Coach's Guide to Rowan's Law Concussion Safety 2026-27

Ontario provides:

• E-booklets: ages 10 and under; ages 11 to 14; ages 15 and up; and a guide for students and athletes of all abilities with a supplementary resource (translations are available for the age-based booklets).
• Videos for each age group (10 and under, 11 to 14, 15 and up), with described, American Sign Language and transcript versions.
• An interactive e-module at rowanslawlearning.ca.
• A digital resource card (PDF).
• An optional confirmation receipt form you can give your sport organization as proof of your review.

Source: https://www.ontario.ca/page/rowans-law-concussion-awareness-resources

Rowan's Law requires sport organizations to establish a Concussion Code of Conduct setting out rules of behaviour to support concussion prevention. As a coach you review your organization's code and confirm that review each year, with each organization you register with. Ontario provides sample codes: one for coaches and team trainers, and one for athletes and parents or guardians. The code requirement took effect on July 1, 2019.

Source: https://www.ontario.ca/page/rowans-law-concussion-safety and https://www.ontario.ca/page/rowans-law-concussion-awareness-resources

Every sport organization must identify one or more designated persons with specific responsibilities under its removal-from-sport and return-to-sport protocols, and those responsibilities can be shared between individuals. Ontario's page says coaches may take on the role of a designated person; it does not list the responsibilities there (they are in the protocols, covered in the other answers).

Sources: https://www.ontario.ca/page/rowans-law-concussion-safety and https://files.ontario.ca/mhstci-rowans-law-protocols-en-2020-05-13.pdf

It is the process a sport organization must have to immediately remove an athlete who has, or is suspected of having, a concussion. Under Ontario's sample protocol, the designated person:

1. Immediately removes the athlete from further training, practice or competition, whether or not the concussion came from an activity of that organization.
2. Calls 9-1-1 if, in their opinion, there is an emergency or any red-flag signs or symptoms appear.
3. Informs the parent or guardian of the removal if the athlete is under 18, and advises the athlete (or parent) that a medical assessment by a physician or nurse practitioner is required before returning.
4. Gives the athlete (or parent) the organization's removal-from-sport and return-to-sport protocols as soon as possible.
5. Records the incident, even if no concussion is later diagnosed.
6. Ensures the athlete does not return except under the return-to-sport protocol.

Source: https://files.ontario.ca/mhstci-rowans-law-protocols-en-2020-05-13.pdf

Under Ontario's sample protocol, an athlete who has had or is suspected of having a concussion cannot return to training, practice or competition until the athlete (or a parent or guardian if under 18) confirms to the designated person that:

• No concussion diagnosed: a physician or nurse practitioner assessed the athlete, found no concussion, and medically cleared them to return.
• Concussion diagnosed: the athlete goes through the graduated return-to-sport steps, shares the medical advice received with the designated person, and provides confirmation of medical clearance from a physician or nurse practitioner before moving to unrestricted training, practice or competition.

The designated person must also tell the athlete or parent about the importance of disclosing the diagnosis to any other sport organization the athlete is registered with and any school they attend. The regulation lets the designated person rely on the information the athlete or parent gives.

Source: https://files.ontario.ca/mhstci-rowans-law-protocols-en-2020-05-13.pdf

Ontario's sample protocol lists these steps, each lasting at least 24 hours, after typically 24 to 48 hours of rest:

1. Symptom-limiting activities: daily activities that do not make symptoms worse, such as moving around the home and simple chores.
2. Light aerobic activity: walking or a stationary bike at slow to medium pace for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Sport-specific exercise: individual activity such as running or skating, with no contact or head-impact activities.
4. Non-contact training and practice drills: harder drills, with resistance training if appropriate.
5. Unrestricted training and practice: with contact where applicable; clearance from a physician or nurse practitioner is obtained before this step.
6. Return to sport: unrestricted competition.

An athlete is typically ready to move on when they can do the current step without new or worsening symptoms. If symptoms get worse at any step, they should stop and go back to the previous step; if symptoms do not improve or keep worsening, they should return to the physician or nurse practitioner. Recovery times vary, and some people need longer.

Source: https://files.ontario.ca/mhstci-rowans-law-protocols-en-2020-05-13.pdf

Only physicians and nurse practitioners. Ontario's information for health care providers states they are specified as the only health care providers who can medically assess an athlete and confirm medical clearance. Rowan's Law does not specify the form the confirmation takes, so a sport organization may ask for a medical clearance note. The athlete provides the confirmation, or a parent or guardian does if the athlete is under 18.

Sources: https://www.ontario.ca/page/rowans-law-information-health-care-providers and https://www.ontario.ca/page/rowans-law-concussion-safety

Under Ontario's sample protocols (which set out the minimum content required by O. Reg. 161/19), the sport organization must:

• Make and keep a record every time an athlete is removed because of a suspected concussion, whether or not a concussion is later diagnosed.
• Make and keep a record of the athlete's progression through the graduated return-to-sport steps, until medical clearance is provided.
• Limit collection, use and disclosure of personal information to what is reasonably necessary to carry out the protocols, restrict access to those who need it, and keep it secure under a retention policy it creates.

Source: https://files.ontario.ca/mhstci-rowans-law-protocols-en-2020-05-13.pdf