Concussion Management

The AFL have now finalised the AFL Concussion Guidelines for Australian Football at all levels outside the AFL / AFLW competitions. The guidelines continue to reflect the latest medical advice on managing concussion in Australian Football and are principally about protecting the health and safety of players.

AFL Barwon have adopted these guidelines effective immediately and clubs need to comply with these guidelines.

Below please find links to the following documents:

• Management of Sport-Related Concussion in Australian Football
• AFL media release
• FAQs

Whilst the document is extremely comprehensive the critical points area as follows

1. Any player who has suffered a concussion or is suspected of having concussion must be medically assessed as soon as possible after the injury and MUST NOT be allowed to return to play in the same match or training session
2. The earliest a player can return to play (once they have successfully completed a graded loading program and they have obtained medical clearance) is on the 12^th day after the day of concussion was suffered.
3. The AFL approved concussion management app – HeadCheck (www.headcheck.com.au), should be utilised to recognise and assist in the management of any suspected concussions for both adults and children.