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FAIRFIELD, IOWA -- Student athletes in Iowa received some help from a bill Governor Terry Branstad signed into law today.

The law, which will go into affect July 1, requires a parent or guardian to read and sign a form that details concussion symptoms.  KTVO spoke with Fairfield athletic director Jeff Courtright about the issue of concussions in high school.

Many sports have a chance of causing a concussion if there is contact involved.

“I've played some contact sports and probably the one I had a concussion with was soccer,” recalled Courtright.  “You go and get under-cut by a goalie and land on your head (and) get a concussion.  Pretty much any physical activity you could end up getting a blow to the head and end up with a concussion."

Courtright says this law will help spread the news about how serious dealing with concussions can be.

“I think some people are confused with whether or not it’s a sign of a concussion and maybe this will make them aware of that you have to take this seriously because it is something that could lead to the health effects in the future.”

According to the Associated Press, Iowa is the 14th state since 2009 to pass such a law.

Currently the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union have guidelines for dealing with concussions.  You can click IHSAA for the boy’s website and IGHSAU for the girl’s site.