As of July 1st 2019, phase 1 of Ontario’s Rowan’s Law Concussion Code of Conduct officially came into effect. The act and regulation specify that community sport organizations must require that athletes under 26 years of age, as well as their parent (for athletes under 18), coaches and team trainers confirm that they have reviewed the sport organization’s Concussion Code of Conduct every year before registering in a sport activity within the sport organization or serving with the sport organization.
With the vast majority of community sports organizations in Canada being operated by volunteers this raises the question of who will develop the necessary protocols, and how will sport organizations ensure they are being followed. It is easy to have parents and coaches sign a piece of paper, it is much harder to ensure concussion awareness is being applied in game and practice settings.
This is why we at the Ottawa Sport Council are aiming to bridge the gap between legislation and application with our new Concussion Awareness Program. The goal of the program is simple: assist local sporting organizations become Rowan’s Law compliant, and arm volunteers and athletes with the knowledge of how to apply the 4 R’s of concussion management (Recognize, Remove, Refer, Return). This free program will bring certified health care professionals directly to associations to provide education and resources regarding how to foster a safer environment in which their athletes can thrive.
Our sessions will bring knowledge and policies from Parachute Canada, Canada’s leader in injury prevention, to local associations. This knowledge transfer will allow even the smallest volunteer run associations to become not only compliant with Rowan’s Law, but leaders in the concussion awareness movement.
Interested? Have more questions? Email us to reserve a session for your organization, or register for a larger general group session. Sessions will launch in January 2020.
Help take the next step in concussion safety for your organization today.