Otonabee Minor Hockey - Concussion Safety Code of Conduct
On March 7, 2018 Royal Assent was granted to Bill 193 to enact Rowan’s Law in Ontario.
The Act imposes various requirements on sport organizations, which are defined as persons or entities that carry out, for profit or otherwise, a prescribed activity in connection with an amateur competitive sport and that satisfy such other criteria as may be prescribed. Here are highlights of those requirements:
1. A sport organization must not register an individual who is under the prescribed age in a sports activity unless the individual confirms that they have reviewed the concussion awareness resources approved by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. The regulations may provide for other circumstances where a sport organization must require individuals to confirm that they have reviewed the resources. For individuals under 18 years of age or such other prescribed age, the parent or guardian of the individual must also confirm that they have reviewed the resources. Individuals who serve as a coach or in other prescribed positions for a sport organization must also confirm that they have reviewed the resources.
2. A sport organization must establish a concussion code of conduct. Similar to the rules described above, various individuals must confirm that they have reviewed a sport organization’s concussion code of conduct.
3. A sport organization must establish a removal-from-sport protocol for athletes who are suspected of having sustained a concussion. The protocol must, among other things, establish a specific process to implement the immediate removal of an athlete and must designate persons who are responsible for ensuring the removal of the athlete and ensuring that they do not return to training, practice or competition, except in accordance with the sport organization’s return-to-sport protocol.
4. A sport organization is required to establish a return-to-sport protocol that applies with respect to athletes who have sustained a concussion or are suspected of having sustained a concussion. The protocol must, among other things, establish a specific process to implement the return of an athlete to training, practice or competition and must designate persons who are responsible for ensuring that an athlete does not return until permitted to do so in accordance with the protocol.
Implications for All Teams
1. The league expects all members of a team to watch the ThinkFirst SMART HOCKEY Safety Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41V8iLCRu6Q
2. Parents and players must review, sign and return the Code of Conduct (Concussion Safety). See below or available at https://www.coach.ca/files/PlayerCodeOfConduct.pdf
3. Team Trainers must implement the Removal from and Return to Play protocols specified as follows: http://hdco.on.ca/pages/documents/concussion_card.pdf
Code of Conduct (Concussion Safety)
Respect yourself:
- I will wear the proper equipment and wear it correctly.
- I will develop my skill and body strength so that I can play the game to the best of my abilities.
- I understand that a concussion is a serious brain injury that has both short- and long-term effects.
- I understand that I don’t need to lose consciousness to have had a concussion.
- I understand that any blow to the head, face, or neck, or a blow to the body which causes a sudden jarring of the head may cause a concussion.
- I understand that if I suspect I might have a concussion I should stop playing the sport immediately.
- I understand that continuing to play with a suspected concussion increases my risk of more severe, longer lasting concussion symptoms, as well as increases my risk of other injury.
- I will not hide my symptoms. I will tell my coach, trainer, parent, or other responsible person if I am concerned I have had a concussion and/or experience any signs and symptoms of concussion following a collision.
- I understand I will not be able to return to play following a collision where I experience signs and symptoms of concussion.
- I understand I will have to be cleared by a physician or qualified medical professional, preferably one with experience in concussion management, prior to returning to play.
- I understand I will have to follow the 6-step Return to Play guidelines when returning to activity.
Respect Others:
- I will respect the rules of the game.
- I will respect my opponents and play fair.
- I will not fight or attempt to injure anyone on purpose.
- I will respect my coaches, trainers, parents and the medical professionals and any decisions made with regards to my health and safety.