# Subtitle 54 – Youth Athletic Protection

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## § 54-1 Definitions.

Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 54-1 (2026)

(a) In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Abuse” has the meaning stated in Title 5, Subtitle 7 of the State Family Law Article {“Definitions: Abuse”}.

(c) “Automated external defibrillator” means a medical device, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration that:

  (1) is capable of recognizing the presence or absence in an individual of ventricular fibrillation and rapid ventricular tachycardia;

  (2) is capable of determining, without intervention, whether defibrillation should be performed on an individual;

  (3) on determining that defibrillation should be performed, automatically charges and requests delivery of an electrical impulse to an individual’s heart; and

  (4) delivers an appropriate electrical impulse to a patient’s heart to perform defibrillation.

(d) “Coach” means an individual over the age of 18 who, whether paid or unpaid:

  (1) is responsible for leading or assisting in leading a youth sports program; and

  (2) has routine and consistent contact throughout an athletic season with youth athletes participating in a youth sports program.

(e) “Concussion” means a traumatic injury to the brain causing an immediate, short-lived change in mental status or an alteration of normal consciousness resulting from:

  (1) a fall;

  (2) a violent blow to the head or body; or

  (3) the shaking or spinning of the head or body.

(f) “Department” means the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks.

(g) “Facility” means any outdoor or indoor athletic space under the management of the Department.

(h) “Heat exhaustion” means a reaction to excessive heat marked by prostration, weakness, and collapse resulting from dehydration.

(i) “Heat stroke” means a severe illness caused by exposure to excessively high temperatures and characterized by:

  (1) severe headache;

  (2) high fever with a dry, hot skin;

  (3) tachycardia; and

  (4) in serious cases, collapse, coma, or death.

(j) “Neglect” has the meaning stated in Title 5, Subtitle 7 of the State Family Law Article {“Definitions: Neglect”}.

(k) “Sudden cardiac arrest” means a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.

(l) “Youth athlete” means any individual under the age of 18 who participates in a youth sports program in a non-supervisory role.

(m) “Youth sports program” means a program or event, including instruction, practice, or competition, organized for youth athletes under the age of 18 years:

  (1) conducted by the Department; or

  (2) conducted by a recreational athletic organization or any other person required to obtain a permit to use a Department facility.

*History: Ord.19-305*

*History: Ord. 22-125*

## § 54-2

Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 54-2 (2026)

Reserved

## § 54-3 Rules and regulations.

Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 54-3 (2026)

Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, the Department must adopt rules and regulations to carry out this subtitle.

*History: Ord.19-305*

*History: Text Conformed 02/16/21*

## § 54-4 Training required.

Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 54-4 (2026)

(a) Before acting as a coach for a youth sports program, an individual must have successfully completed within the last 24 months training approved in advance by the Department in:

  (1) concussion risk and management;

  (2) heat exhaustion risk and management;

  (3) heat stroke risk and management;

  (4) operation of an automated external defibrillator;

  (5) sudden cardiac arrest risk and management; and

  (6) identification and reporting of abuse and neglect.

(b) The Department may not issue a permit to any youth sports program for the use of any Department facility unless the applicant has submitted adequate documentation that all coaches associated with the program have complied with this section.

(c) In consultation and collaboration with the Baltimore City Department of Health, the Department must maintain a list of training courses or programs that would satisfy the requirements of this section.

(d) The Department may collaborate with the Baltimore City Department of Health to develop its own training program to satisfy the requirements of this section.

(e) For the purposes of conducting tournaments or other similar sporting events, the Department must accept training substantially equivalent to the training required by this section from any regional, local, state, or national youth sports organization using a Department facility under a permit issued to another youth sports program.

*History: Ord.19-305*

## § 54-5 Removal from play.

Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 54-5 (2026)

(a) For the purposes of this section, “disqualifying medical condition” means:

  (1) a concussion;

  (2) heat exhaustion;

  (3) heat stroke; or

  (4) sudden cardiac arrest.

(b) A youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining or undergoing a disqualifying medical condition must be immediately removed from physical participation in any athletic activity by a coach or a member of the coach’s staff.

(c) A youth athlete who has been removed from an athletic activity may not return to physical participation until the youth athlete has been evaluated by a licensed or certified health-care provider and receives written clearance to return to physical participation from that provider.

*History: Ord.19-305*

## § 54-6 Automated external defibrillators.

Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 54-6 (2026)

(a) The Department must make an automated external defibrillator available to any youth sports program holding a permit for use of any Department facility.

(b) Nothing in this section imposes any duty or obligation on any person to provide assistance with an automated external defibrillator to a victim of a medical emergency.

*History: Ord.19-305*

## § 54-7

Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 54-7 (2026)

Reserved

## § 54-8 Civil liability of Department, etc.

Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 54-8 (2026)

Nothing in this subtitle may be construed to create, establish, expand, reduce, contract, or eliminate any civil liability on the part of the Department, its employees, any youth sports programs, or any coaches.

*History: Ord.19-305*