Concussion Protocols

Requirements for Sport Organizations (including curling centres)Ontario is a national leader in concussion management and prevention. Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety), 2018 makes it mandatory for sports organizations within Ontario to:

Ensure that athletes under 26 years of age,* parents of athletes under 18, coaches, team trainers and officials confirm every year that they have reviewed Ontario’s Concussion Awareness Resources.

Establish a Concussion Code of Conduct that sets out rules of behaviour to support concussion prevention.
Establish a Removal-from-Sport and Return-to-Sport protocol.
Read more about the concussion requirements for Ontario sport organizations

Rowan's Law

The new rules in Ontario requiring the review of Concussion Awareness Resources and Concussion Codes of Conduct came into effect on July 1, 2019. Curling centres in Ontario are LEGALLY required to comply with the following immediately. 

The next phase of implementation of this legislation includes sports organizations establishing removal-from-sport and return-to-sport protocols.  The effective date for this implementation has been delayed until January 1, 2022 due to Covid-19 pressures on the sport sector.

Government of Ontario Concussion Awareness Resources

These resources will help you learn more about concussions so you can keep yourself and others active and safe — whether you’re an athlete, student, parent, coach, official or educator.

The Rowan’s Law concussion awareness rules came into effect on July 1, 2019. After that date, sport organization must not register athletes under 26 years of age* into a sport activity unless they, as well as their parent (for athletes under 18), provide confirmation that they have reviewed one of the Concussion Awareness Resources within the previous twelve months. Sport organizations must also not allow coaches, team trainers and officials to serve as a coach, team trainer or official for or in respect of the sport organization unless they provide confirmation that they have reviewed one of the Concussion Awareness Resources, every year.

Review the resource(s) which applies to the age of the athlete: