The major competitions in the western area are set to take on new concussion guidelines put forward by the Australian Institute of Sport.
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The main goal is to improve the safety of those that participate in community sport, especially children ahead of the start of Australian school sport competitions and winter code seasons.
"If in doubt, sit them out," was the six-word warning from the AIS to every code of sport.
The guidelines include a return-to-sport protocol aimed at ensuring a minimum three-week break between a concussion and the resumption of competitive contact or collision sport.
"It's important to manage all instances of concussion with an abundance of caution and make it clear that a conservative management approach is needed for people aged under 19 who have growing brains and are at risk of prolonged recovery times, as well as for community sport where advanced health care support is often not available," AIS Chief Medical Officer David Hughes said.
"The AIS wants everyone involved in sport to remember, when considering an athlete with possible concussion, 'if in doubt, sit them out'."
The new guidelines advise children aged 19-and-under to be completely free of concussion symptoms for 14 days before they can return to contact training, and this also applies to all other incidences of concussion in community sport.
The mandatory minimum stand-down period following sport-related concussions has also been extended to 21 days from the time of the head injury to returning to competitive contact sport.
Currently in rugby union around Australia adults 19 and over can return to play after a minimum of 12 days following a concussion, while the period is 19 days for children.
In the Peter McDonald Premiership rugby league competition, the same adult age group has an 11-day return to play period and 19 days for children 18 and under.
The updated AIS guidelines are not mandatory and official decision has been made for any code as of this stage, it is believed both Central West Rugby Union and the PMP will implement the changes this year.
For the CWRU, the expected concussion protocol adjustment comes after tackle height rules were also changed for 2024 in a bid to eliminate head contact.
The governing body has introduced a new rule reducing tackle height, with any contact above the bottom of the sternum now considered a high tackle.
RA is introducing a two-year trial at the community level, with officials to collate the data following this period.
"It's been pretty well accepted from talking to people so far," CWRU chief executive Jarrod Simpson said.
"Since 2018 we've had a formal return to play protocol for concussions so it's something we're used to dealing with.
"As a sport, we're just trying to make it safer for players to play."
Federal health minister Mark Butler told Channel Nine the new guidelines would add peace of mind for parents and others overseeing community sport.
"It's going to give real confidence to parents," he said.
"I used to ride the boundary watching my son play footy. By the time they're in their early teens now, they are big units and they hit hard.
"Every now and then you'd see a kid knocked out and it was a real worry for not just the parents but for the whole group around the boundaries."
In addition to the 21 day 'time out' following a concussion, the minister highlighted the introduction of concussion officers to "make sure that the kids or the adults in community sport are being followed up by ... medical experts".
THE AIS RETURN-TO-SPORT PROTOCOL INCLUDES:
- Introduction of light exercise after an initial 24-48 hours of relative rest.
- Several checkpoints to be cleared prior to progression.
- Gradual reintroduction of learning and work activities. As with physical activity, cognitive stimulation such as using screens, reading and undertaking learning activities should be gradually introduced after 48 hours.
- At least 14 days symptom-free (at rest) before return to contact/collision training. The temporary exacerbation of mild symptoms with exercise is acceptable, as long as the symptoms quickly resolve at the completion of exercise, and as long as the exercise-related symptoms have completely resolved before resumption of contact training.
- A minimum period of 21 days until the resumption of competitive contact/collision sport.
- Consideration of all symptom domains (physical, cognitive, emotional, fatigue, sleep) throughout the recovery process.
- Return to learn and work activities should take priority over return to sport. That is, while graduated return to learn/work activities and sport activities can occur simultaneously, the athlete should not return to full contact sport activities until they have successfully completed a fully return to learn/work activities.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
Melanie Dinjaski
Melanie Dinjaski is an experienced sports journalist at the Canberra Times with a genuine love of all sports. She's covered every code from NRL to NFL. Melanie aims to bring Canberrans all the sports news they need to know. If you have a story worth sharing, get in touch!
Melanie Dinjaski is an experienced sports journalist at the Canberra Times with a genuine love of all sports. She's covered every code from NRL to NFL. Melanie aims to bring Canberrans all the sports news they need to know. If you have a story worth sharing, get in touch!
