(a) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Youth Football Act.

(b) As used in this article:

(1) “Coach” means a person appointed by a youth sports organization to supervise or instruct a participant in the sport of youth tackle football.

(2) “Full-contact portion” of practice is defined as the period of time in drills or live action that involves contact at game speed.

(3) “Full-contact practice” means a session where one or more drills or live action is conducted that involves contact at game speed, as in an actual tackle football game or scrimmage. This includes simulations or drills that involve any number of players.

(4) “Heat-related illness” includes, but is not necessarily limited to, heat cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and exertional heat stroke.

(5) “Off-season” means a period extending from the end of the regular season until 30 days before the commencement of the next regular season.

(6) “Play” includes participation in a youth tackle football game, scrimmage, or practice.

(7) “Preseason” means a period of 30 days before the commencement of the regular season.

(8) “Regular season” means the period from the first league football game or scrimmage until the completion of the final football game of that season.

(9) “Safety equipment” includes, but is not necessarily limited to, all of the following:

(A) A helmet and its associated parts, including, but not necessarily limited to, a face mask and mouthguard.

(B) Hip, knee, and shoulder pads.

(C) A jersey.

(D) A tailbone protector.

(E) Pants and thigh guards.

(F) Shoes, including cleats.

(10) “Youth sports organization” means an organization, business, or nonprofit entity that sponsors or conducts amateur sports competition, training, camps, clinics, practices, or clubs.

(11) “Youth tackle football league” means the organization that groups together youth sports organizations that conduct youth tackle football, administers rules, and sets game schedules. It may or may not be associated with a national organization.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 158, Sec. 2. (AB 1) Effective January 1, 2020.)