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Laurier Athletics - Waterloo Campus

Concussion Code of Conduct - Athletes

This Concussion Code of Conduct (as legislated by the Provincial Government) is required for all athletes and parents/guardians (for athletes under the age of 18) to review and acknowledge prior to any sport season.

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 and 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.
  • I will help prevent concussions, through my:
  • Commitment to zero-tolerance for prohibited play that is considered high risk for causing concussions
  • Acknowledgement of mandatory expulsion from competition for violating zero-tolerance for prohibited play that is considered high risk for causing concussions (Meaning: I will be disqualified/expelled from play if I violate the zero-tolerance policy).
  • Acknowledgement of the escalating consequences for those who repeatedly violate the Concussion Code of Conduct.

Laurier Concussion Management Protocol – Phase 2 (Return to Learn Plan) 

The Laurier Athletics & Recreation Return to Learn Plan has been developed based on the most recent research and recommendations of the expert scientific community on concussion, that is the Canadian Guidelines on Concussion in Sport, July 2017 and the Berlin Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport, October 2016. 
 
The Laurier Concussion Management Protocol – Phase 2 is for student athletes and their support team which may include athletic therapists, sports medicine physicians, the Accessible Learning Centre staff, and Athletic & Recreation Department staff. This protocol guides the student athlete through an individualized plan of returning to learn and allows for communication to track a student athlete’s progress throughout the stages. 
  • Inform a student athlete of the importance to disclose any concussion / head injury symptoms with his / her athletic therapist 
  • Have a thorough concussion assessment completed by a healthcare professional 
  • If the student athlete is reporting difficulties with attending class, completing schoolwork etc., obtain a sports medicine physician’s note and referral to the Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) on campus T
  • The student athlete will schedule an appointment with the ALC in person or online at: 
  • An Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) consultant will meet with a student athlete and discuss their respective needs and create a Return to Learn Plan with the necessary academic accommodations 
  • The Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) initiates a process to notify professors/respective faculties on behalf of the student athlete 
  • A student athlete is directed by the Athletic Therapist / Sports Medicine Physician as to concussion management guidelines, which include but are not limited to limitations of mental exertion and limiting screen time. These guidelines will be explained verbally and also in written form (i.e. Email) to the student athlete and kept in the student athletes medical file within Athletics & Recreation. 
  • A student athlete moves forward to increasing the amount of schoolwork when activities at the current stage are tolerated and the student athlete has not exhibited or reported a return of symptoms, new symptoms, or worsening symptoms 
  • If symptoms return or new symptoms appear, the student athlete returns to the previous stage and only participates in tasks that can be tolerated 
  • Upon completion of the Return to Learn Plan a Sports Medicine Physician will reassess the student athlete and provide Medical Clearance to return to full school activities when appropriate. The Athletic Therapist and/or Sport Medicine Physician will thoroughly explain verbally and follow in up in written form (ie. Email) all protocols and procedures the student athlete must follow. 
  • Until a student athlete has successfully completed their return to learn plan, they must not participate in any physical activity or sport unless prescribed by a therapist or physician. This will be documented. 
  • Progression through the plan is individual, timelines and accommodations may vary 

Graduated Return to School Strategy 

Concussion may affect the ability to learn at school. A student athlete may need to miss a few days or more of school after sustaining a concussion. When returning to school, some athletes may need to go back gradually and may need to have some changes made to their academic schedule so that concussion symptoms do not get worse. If an activity makes symptoms worse, then the student athlete should stop that activity and rest until symptoms improve. It is imperative that the student athlete is honest about how they are feeling to ensure the best possible care. To ensure that an athlete can return to school without problems, it is important that healthcare professionals, professors and support staff communicate so that everyone knows the plan for the student athlete’s return to learn. If at any time a student athlete believes they are not being provided proper care they should immediately connect with the Associate Director: Interuniversity Sport or the Coordinator: Athlete Services. 
 
Note: If mental activity does not cause any symptoms, the athlete may be able to skip step 2 and return to school part-time before doing school activities at home first. 
Mental Activity Activity at each step Goal of each step
Daily activities that do no give athlete symptoms Typical activities that the athlete does during the day as long as they do not increase symptoms (e.g. reading, texting, screen time. Start with 5-15 minutes at a time and gradually build up Gradual return to typical activities
School activities Homework, reading or other cognitive activities outside the classroom Increase tolerance to cognitive tasks
Return to school part-time Gradual introduction of schoolwork. May need to start with a partial school day or with increased breaks during the day Increase academic activities
Return to school full-time Gradual progress school activities until a full day can be tolerated.  Return to full academic activities and catch up on missed work
 
 
If a student athlete continues to report symptoms with mental activity, some accommodations that may help with return to school may include: 
  • Starting school later, only going for half days, or going only to certain classes 
  • Additional time to complete assignments / exams 
  • Quiet room to complete assignments / exams 
  • Avoiding noisy areas such as common areas, sporting events, fitness centre etc. 
  • Taking lots of breaks during class, homework, tests 
  • No more than one exam per day 
  • Shorter / modified assignments 
  • Repetition / memory cues / learning aids 
  • Use of a tutorÂ