Starting January 1, 2028, California youth sports organizations must make sure athletes have access to an AED during every official practice and game. For most leagues, the question isn’t whether, but how: does the field provide one, or do you bring your own?
Here’s how the rule works, what to ask each facility, and your options.
Not legal advice. This is a plain-English summary of California law as of November 2026. Check with your governing body and facilities.
For coach certification and the cardiac emergency plan too, see all of California’s youth sports requirements.
What the law requires
Under Health & Safety Code ยง124238.5, as amended by AB 310 (2025) and AB 387 (2026):
- Starting January 1, 2028, athletes must have access to an AED during any official practice or match. That means any scheduled session with live action or drills, or a game.
- If the facility has one. A public or private facility with permanent sports infrastructure that has an AED must make sure your league has access to it during practices and games it permits.
- If it doesn’t. If no AED is available at the facility, your league must make sure there’s access to an operational AED for the entire practice or game.
- Maintenance. Starting January 1, 2028, both facilities and leagues must keep AEDs maintained and tested according to the manufacturer’s instructions and FDA rules.
- Shared costs. Facilities must work with leagues to keep installed AEDs accessible, and to find ways to share the costs of maintaining an AED, or of installing one.
“Permanent sports infrastructure” means a fixed facility designed and maintained for organized sports that’s regularly permitted, rented or leased for youth sports programs (ยง124238, as amended by AB 387).
School facilities. For a school district or other local educational agency, the AED has to be in the same common area of the building, on the same outdoor field, or attached outside a building and reasonably reachable. The school isn’t required to keep staff on site just to give you access.
Step 1: List every location and ask about AEDs
Make a list of every field, gym and pool where your league holds official practices or games. For each one, ask the facility:
- Do you have an AED? Where exactly is it?
- Can our coaches reach it during our practice and game times, including evenings and weekends?
- Who maintains it, and when were the pads and battery last replaced?
- If you don’t have one, do you plan to install one, and would you share the cost?
Write the answers into your cardiac emergency response plan. The plan must list AED locations.
Step 2: Fill the gaps
For any location without an accessible AED, you have a few options.
Buy a league AED
This makes sense if you practice at fields without AEDs all season. Assign one AED per team or field and decide who carries it. A-B-CPR sells AEDs and can help you choose, set up and register one. โ AEDs for sale
Rent long-term
This is one monthly cost that covers the device and its upkeep, so nobody on the board has to track pad expiration dates. โ AED rental
Rent for a tournament or event
This covers a busy weekend with extra fields in use. โ Event AED rentals
Share with the facility
Under AB 387, facilities with AEDs must work with you on access and cost sharing. Put the arrangement in writing, ideally in your field use permit or agreement.
Not sure whether to buy or rent? Read why rent an AED.
Step 3: Keep every AED ready
The law requires AEDs to be maintained and tested per the manufacturer’s instructions and FDA rules. For a league, that usually means:
- Assign one person to check each AED on a set schedule (status light, pads and battery dates)
- Replace pads and batteries before they expire
- Log every check
- Restock pads after any use
California also has general rules for anyone who acquires an AED, covered in our California AED requirements guide.
Step 4: Make sure coaches can use it
An AED only helps if someone nearby is willing to use it. Starting January 1, 2027, coaches must be certified in CPR and AED use. See coach training and the admin portal. For hands-on AED practice with a trainer device, book an on-site session for your teams.
San Diego County resources
- County AED Voucher Program. San Diego County Parks and Recreation offers up to $1,100 per organization toward an approved mobile AED, for San Diego County-based youth sports programs. It’s one voucher per organization, redeemed through the County’s portal, and organizations must commit to basic AED training and an AED emergency response plan. โ County AED Voucher Program
- Public AEDs at county sports facilities. The County is installing outdoor, publicly accessible AEDs at its sports facilities (same page as above).
- Register your AED. The County encourages registering AEDs in the free PulsePoint AED app so 911 dispatchers can find them.
Program details can change, so check the County’s page for current terms.
Need an AED for your league?
Buy, rent long-term, or rent for a tournament. Call 619-281-3304 and we’ll help you figure out what each field needs.
See AEDs ยท AED rental
FAQ
When do California youth leagues need AEDs at practices?
Starting January 1, 2028, athletes must have access to an AED during every official practice and game.
Does the field have to provide the AED?
A facility with permanent sports infrastructure that has an AED must give your league access during the practices and games it permits. If there’s no AED at the facility, your league must make sure one is available.
Who maintains the AED?
Whoever’s AED it is. Starting in 2028, both facilities and leagues must keep their AEDs maintained and tested per the manufacturer and FDA rules.
Does the AED have to be at the field the whole time?
If your league is providing it, the law says it must be available during the entire practice or game.
Sources
Official sources for the requirements summarized on this page:
