How does a player return to ringette after a concussion?

Ringette Canada's Concussion Protocol sets a Ringette-Specific Return-to-Sport Strategy. The athlete spends at least 24 hours at each step. A medical doctor or nurse practitioner supervises the athlete's management.

1. Activities of daily living and relative rest (first 24 to 48 hours).
2. Light then moderate aerobic exercise (walking or stationary cycling, up to about 55% then 70% of maximum heart rate).
3. Individual ringette-specific activities with no risk of head impact (skating, changing direction, individual drills, 20 to 30 minutes), supervised by a parent/guardian, coach or Safety Personnel. No body contact or jarring motions. The athlete wears a "No Contact" pinny.
4. Non-contact training drills at high intensity (shooting and passing drills, multi-athlete training), still in a "No Contact" pinny.
5. Full-contact practice and other non-competitive activities, but no competitive gameplay.
6. Return to sport: unrestricted activity and full gameplay.

Before step 4 the athlete must have completed all steps of the Return-to-School Strategy (if applicable) and must give the coach a Medical Clearance Letter stating they are cleared to return to activities with risk of falling or contact. If symptoms return during steps 4 to 6, the athlete goes back to step 3 and needs medical clearance again.

Mild and brief symptom worsening (one to two points on a 0 to 10 scale, settling within an hour) is acceptable during steps 1 to 3; if symptoms worsen more, stop and try again the next day at the same step.

An athlete found not to have a concussion gets a Medical Assessment Letter saying so and can return without restriction. The athlete or parent/guardian is responsible for giving letters to the coach or Safety Personnel.

Source: https://www.ringette.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EN-RC-Concussion-Protocol.pdf