Sep 02, 2019 | Stephen Ballard | 607 views
Concussion Code of Conduct
Saugeen Shores Minor Hockey Association Concussion Policy and Code of Conduct Saugeen Shores Minor Hockey Association (SSMHA) is committed to the long-term health and safety of our players. In recent years, the understanding of the challenges of concussion has increased. We are responding by taking the following steps to help protect our players:
1. Mandatory Concussion Seminar for Coaches and Trainersa. September 30 2019, 7 pm, Location Green Room at the Coliseum conducted by Brock McDonald, MPT MPCA2.
Requirement that all players and parents familiarize themselves with Concussion signs and symptoms and sign the SSMHA Concussion Code of Conduct prior to going on the ice. This is in keeping with Rowan's Law which was enacted in Ontario on July 1 2019 (see below).
Coaches and Bench Staff are required to complete a similar SSMHA Concussion Code of Conduct for Bench Staff. These will be provided at rep try-outs this week, and at evaluation skates later in September.
SSMHA_Concussion_Code_of_Conduct_Player_Parent.pdf
SSMHA_Concussion_Code_of_Conduct_Bench_Staff.pdf3.
Recommended education for parents and players
a. Watch parachute Canada video http://horizon.parachutecanada.org/en/article/educational-video-smart-hockey/
b. Watch Dr Mike Evans ‘Concussion 101’ https://www.reframehealthlab.com/concussion-management/
4. Implementing strict adherence to the Hockey Canada Concussion Policy
5. Providing the Hockey Canada Concussion Card / Concussion Education and Awareness Program to all coaches and trainers in the trainers box to assist in concussion recognition on the ice and bench
6. Recommending the 6-Step Return to Play
7. Insistence on completion of Concussion Follow-Up and Communication Form prior to return to competitive play
8. We require all Bantam and Midget players to receive pre-season pre-concussion baseline testing.Rowan's LawOn July 1 2019, Ontario enacted 'Rowan's Law' making it mandatory for all sports organizations to:
1. 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
2. establish a Concussion Code of Conduct that sets out rules of behaviour to support concussion prevention
3. establish a Removal-from-Sport and Return-to-Sport protocolSaugeen Shores Minor Hockey Association therefore requires that players, parents, and bench staff all sign the SSMHA Concussion Code of Conduct before going on the ice.
Who was Rowan Stringer?
Rowan Stringer loved rugby. A competitive and keen athlete, she was captain of her high school’s team. Tragically, in May 2013, 17-year old Rowan died as the result of head injuries she sustained while playing rugby. In the week before her last game, Rowan was hit twice while playing, likely sustaining a concussion after each blow. Her concussions went unreported, and she continued to play. Rowan suspected something wasn’t right—she texted a friend about her condition and used Google to search for information about concussions. When she was hit again in her final game, Rowan suffered what is known as Second Impact Syndrome—catastrophic swelling caused by a second injury to a brain still healing from previous trauma. Rowan collapsed on the field on May 8, 2013, and died four days later.