Concussion Policy and Guidelines

AFL Community Concussion Guidelines 

The guidelines have been developed to assist community football leagues, clubs, players, parents, coaches, trainers & other stakeholders on how to assess and manage any player who has suffered concussion or is suspected of having a concussion.

The Guidelines

Head impacts can be associated with serious and potentially fatal brain injuries. 

In the early stages of injury, it is often not clear whether you are dealing with a concussion or there is a more severe underlying structural head injury. For this reason, the most important steps in initial management include: 

1. Recognising a suspected concussion
2. Removing the player from the game
3. Referring the player to a medical doctor for assessment.
4. Where there is no medical doctor present to assess the player, or the diagnosis of concussion cannot be ruled out at the time of injury, the player must NOT be allowed to return to play in the same match / training session. 

Any player who has suffered a concussion or is suspected of having a concussion must be medically assessed as soon as possible. 

There should be an accredited first aider at every game and the basic rules of first aid should be used when dealing with any player who is unconscious or injured. 

These guidelines outline the important steps for return to play following concussion including:

• A brief period of complete physical and cognitive rest (24-48 hours). 
• A period of symptom-limited activity (e.g., reading, walking) to allow full recovery. 
• A graded loading program (with monitoring). 
• Clearance by a medical doctor (prior to returning to competitive contact sport / full contact training sessions). 

Players should not enter the graded loading program until they have recovered from their concussion. Recovery means that all concussion-related symptoms and signs have fully resolved (for at least 24 hours) at rest and with activities of daily living, and they have successfully returned to work or school, without restrictions. 

Useful Links and Further Information

LINK	ITEM
WAFC POL 8	Junior Rules and Regulations Policy 18 - Concussion  This policy replaces all previosuly circulated versions.
Concussion Management	The full version of the AFL's National Commuinty Concussion Guidelines. This includes the full checklist and process for returning to play (Schedule 2, page 15)
FAQ's	A list of commonly asked questions and answers around the new policy
HeadCheck App	HeadCheck flyer for placement on noticeboards, changerooms or inclusion in club newsletters.
Initial Management	Abbreviated flow chart for initial managment of concussion.  Print this flyer for placement on noticeboards, changerooms or inclusion in club newsletters.
Recover and Return to Play	Abbreviated flow chart for return to play managment following concussion.  Print this flyer for placement on noticeboards, changerooms or inclusion in club newsletters. For the detailed checklist, see Schedule 2, page 15 in Concussion Management above.

Additional Resources

Jack Riewoldt discusses his own concussion experience (video)

Jude Bolton discusses the seriousness of concussion (video)

Return to Play Following Concussion - Medical Clearance Form

Return to Play Following Concussion - Checklist Form

Concussion Management in Australian Football Poster