Teams/Clubs: IHNSW Concussion Policy

Stage 1: Day of Injury

You recognise that your member has shown or is showing signs of suffering a suspected concussion.

Any player with signs/symptoms of a potential head injury or concussion
must be removed from the play immediately. Any player with a potential head injury may also have neck injury. If neck injury is suspected, the player must only be removed by experienced health care providers.

Some of the signs of concussion include (but are not limited to);

  • Suspected or definite loss of consciousness
  • ƒDizziness
  • ƒDisorientation
  • ƒDifficulty concentrating
  • ƒIncoherent speech
  • ƒSensitivity to light
  • ƒConfusion
  • ƒRinging in the ears
  • ƒMemory loss
  • ƒFatigue
  • ƒDazed or vacant stare
  • ƒVomiting
  • ƒHeadache
  • ƒBlurred vision
  • ƒLoss of balance

It is important to monitor your players. The signs and symptoms of concussion may occur immediately or may develop over minutes, hours, or days. It is possible that people feel better soon after a head injury, but that does not mean they have not suffered a concussion. The changes in the brain may develop over some time and may persist for days and weeks, even after a relatively minor hit.

Any player removed from field of play with a potential head injury or
concussion must be recorded on the official score sheet as part of the ‘game activity’. This also needs to be reported to the Team/Club concussion coordinator if this is not you.

At the earliest opportunity, the Team/Club concussion coordinator is required to report the suspected concussion to the IHNSW Executive Officer via this online form.

Advise the player that they should make an appointment to see a medical doctor in the next 24-48 hours where possible or as soon as practical afterwards. This should be a GP or a specialist Sports and Exercise Physician. The medical doctor will assess and guide them in their progress over the next steps in the process.

Make sure you provide the player the Head Injury Fact Sheet and Referral and Return form with Section 1 completed for them to take to their doctor.

Whilst waiting to see a medical doctor, they should completely rest (reduce
mental and physical activity), and be in the care of a responsible adult at all times. This should be for a minimum of 24-hours after suspected injury. The required time of rest will vary between players; therefore, a medical doctor will specify the minimum rest time for each player.

If the following signs and symptoms occur, they could be a sign that there is something more serious happening. These are called ‘Red Flags’ and if they occur, you should immediately attend the nearest Emergency Hospital, or ring 000 for an Ambulance.

  • Deterioration of conscious state
  • Increasing confusion or irritability
  • Changes in normal behaviour
  • Fit seizure or convulsions
  • Double vision
  • Blurred vision
  • Slurred speech
  • Continuing unsteadiness
  • Weakness or tingling / burning in arms or legs
  • Repeated vomiting – more than once
  • Severe or unusual neck pain

Stage 2: Days following injury

Rest: The player must rest (reduce mental and physical activity) until all post-concussion symptoms have disappeared and stopped all medication required for concussion symptoms.

The minimum rest time for adults is 24 hours – children and adolescents require a longer rest period of 48-72 hours.

Recover & Return to Sport: Follow up with the player that they have been assessed by a medical doctor and that they can now can now progress through Graduated Return to Play (GRTP) process stages 1-4. Normal daily activities should be able to be completed before moving to light exercise, with the objective to return to school/study/work prior to returning to play. The GRTP process should be followed with a minimum of 24 hours between each progression. They can only progress to the next stage if you they do not have any increased or recurring concussion symptoms. If this occurs, they must return to GRTP stage 1.

Record & Return to Contact Training: The player can only return to contact training when they have fully recovered and provided written medical clearance. The Concussion and Referral and Return Form Section 3 must be completed by their doctor before presenting to the Club’s Concussion Coordinator. The Concussion Coordinator will then need to submit a completed copy of this form to the IHNSW Executive Officer before they can participate in contact training.

Return to Play: A player can only return to play when they have fully recovered from a concussion. Players 18 year and under cannot return to play (GRTP – 6) for at least 19 days after all symptoms and signs have disappeared. Players 19 years and over, cannot return to play for at least 12 days (GRTP – 6) after all symptoms and signs have disappeared