ROWAN’S LAW: SHBL Concussion Code Of Conduct
Rowan’s Law was named for Rowan Stringer, a high school rugby player from Ottawa, who died in the spring of 2013 from a condition known as second impact syndrome (swelling of the brain caused by a subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed). Rowan is believed to have experienced three concussions over six days while playing rugby. She had a concussion but didn’t know her brain needed time to heal. Neither did her parents, teachers or coaches.
Rowan’s Law, passed in Ontario in 2019, requires that all sports league coaches, athletes under 26 years old, parents of athletes under 18 years old and officials MUST review the government-approved Concussion Awareness Resources every year before serving in a sports organization. www.ontario.ca/page/rowans-law-concussion-awareness-resources
Rowan’s Law: Concussion Awareness Resources
Learn about the Concussion Awareness Resources that amateur athletes, parents, coaches, team trainers and officials are required to review.
www.ontario.ca
Requirements For Sports Leagues:
STEP 1: Ensure that athletes under 26 years of age, parents of athletes under 18, coaches or team designate and officials confirm every year that they have reviewed Ontario’s Concussion Awareness Resources. ( SHBL: Coaches will review the above link prior to the season and identify players on their teams under 26 years old. Coaches will advise those players of their requirement based upon their age. )
STEP 2: Establish a Concussion Code Of Conduct that sets out rules of behaviour to support concussion prevention. ( SHBL: Coaches will request time be called if they observe a player taking an impact where a possible concussion could have occurred. Umpire will call time and coach will attend to the player determining if any signs and symptoms of a concussion are recognized. Coaches have the authority to remove a player under 26 years old from the game if they suspect a possible concussion.)
STEP 3: Establish a Removal-from-Sport and Return-to-Sport protocol. ( SHBL: Coaches will follow up with any players under 26 years old if they have been removed from a game due to a suspected concussion. Players will be allowed to return to playing based upon the advice from a physician or nurse practitioner.)
Sample Assessment Questions For Coaches On The Field:
* Ask player to name the opponent and state the score of the game.
* Ask player to say his name and date of birth.
* Ask player to say the months of the year in reverse order.
* Ask player to state the date, month, year, day of the week and current time.
* Ask player to repeat a sequence of numbers backwards.
Concussion Symptoms:
* Headache. This is the most common symptom.
* Nausea or vomiting.
* Confusion.
* Temporary loss of consciousness.
* Balance problems / dizziness / lightheadedness.
* Double vision or blurry vision.
* Pupils not the same size, one pupil is larger than the other one.
*Ringing in the ears.
* Sensitivity to light or noise.
*Feeling tired or drowsy.
* Changes in sleep patterns, like sleeping much more or lesss than usual or can’t sleep.
* Trouble understanding and or concentrating.
* Depression or sadness.
*Being irritable, nervous and anxious.
*Feelings of being just not right or in a fog.
* Difficulty paying attention forgetful and or memory loss.
Call 911 if the person is unconscious, has lost consciousness or had a seizure.
Rowan’s Law was named for Rowan Stringer, a high school rugby player from Ottawa, who died in the spring of 2013 from a condition known as second impact syndrome (swelling of the brain caused by a subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed). Rowan is believed to have experienced three concussions over six days while playing rugby. She had a concussion but didn’t know her brain needed time to heal. Neither did her parents, teachers or coaches.
Rowan’s Law, passed in Ontario in 2019, requires that all sports league coaches, athletes under 26 years old, parents of athletes under 18 years old and officials MUST review the government-approved Concussion Awareness Resources every year before serving in a sports organization. www.ontario.ca/page/rowans-law-concussion-awareness-resources
Rowan’s Law: Concussion Awareness Resources
Learn about the Concussion Awareness Resources that amateur athletes, parents, coaches, team trainers and officials are required to review.
www.ontario.ca
Requirements For Sports Leagues:
STEP 1: Ensure that athletes under 26 years of age, parents of athletes under 18, coaches or team designate and officials confirm every year that they have reviewed Ontario’s Concussion Awareness Resources. ( SHBL: Coaches will review the above link prior to the season and identify players on their teams under 26 years old. Coaches will advise those players of their requirement based upon their age. )
STEP 2: Establish a Concussion Code Of Conduct that sets out rules of behaviour to support concussion prevention. ( SHBL: Coaches will request time be called if they observe a player taking an impact where a possible concussion could have occurred. Umpire will call time and coach will attend to the player determining if any signs and symptoms of a concussion are recognized. Coaches have the authority to remove a player under 26 years old from the game if they suspect a possible concussion.)
STEP 3: Establish a Removal-from-Sport and Return-to-Sport protocol. ( SHBL: Coaches will follow up with any players under 26 years old if they have been removed from a game due to a suspected concussion. Players will be allowed to return to playing based upon the advice from a physician or nurse practitioner.)
Sample Assessment Questions For Coaches On The Field:
* Ask player to name the opponent and state the score of the game.
* Ask player to say his name and date of birth.
* Ask player to say the months of the year in reverse order.
* Ask player to state the date, month, year, day of the week and current time.
* Ask player to repeat a sequence of numbers backwards.
Concussion Symptoms:
* Headache. This is the most common symptom.
* Nausea or vomiting.
* Confusion.
* Temporary loss of consciousness.
* Balance problems / dizziness / lightheadedness.
* Double vision or blurry vision.
* Pupils not the same size, one pupil is larger than the other one.
*Ringing in the ears.
* Sensitivity to light or noise.
*Feeling tired or drowsy.
* Changes in sleep patterns, like sleeping much more or lesss than usual or can’t sleep.
* Trouble understanding and or concentrating.
* Depression or sadness.
*Being irritable, nervous and anxious.
*Feelings of being just not right or in a fog.
* Difficulty paying attention forgetful and or memory loss.
Call 911 if the person is unconscious, has lost consciousness or had a seizure.