What is the earliest a player can return to contact training and to matches?
Rule- UK
- UK Concussion Guidelines
- Grassroots sport
- Non-elite sport
- All ages (primary school upwards)
- If in doubt, sit them out
- 2024
- Parents
- Coaches
The day of the injury is Day 0.
| Step | Earliest | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Training with risk of head impact (Stage 5) | Day 15 | Symptom-free at rest for at least 14 days, and Stages 1-4 completed |
| Matches and competition (Stage 6) | Day 21 | Stage 5 completed, symptom-free at rest for the previous 14 days and during full training |
Each stage should last at least one day. If concussion symptoms come back after a head impact in training, the player should be removed from the activity.
Example from the guidelines: concussed on Saturday 3 June (Day 0), headache and nausea until Day 4, symptom-free at rest from Day 5. Contact training can start on Day 19, and the earliest match is Day 21 (Saturday 24 June).
About two-thirds of people are back to full sport by 28 days, but children, adolescents and young adults may take longer.
Updated 21 Oct 2026