The new rules requiring the review of Concussion Awareness Resources and Concussion Codes of Conduct came into effect on July 1, 2019. Curling Centres are LEGALLY required to comply with the following immediately.Â
The rules for removal-from-sport and return-to-sport protocols are expected to be in place by July 1, 2020.
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 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 sport organizations
Government of Ontario Concussion Awareness Resource E-Booklet
This e-booklet 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.
You can download and print a copy for reference.
Rowan’s Law Awareness Poster
Confirmation receipt for Concussion Awareness Resources
Following your annual review of one of the Concussion Awareness Resources, you may wish to complete this optional form and provide it to your sport organization(s) as proof/confirmation of your review of a Concussion Awareness Resource.
This form might also be useful to you as a reminder to complete your review of one of the Concussion Awareness Resources again next year.
This form will not be saved by the Government of Ontario and the Government of Ontario assumes no responsibility for confirming that you have reviewed the Concussion Awareness Resources.
Download Concussion Awareness Receipt FormÂ
The Rowan’s Law Concussion Code of Conduct requirements came into effect on July 1, 2019. After that date, sport organizations must require that athletes under 26 years of age*, as well as their parent (for athletes under 18), coaches and team trainers confirm that they have reviewed the sport organization’s Concussion Code of Conduct every year before:
Code of Conduct template
- registering in a sport activity within the sport organization
- serving with the sport organization
A sample template is provided here to assist sport organizations with developing a Concussion Code of Conduct.
Information about the specific requirements for the establishment and review of Concussion Codes of Conduct, are outlined in the Rowan’s Law and its associated regulation.
Code of conduct for Coaches  Code of Conduct for AthletesÂ
The Rowan’s Law Removal-from/Return-to-sport requirements will come into effect on July 1, 2020. After this date, sport organizations will be required to have a removal-from/return-to-sport protocol.
Removal from sport/Return to sport protocols
A sample template from the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport will be forthcoming. Information about the specific requirements for the establishment of removal-from/return-to-sport protocols, are outlined in Rowan’s Law and its associated regulation.
In the meantime, Curling Canada’s Concussion Guidelines and Return to Play Protocol can be found here.