AB 734: Youth tackle football.

Existing law requires a youth sports organization that elects to offer an athletic program to comply with specified concussion and sudden cardiac arrest prevention protocols. Existing law, the California Youth Football Act, requires a youth sports organization that conducts a tackle football program to comply with specified protocols, including a coach receiving certain health-related certification and a parent or guardian of a youth tackle football participant receiving concussion and head injury information and an opioid-related factsheet. The act also requires a youth tackle football league, as defined, to retain information for the tracking of youth sports injuries, as specified.

This bill would, on and after January 1, 2026, 2025, prohibit a youth sports organization that conducts a tackle football program, or a youth tackle football league, from allowing a person younger than 12 6 years of age to be a youth tackle football participant through the organization or league. On and after January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2029, the bill would not allow a person younger than 10 and 12 years of age, respectively, to be a youth tackle football participant through the organization or league.