A ceremony at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School soccer field on Tuesday honored a former principal and marked a new law requiring heart screenings for student athletes. The event, held on June 2, 2026, focused on the memory of Rafe Maccarone, who died in 2007 from sudden cardiac arrest during soccer practice at the school. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and requires heart screenings for high school athletes across Brevard County. Ralph Maccarone, Rafe’s father, and Valerie Maccarone attended the event, along with Tim Cool, former principal of Cocoa Beach High School, and Evan Ernst, executive director of Who We Play For, a nonprofit founded by the Maccarones. The organization works to prevent sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes through education and screening programs. The ceremony included speeches from Maccarone, Ernst, and Cool, who was presented with an award for his role in advocating for student athlete safety. The new law mandates that all high school athletes undergo heart screenings before participating in sports, a measure supported by medical experts and families who have lost loved ones to sudden cardiac events. The event also emphasized the importance of early detection and awareness, with organizers noting that screenings can identify hidden heart conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Cool, who retired in 2023, spoke about the need for continued vigilance in protecting student athletes, citing Rafe’s death as a catalyst for change. The law is part of a broader effort by Who We Play For to reduce preventable deaths linked to undiagnosed heart conditions in young athletes. The nonprofit has already trained hundreds of coaches and school staff in Brevard County on emergency response protocols. The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence for Rafe Maccarone and other athletes who have died from sudden cardiac arrest, followed by a display of heart-shaped balloons and signs reading 'Who We Play For.'