Rowan’s Law
Ontario was the first Canadian province to pass concussion legislation with the enactment of Rowan’s Law in March 2018. The awareness and code of conduct requirements were implemented on July 1, 2019, and the protocol requirement on January 1, 2022. Additionally, the last Wednesday in September is designated as “Rowan’s Law Day” to promote concussion education. By understanding the signs and symptoms of concussions and following established protocols, coaches can significantly contribute to the health and safety of athletes.
- Annual Review: Athletes, parents, coaches, and designated individuals must annually review concussion awareness resources.
- Code of Conduct: A concussion code of conduct, reviewed annually by athletes, parents, and others, establishes rules to minimize concussions in sports.
- Protocols: Removal-from-Sport: Immediate removal of an athlete suspected of having a concussion. Return-to-Sport: Processes to ensure a safe return to training and competition
- Training: Utilize free online resources like the “Coach’s Concussion Toolkit” and “Making Head Way” module.
