A local sports physician is pleased with the province's attempt to regulate concussion protocol in youth sports.

Dr. Edward Pilat, education committee co-chair with the Sport Medicine & Science Council of Manitoba, says he has reviewed the concussions in youth sport act introduced in the Legislature on Monday, and he says it's a good step in the right direction.

"I think it's a work in progress and I think that we can build on it. I think this is something that's important to our youth and I think we should continue to monitor and work for a better situation with regards to concussions in sport."

The act requires coaches of youth athletes to identify concussion symptoms and remove any players suspected to have a concussion from the game. It also requires players to be cleared by a medical professional before returning to play.

The bill does not include any punishment for coaches who don't follow protocol, which Dr. Pilat doesn't think is necessarily a bad thing.

"I think if you get too heavy-handed, you're actually going to turn a lot of individuals away and off, and you're going to start to get stuff that is not reported and it becomes an issue that way. I think keeping things out in the open is far better."

The act requires sports organizations to adopt ready-to-play protocol for youth athletes who have or are suspected of having sustained a concussion. The law would also apply to school sports.