High school football coaches are asked to be many things. Mentors and father figures. Peacemakers and disciplinarians. Occasionally, clerical wizards – those physical exam forms don’t sort themselves, you know.

And, of course, a coach.

There is one role that they should never have to assume – doctor.

With the passage of the “Lystedt Law,” they won’t have to. Called the nation’s toughest youth sports concussion law, Washington athletes suspected of head injuries must be removed from games or practices and can’t return without written permission from a doctor.

“The law takes all the guesswork out for coaches,” Gig Harbor coach Darren McKay said. “It’s all up to a doctor, and that’s how it should be.”

The state law, which Gov. Chris Gregoire signed in May, formalizes something that the vast majority of high school coaches were already doing – looking out for the athletes’ best interest.

“This won’t change things a whole lot for us,” Kentwood coach Rex Norris said. “We’re pretty conservative in our assessments and aggressive in treatment. If we think a player has a concussion, we pull them out for a week.”

What the law does is make all parties – athletes, parents, coaches and administrators – accountable. Since the summer, athletes and their parents involved in all high school and youth sports in Washington must sign “information sheets” that give an overview of the causes and symptoms of concussions.

Simply put: When in doubt, the player must come out.

When that player can return to action, however, is up to a medical professional.

At Gig Harbor last spring, athletic trainer Dave Andrews used computer software to administer neurological cognitive memory tests to record the baseline measurement for each football player. If a player is suspected of having a head injury, they can retake the test, and if their score is lower, it’s a good indication that something isn’t right.

“It’s a useful tool,” said Andrews, who was the head athletic trainer for the men’s U.S. soccer team at the 2008 Olympics. “It will help determine if an athlete has an injury to the brain.”

The law was named after Maple Valley’s Zackery Lystedt, who in October 2006 suffered a concussion in a middle school football game and, after sitting out for a bit, returned in the fourth quarter. Moments after the game ended, he collapsed. He needed two emergency surgeries and was in a coma for months.

Fortunately, stories such as Lystedt’s are rare. Most concussions don’t result in players collapsing on the field. Yet, law or no, much of the responsibility still falls on the athletes’ shoulders. Many concussions go unreported, either because an athlete didn’t realize something was wrong or hid the symptoms to stay in the game.

Andrews can’t imagine a scarier scenario.

“You always worry about that,” Andrews said. “The athletes have to understand that they can’t hide it. It’s not worth it.”

Super juniors

Washington’s Class of 2011 is shaping up to be loaded with talent.

Gig Harbor tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Skyline receiver Kasen Williams could be the nation’s top recruits at their position. Auburn lineman Danny Shelton is emerging as another national prospect, with Alabama, LSU and Southern California showing interest.

By the time signing day rolls around in February 2011, this class might rival the one in 2006 that featured O’Dea safety Taylor Mays, Bellevue offensive lineman Stephen Schilling and Ferndale quarterback Jake Locker.

Friday night tweets

Once again, The News Tribune’s sports department will be posting live in-game scoring updates of South Sound football contests on the Prep Blog (blog.thenewstribune.com/preps) and via Twitter on Friday nights. To get scoring updates sent to your cell phone, sign up to “follow” TNTPreps at Twitter.com.

If Twitter’s not your thing, you can find scores for all sports at our online scoreboard: preps.thenewstribune.com.

Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271

doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com

blog.thenewstribune.com/preps