Concussion – Rowan’s Law

Top 10 ways to help prevent concussions from happening in your sport and how to be prepared for them when they do.

1. Get trained in NCCP Making Head Way in Sport!
2. Review the Concussion Guide for Coaches annually
   – If your sport organization has advised you that you need to follow the rules of Rowan’s Law please review one format of the following Concussion Awareness Resources and your sport organization’s  Code of Conduct
   – If you are a Teacher-Coach you must also review the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education on Concussion
3. Review your sport organization’s Concussion Policy annually
4. Discuss concussions with parents and athletes during your pre-season meeting
5. Share the Concussion Guides and/or Awareness Resources with everyone involved in your sport (coaches, parents, and athletes)
6. Have a Player Code of Conduct that ensures safe play
   – If your sport organization has advised you that you need to follow the rules of Rowan’s Law  please review and utilize their Code of Conduct
7. Ensure your athletes are wearing properly fitted equipment and obey the rules of the sport
8. Promote an open relationship between you and your athletes so that they feel safe and comfortable reporting injuries and understand the risks of not doing so
9. Review your sport specific resources for drills and activities that can reduce the risk of concussion and other injuries
10. Utilize the valuable tools in this Toolkit!

A concussion should be suspected in any athlete who sustains a significant impact to the head, face, neck, or body and demonstrates ANY of the visual signs of a suspected concussion or reports ANY symptoms of a suspected concussion (see CRT6).

WHEN IN DOUBT SIT THEM OUT!

Follow your sport organization’s Removal-from-Sport protocol. Any athlete with a suspected concussion should be removed from activity immediately for medical assessment by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner.

No-Concussion diagnosis by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner = return to activity

Concussion diagnosis by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner = graduated return to sport strategy (consult your sport’s Concussion Policy and/or Return-to-Sport Strategy)

This is an important time to remind parents and athletes of the Concussion Guides and Awareness Resources and the pre-season documents they received.  It takes everyone involved to ensure a safe return to activity!

How does Rowan’s Law impact me as a coach?

The goal of Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety), 2018, is to protect amateur competitive athletes by reducing their risk of getting a concussion. It focuses on improving concussion safety and awareness, both on the field and at school.

Coaches play an important role in the lives of athletes. You teach, train and help develop athletes to achieve their full potential. You analyze their performance, hone their skills and offer encouragement. Because of your role, you have a unique opportunity to promote concussion awareness and safety among athletes and their parents.

The health of our athletes depends on your support. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion and know what to do when a concussion happens. It could save a life.

Here’s how:

1. Review the Concussion Awareness Resources regularly.

Rowan’s Law requires that all coaches and team trainers review the government-approved Concussion Awareness Resources every year before serving in a sport organization or at a school. These resources include important information about:

• The nature of concussions
• Common signs and symptoms
• Steps to take if an athlete is suspected of having a concussion
• Protocols for removing an athlete from sport and helping them return.

2. Take advantage of free online training.

The Coaches Association of Ontario offers a “Coach’s Concussion Toolkit”, and the Coaching Association of Canada provides the “Making Head Way” training module. We encourage you to take advantage of these valuable resources.

3. Be familiar with your sport organization’s Code of Conduct.

Rowan’s Law requires all coaches and team trainers to review their sport organization’s Concussion Code of Conduct each year before the start of the season.

The code sets out expectations and rules of behaviour to minimize concussions while playing sport. This means that as a coach or team trainer, you acknowledge the seriousness of concussions, commit to the health and safety of all athletes, and create an environment where everyone is encouraged to speak up if an athlete experiences any symptoms after an impact.

4.  Know the Removal and Return-to-Play protocols.

Coaches also play an important role in following the Removal-from-Sport protocol, when an athlete is suspected of having sustained a concussion, and the Return-to-Sport protocol, to ensure their safe return following a suspected or sustained concussion. Your role includes supporting an athlete as they progress through the steps outlined in the Return-to-Sport protocol.

On July 1^st, 2019 and January 1^st, 2022, new rules come into effect through Rowan’s Law to improve concussion safety in amateur competitive sport.

If you are a coach and your sport organization has advised that you will need to follow the rules of Rowan’s Law you will need to:

• Review any one of the official concussion awareness resources before registering or serving with your sport organization
• Review your sport organization’s Code of Conduct
• Confirm that you have reviewed both of these resources every year with your sport organization(s)
• Know and help implement your sport organization’s Removal AND Return-to-Play protocols