Hit. Stop. Sit. Rowan's Law Implementation
NEW REQUIREMENTS TO PLAY
Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety), makes Ontario a national leader in concussion management and prevention by establishing mandatory requirements that call for:
- Annual review of concussion awareness resources that help prevent, identify, and manage concussions, which athletes, coaches, educators and parents are required to review before registering in a sport.
- Removal-from-sport and return-to-sport protocols, to ensure that an athlete is immediately removed from sport if they are suspected of having sustained a concussion and giving them the time required to heal properly.
- A concussion code of conduct that sets out rules of behaviour to minimize concussions while playing sport
In honour of Rowan Stringer, the 17-year-old rugby player whose death resulted from sustaining multiple concussions, the legislation establishes the last Wednesday in September as “Rowan’s Law Day”.
Ontario is the first jurisdiction in Canada to pass concussion safety legislation, setting a precedent for sport legislation across the country. The Ontario government worked closely with key medical experts, athletes, coaches and sport leaders – most notably the members of the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee – in establishing this first-of-its-kind legislation.
Every trainer on a team must have their HTCP Level 1. The Hockey Trainer Certification Program is designed to educate people in the prevention, recognition and management of hockey-related injuries and is the only sport-specific risk management, injury management and safety education program in Ontario.
Starting this season, participants are required to review the issued Concussion Awareness Resources and sign the acknowledgement form in order to play hockey.
New Requirements to Play 2019-2020
In order to be rostered to a Markham Waxers team for the 2019-2020 hockey season, all players, rostered team officials, and on-ice volunteers must:
- review the Ontario Government's age-appropriate concussion awareness resources.
- review the
OHF Concussion Code of Conduct
- commit to operate within the parameters of the OHF concussion code of conduct, and
- acknowledge review of the above resources and your commitment by completing the Rowan's Law Acknowledgement Form.
