Concussion safety

1. Read an Ontario concussion resource

Choose the booklet for your child’s age. Each takes about 10 minutes, and some are available in other languages.

• Ages 10 and under
• Ages 11 to 14
• Ages 15 and up (also for parents and coaches)

2. DYES Concussion Code of Conduct

Players and parents

• We play fair and respect every player, coach, volunteer and official.
• We wear the right gear, follow the rules and build skills safely.
• We know a concussion is a brain injury, and it can happen without being knocked out.
• We don’t hide symptoms. If we think we, or another player, might have a concussion, we stop and tell a coach or another adult right away.
• After a suspected concussion, the player stays out until a doctor or nurse practitioner gives medical clearance.
• We tell the player’s school and any other teams about a concussion, so everyone can help with recovery.
• We follow the DYES return-to-sport steps below and take the time needed to recover.

Coaches and volunteers

• We play fair, respect everyone, and make sure players do the same.
• We make it safe for players to speak up, and give them a chance before and after every session to raise concussion concerns.
• We remove any player with a suspected concussion and never let them return the same day.
• We support each player’s return to sport and respect medical decisions.

3. If a concussion is suspected

1. Remove from play. The player stops right away and does not return that day.
2. Call the parent or guardian. The coach tells the family what happened. In an emergency, we call 911.
3. Get a medical assessment. The player sees a doctor or nurse practitioner.
4. Return step by step. If a concussion is diagnosed, the player follows the doctor’s gradual plan, and comes back to full play only with medical clearance shared with the coach.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. More about the law: Rowan’s Law on ontario.ca.