Concussion in Sport ResourcesKnow the facts about concussion in sport. Discover innovative tools and resources to support your organization, inform your practices with evidence and ultimately keep your athletes safer. |
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“The athletes’ safety is a top priority for me as the Minister of Sport. To raise awareness about concussions, to prevent them and to manage them, we need every sport partner to take concrete measures. Since April 2021, all nationally funded sport organizations are mandated to have a concussion policy to ensure athletes’ safety.”
– The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, January 2022
CONCUSSION RESEARCH
Research and evidence underpin Canada’s strategy on managing and preventing sport-related concussions. This hub makes it easy for sport organizations to do more with research, identifying the latest findings from trusted knowledge sources and translating it into usable formats.
COMMUNICATION TOOLS
Use evidence-informed tools to properly manage and prevent concussions in your sport. SIRC’s toolkit includes trusted educational programs; and dissemination tools such as posters, videos and other marketing materials to reach your members. Discover tools for all participants, from coaches, athletes, parents, referees and more.
The 4 R’s: Steps to a Safe Recovery
PROTOCOLS & POLICIES
The protocols and policies governing Canadian sport organizations are based on the same set of evidence, ensuring a consistent and harmonized approach. This hub offers access to protocols and policies at the national level, while offering the tools and templates needed to create your own.
BEST PRACTICES & INSPIRATION
Thanks to the leadership of Canadian sport leaders, there is no shortage of concussion success stories in Canadian sport. Using evidence-informed tools and strategies, many organizations have created unique, innovative and effective approaches to concussion management and prevention in their sport. SIRC is sharing some of these stories to inspire further change.
Coach’s Voice
John Herdman, head coach of the Canadian Men’s National Soccer Team, speaks to the impact a concussion protocol has on a coach’s role in keeping athletes safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Recognize the signs and symptoms of concussion.
If an athlete shows or reports any symptoms of concussion, or just “doesn’t feel right”, they should be removed from play and examined by a licensed healthcare professional.
Leading Resources
Remove the athlete from the game or practice.
To properly treat and manage a concussion, it is important that an athlete is immediately removed from the game or practice following a concussion. However, removing an athlete from play is not an easy decision, which is why it is important to have informed and relevant policies and procedures in place to ensure athletes are protected.
Leading Resources
Refer to a licensed healthcare professional.
Only a medical professional can officially diagnose a concussion, and there is rarely a licensed medical professional on the field of play. After removing a concussed athlete from the field of play, refer them to a license medical professional to receive an informed diagnosis and recovery plan.
Leading Resources
Return to school and then to sport and play.
Athletes who return to activities before recovering from a concussion are more likely to sustain a second concussion with more severe symptoms. However, once the brain has healed and with a licensed medical professional’s approval, an athlete can gradually start returning to physical activities.
Returning to play safely requires patience, attention and caution, and will be a different experience for every athlete.
Leading Resources
Help spread awareness about concussions with posters, videos and other marketing materials.
Use SIRC’s concussion toolkit, including:
- Pre-Season Tools
- In-Season Tools
- Educational Guides
- Programs, Apps & Educational Videos
- SIRC printed promotional materials
- SIRC online promotional materials
Athletes don’t have to be “knocked out” to have suffered a concussion. In fact, only 10% of concussions involve a loss of consciousness.
Any blow to the head, face or neck area, or a blow to the body causing a sudden jarring of the head may cause a concussion (e.g. a force to the head, falling to the ground, receiving a body-check).