What do I do if a player has a suspected concussion or a serious head or spine injury?

Anyone, including coaches, is responsible for recognizing and reporting an athlete who shows visual signs of a head injury or reports concussion symptoms. A concussion should be suspected in any athlete who takes a significant impact to the head, face, neck or body and shows ANY visual sign or reports ANY symptom listed in the Concussion Recognition Tool 5, or if a player reports any symptom to a peer, parent or coach.

Red flags (for example convulsions, worsening headaches, vomiting or neck pain): suspect a more severe head or spine injury and call an ambulance immediately. Coaches, parents, trainers and officials should not try to remove equipment or move the athlete until the ambulance arrives, and the athlete should not be left alone. For athletes under 18, the parents are contacted immediately.

No red flags: remove the player from the field of play immediately.

• If a licensed healthcare professional is present, they assess the athlete with the SCAT5 or Child SCAT5. Any youth athlete suspected of a concussion must not return to the game or practice and must be referred for medical assessment.
• If no licensed healthcare professional is present, the athlete must be referred immediately to a medical doctor or nurse practitioner and must not return to play until medically cleared.

Source: Football Ontario Concussion Protocol/Policy, sections 2 and 3 (based on the Football Canada Concussion Pathway): https://footballontario.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2023/01/Football-Ontario-Concussion-Protocol_Policy.docx.pdf