Review the Concussion Awareness Resources (if you are an athlete, parent, coach, team trainer or official).
Ontario is a national leader in concussion management and prevention. Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety), 2018 makes it mandatory for sports organizations to:
* Special Rule: A sport organization that is a university, college of applied arts and technology or other post-secondary institution must not register any athlete regardless of age unless the same requirements are met.
The new rules requiring the review of Concussion Awareness Resources and Concussion Codes of Conduct came into effect on July 1, 2019.
The rules for removal-from-sport and return-to-sport protocols came into effect on January 1, 2022.
Read more about the concussion requirements for sport organizations
The Ministry of Education has a concussion policy (PPM 158: School Board Policies on Concussion) for school boards, school authorities and Provincial and Demonstration schools.
This policy was updated by the Ministry of Education to be consistent with Rowan’s Law, and new requirements came into effect on January 31, 2020.
Read more about the concussion requirements for schools
Physicians and nurse practitioners are specified as the only health care providers that can medically assess and provide confirmation of medical clearance for athletes to return to participation in amateur competitive sport.
Read more about the concussion requirements for health care providers
Coaches are uniquely positioned to promote concussion awareness and safety within a sport organization and may take on the role of a designated person with specific responsibilities under Rowan’s Law.
Access resources on the Coaches Association of Ontario website