FORCED to get back into a sporting game, that's just BS.
Posted by Newster1 at 11:00 AM : May 15, 2009

In all competitive training, young males are encouraged to suppress their pain and fear and not to let the team down. Young males (actually, most all males) will allow themselves to be "pushed" back into an event when, clearly, they should not. I'm not saying this is bad because in the big picture sacrifices have to be made at times. Think of military combat.

In school sports, it is an obligation, an inherent duty that coaches and other adults protect our youth from unnecessary, preventable harm. Winning in any sport is not worth tragedies of the kind that Zackery and his family has endured and will continue to endure.

I'll bet you a dollar to a doughnut that Zackery's coach has been the victim of self-torture over Zack's injury and that he would agree with my comment. To him I would say, "Hindsight is 20/20. Forever, be on guard to prevent this from happening again."

[BC Kelly]

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

Soccer Rules - 2008/09 (should be same/similar in all other Sports)


" The player(s) ... who is deemed injured by the referee shall leave the field ..."

" If the injured player is determined by game officials to be unconscious or apparently unconscious, that player may not return to the game without written authorization from a physician."


As a Soccer Referee for a lot of years that's a pretty clear, and easy, instruction to follow.

This is a very serious matter Folks. And is a team effort.

Moms, Dads, Coaches, School Administrators, Referees - we all need to work together.

It does take a Village.

But, if no one else will do what should be done to protect one of those Kids on The Field.

Then as The Referee - I Will. Even if I have to stand alone.

(and all about me are losing their heads, and blaming it on me, etc - ty Kipling ;-)



Give you another "new" rule, many may not know or think about.

To paraphrase - No More Blood.

If any bleeding or blood on Player or Player's Uniform - wet or dry - that Player must leave Game and may not return until the blood is gone, cleaned, and/or covered, and/or new Uniform. And all bleeding stopped.


Those are you kids out there Mom and Dad. All of us Refs will do all we can to protect them.

Even if we have to protect them from YOU - their own Moms, Dads, and Coaches.

Always remember the 3 Unspoken Rules of Youth Sports Competition:

Safe, Fair, Fun - in that order.


Now, have a Good Game and Play On.

;-)