Concussions & Rowan’s Law

Rowan’s Law honours the memory of Rowan Stringer - a 17-year-old rugby player from Ottawa. Rowan died tragically in 2013 after experiencing three concussions over the course of six days while playing rugby. She had a concussion but didn’t know her brain needed time to heal. Neither did her parents, teachers or coaches.

The goal of Rowan’s Law is to protect amateur athletes by improving concussion safety on the field of play to help prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.

Squash Ontario is responsible for ensuring the following members of the squash community have acknowledged on an annual basis that they have read 1) concussion education/awareness information and 2) Concussion Protocol, 3) removal-from-sport protocols and 4) return-to-sport protocols:

• Athletes under 18 AND their parents

• Athletes under aged 19-26

• Students of any age

• Coaches

• Referees

• Tournament Organizer

What is a concussion

Recognize symptoms of a concussion

Everyone can help recognize a possible concussion if they know what to look for.

A person with a concussion might have any of the signs or symptoms listed below. They might show up right away or hours, or even days later. Just one sign or symptom is enough to suspect a concussion. Most people with a concussion do not lose consciousness.

What to do if you suspect a concussion

1. Recognize signs and symptoms of a concussion and remove yourself or the athlete from the sport/physical activity, even if you feel OK or they insist they are OK.

2. Get yourself or the athlete checked out by a physician or nurse practitioner.

3. Support gradual return to school and sport.

Head Injury Recognition

Although the formal diagnosis of concussion should be made following a medical assessment, all sport stakeholders including athletes, parents, coaches, teachers, officials, and licensed healthcare professionals are responsible for the recognition and reporting of squash participants who may demonstrate visual signs of a head injury or who report concussion related symptoms. This is particularly important because many sport and recreation venues will not have access to on-site licensed healthcare professionals.

A concussion should be suspected:

• in any squash participant who sustains a significant impact to the head, face, neck, or body and demonstrates ANY of the visual signs of a suspected concussion or reports ANY symptoms of a suspected concussion as detailed in the Concussion Recognition Tool 5.

• if a squash participant reports ANY concussion symptoms to one of their peers, parents, teachers, or coaches or if anyone witnesses a squash participant exhibiting any of the visual signs of concussion.

In some cases, a squash participant may demonstrate signs or symptoms of a more severe head or spine injury including convulsions, worsening headaches, vomiting or neck pain. If a squash participant demonstrates any of the ‘Red Flags’ indicated by the Concussion Recognition Tool 5.

If a more severe head or spine injury should be suspected, and Emergency Medical Assessment should be pursued.

Squash Ontario’s Concussion Code of Conduct

For Players, Parents, Guardians

I will help prevent concussions by:

• Wearing the proper equipment for my sport and wearing it correctly.

• Developing my skills and strength so that I can participate to the best of my ability.

• Respecting the rules of my sport or activity.

• My commitment to fair play and respect for all (respecting other athletes, coaches, team trainers and officials).

I will care for my health and safety by taking concussions seriously, and I understand that:

• A concussion is a brain injury that can have both short- and long-term effects.

• A blow to my head, face or neck, or a blow to the body that causes the brain to move around inside the skull may cause a concussion.

• I don’t need to lose consciousness to have had a concussion.

• I have a commitment to concussion recognition and reporting, including self-reporting of possible concussion and reporting to a designated person when an individual suspects that another individual may have sustained a concussion.*(Meaning: If I think I might have a concussion I should stop participating in further training, practice or competition immediately, or tell an adult if I think another athlete has a concussion.)

• Continuing to participate in further training, practice or competition with a possible concussion increases my risk of more severe, longer lasting symptoms, and increases my risk of other injuries.

I will not hide concussion symptoms. I will speak up for myself and others.

• I will not hide my symptoms. I will tell a coach, official, team trainer, parent or another adult I trust if I experience any symptoms of concussion.

• If someone else tells me about concussion symptoms, or I see signs they might have a concussion, I will tell a coach, official, team trainer, parent or another adult I trust so they can help.

• I understand that if I have a suspected concussion, I will be removed from sport and that I will not be able to return to training, practice or competition until I undergo a medical assessment by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner and have been medically cleared to return to training, practice or competition.

• I have a commitment to sharing any pertinent information regarding incidents of removal from sport with the athlete’s school and any other sport organization with which the athlete has registered.*(Meaning: If I am diagnosed with a concussion, I understand that letting all of my other coaches and teachers know about my injury will help them support me while I recover.)

I will take the time I need to recover, because it is important for my health.

• I understand my commitment to supporting the return-to-sport process.* (I will have to follow my sport organization’s Return-to-Sport Protocol.)

• I understand I will have to be medically cleared by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner before returning to training, practice or competition.

• I will respect my coaches, team trainers, parents, health-care professionals, and medical doctors and nurse practitioners, regarding my health and safety.

For Coaches, Team Trainers

I can help prevent concussions through my:

• Efforts to ensure that my athletes wear the proper equipment and wear it correctly.

• Efforts to help my athletes develop their skills and strength so they can participate to the best of their abilities.

• Respect for the rules of my sport or activity and efforts to ensure that my athletes do, too.

• Commitment to fair play and respect for all (respecting other coaches, team trainers, officials and all participants and ensuring my athletes respect others and play fair).*

I will care for the health and safety of all participants by taking concussions seriously. I understand that:

• A concussion is a brain injury that can have both short- and long-term effects.

• A blow to the head, face, or neck, or a blow to the body may cause the brain to move around inside the skull and result in a concussion.

• A person doesn’t need to lose consciousness to have had a concussion.

• An athlete with a suspected concussion should stop participating in training, practice or competition immediately.

• I have a commitment to concussion recognition and reporting, including self-reporting of possible concussion and reporting to a designated person when an individual suspects that another individual may have sustained a concussion.*

• Continuing to participate in further training, practice or competition with a suspected concussion increases a person’s risk of more severe, longer lasting symptoms, and increases their risk of other injuries or even death.

I will create an environment where participants feel safe and comfortable speaking up. I will:

• Encourage athletes not to hide their symptoms, but to tell me, an official, parent or another adult they trust if they experience any symptoms of concussion after an impact.

• Lead by example. I will tell a fellow coach, official, team trainer and seek medical attention by a physician or nurse practitioner if I am experiencing any concussion symptoms.

• Understand and respect that any athlete with a suspected concussion must be removed from sport and not permitted to return until they undergo a medical assessment by a physician or nurse practitioner and have been medically cleared to return to training, practice or competition.

• For coaches only: Commit to providing opportunities before and after each training, practice and competition to enable athletes to discuss potential issues related to concussions.*

I will support all participants to take the time they need to recover.

• I understand my commitment to supporting the return-to-sport process.*

• I understand the athletes will have to be cleared by a physician or nurse practitioner before returning to sport.

• I will respect my fellow coaches, team trainers, parents, physicians and nurse practitioners and any decisions made with regards to the health and safety of my athletes.

Acknowledgement Form

If you fall under one of the categories mentioned above, Squash Ontario will record your annual acknowledgement and will proceed as follows:

• Athletes under 18 AND their parents - Squash Ontario will add a note to Club Locker accounts when the acknowledgements are complete and the next renewal date. At each tournament registration deadline, anyone without an acknowledgement note will be asked to submit one.

• Athletes under aged 19-26 - Squash Ontario will add a note to Club Locker accounts when the acknowledgement is complete and the next renewal date. At each tournament registration deadline, anyone without an acknowledgement note will be asked to submit one.

• Post-secondary students of any age - Squash Ontario work with the Jesters University League Captains to ensure all team members complete this acknowledgement form. Players will not be added to team rosters without having completed this form.

• Coaches - All coaches hired by Squash Ontario (training event, regional junior teams tournaments, etc.) will be required to submit this acknowledgement form. Coaches not specifically hired by Squash Ontario will be encouraged to educate themselves about concussions resources regardless.

• Referees - The acknowledgement form will be circulated with each Call for Officials. Only referees who have completed this form will be granted access to tournaments.

• Tournament Organizer - As a requirement of a complete bid on Squash Ontario Championship or junior circuit event, must complete the Acknowledgement Form.

• Squash Ontario Sanctioned Leagues - League organizers will agree to ensuring all players that fall within the age categories listed above will submit an acknowledgement form prior to play. Squash Ontario will share updates with the league organizers upon request.