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PHOENIX - With a push from the NFL, all 50 states and the District of Columbia passed youth concussion laws over the span of about five years.They were modeled after legislation passed in Washington state in 2009. But an Associated Press analysis shows just 21 of the laws that followed included all four key elements in Washingtons bill.Washington state is the gold standard, said Peter Carfagna, the founder of a sports marketing company and a teacher at Harvard Law School. I have a hard time thinking of a good reason why youd deviate from it.Heres an explanation of why those basic tenets are considered important:IMMEDIATELY REMOVING ATHLETE SUSPECTED OF HAVING A CONCUSSIONThis is the most rudimentary of the provisions, and yet its not mandated by two states, Illinois and Wyoming.Immediately leaving a game or practice is important because a person is at increased risk for a second, more dangerous, concussion while the brain is still healing from one.One and youre out. No same-day return, said Richard Ellenbogen, co-chairman of the NFLs head, neck and spine committee. Anybody suspected — the key word is suspected — of having a concussion, (is) pulled out.Arizona and South Carolina allow a player to return the same day if cleared by a doctor whos present.EDUCATING COACHESAs news about head injuries connected to sports has spread, its become easier to drive home the importance of recognizing symptoms so a coach, for example, knows when to send a player to the sideline.Awareness has risen, and were evaluating more students for concussions than ever, said Cynthia Clivio, a high school athletic trainer for the private Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii. Part of it is, our coaches are more educated.New Yorks law, for example, says schools coaches, gym teachers, nurses and athletic trainers must take a course that covers how to recognize, treat and monitor students concussions.INFORMATION FORM SIGNED BY ATHLETE AND PARENTPart of the process of increasing awareness is making athletes and parents aware of the dangers of concussions — and of the dangers of continuing to play or practice when suspected of getting a concussion.Dr. Dawn Comstock, who is studying the laws effectiveness as part of a project funded by the Centers for Disease Control, called those forms an important part of the overall education piece.WRITTEN CLEARANCE BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WITH CONCUSSION TRAININGThe more specific this part of a law, the lower the chances an athlete will return to action before its safe.This element of the laws was the least consistent. Only 30 states other than Washington contain both elements — that the clearance be in writing, and that it come from a health care provider with concussion training.That language was very carefully chosen, said Jay Rodne, the Republican who sponsored the law in Washington state. We wanted to make sure ... a school district could not just have an uncertified or unlicensed athletic trainer who was given the title athletic trainer but had no certification or no credentials to clear an athlete.Rodne, along with academics who tracked the laws, said advocacy groups for various types of health care providers tried to influence decisions on who would be allowed to clear athletes.As for requiring something in writing, Harvards Carfagna said: Without having something in writing to establish who gave the clearance, theres a better chance it could be someone unqualified. Theres no fingerprint.EVEN LAWS THAT MEET ALL FOUR STANDARDS ARENT AS STRONG AS THEY COULD BERodne said enforcement mechanisms were too costly to get approved.In Oklahoma last year, a bill that failed would have suspended athletic trainers, coaches or referees who allow an athlete with a concussion to return to action later that day.Other attempted improvements were rejected, too. In Massachusetts, for example, baseline concussion testing for all high school athletes — to allow someone treating them to better gauge whether they have a head injury — was considered in 2013. In Maryland, a 2014 bill would have made players on one high school football team per county wear concussion impact sensors to track brain injuries.Our work is not done. Its not even close to being done, Ellenbogen said. Were changing the culture, but weve got to reach all Americans.___Follow AP Pro Football Writer Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrichFollow AP National Writer Eddie Pells on Twitter at http://twitter.com/epells___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Andreas Christensen Chelsea Jersey .com) - Nathan MacKinnon scored the winning goal in the shootout as the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. Andreas Christensen Jersey . Doug Fister allowed two runs over seven innings and Washington hit three solo homers in a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. http://www.chelseasoccerjerseysonline.com/womens-gary-cahill-chelsea-jersey/ . Granada goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez saved Morenos first two headers from corner kicks taken by Sergio Garcia, but the defender beat him on his third try after Garcia found Moreno unmarked at the near post in the 78th minute. 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Ex-Ottawa goaltender Ben Bishop stopped 33-of-36 shots to earn the win for the Lightning. "We competed all night and I think we did the things we needed to do to be in this game," said Anderson. "We got a point, so there is that." Ottawa, which will complete its trip Tuesday at Columbus, is 11-8-5 as the road team this season. Snowy weather may have shuffled the Hurricanes schedule around this week, but it hasnt hurt their play on the ice. Todays game was originally scheduled for Friday, but was pushed back a day to accommodate the Hurricanes. Carolina was originally slated to play Tuesday in Philadelphia, but that tilt was postponed until the following day due to weather. The Canes then visited Buffalo on Thursday and had Fridays test moved back because they couldnt play on three consecutive days. Saturdays game is an important one in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Senators are currently two points outt of the Easts last postseason berth and Carolina is just one point behind Ottawa.dddddddddddd The Hurricanes recorded a 4-1 win over a visiting Senators club on Nov. 24, giving Carolina wins in five of the last six meetings. Ottawa has dropped three straight and 10 of the past 11 encounters in Raleigh. Carolina notched a 3-2 win in Philly and followed with a 5-3 decision against the Sabres. The Hurricanes hope to keep heading in the right direction on Saturday, when they play the first of two straight on home ice. Carolina is 11-10-5 as the host this season and will play six of seven tests in Raleigh before the NHL breaks for the Winter Olympics early next month. The Hurricanes and Sabres were tied at 2-2 after 40 minutes on Thursday and Buffalo grabbed a one-goal lead just 48 seconds into the third period. However, Alexander Semin and Andrej Sekera scored 2:25 apart for Carolina near the midway point of the third to give Carolina the lead for good. Jiri Tlusty, who scored the game-winner with 6:10 left in the third period on Wednesday, added an empty-net goal in the final seconds to seal the win in Buffalo. "Were starting to really gel together right now," said Carolina head coach Kirk Muller. "Were getting the goaltending, our big guys are starting to score and our other guys are playing their roles. You put it together, youre getting some good results." Semin finished with two goals, Sekera added two assists and Anton Khudobin made 26 saves for a Hurricanes team that won for the third time in four games. ' ' '