2024 | ISSUE 2 | SJC Newsletter

Updated Concussion Management Policy & Guidelines

Following on from the concussion update in the middle of last year, on 1 February 2024 the Australian Sports Commission with the AIS released the Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport 2024.

The SJC Concussion Management Policy has been updated accordingly.

In summary the main changes are:

• Protocols for those with multiple suspected concussions
• Multiple concussions can be a minimum of two concussions within a 3-month period, or a minimum of three concussions in a 12-month period.
  • A recommended starting point for return to sport after second concussion within three months, would be 28 days symptom-free before return to contact training and a minimum of six weeks from the time of the most recent concussion until return to competitive contact.
  • In situations where more than two concussions have occurred within a 12-month period, consideration needs to be given to missing a season of contact / collision sport.

• A graded return to sport framework (GRTSF) for community and youth (youth = under 19 years of age)
• Introduction of light exercise after an initial 24-48 hours of relative rest.
• Several checkpoints to be cleared prior to progression.
• Gradual reintroduction of learning and work activities. As with physical activity, cognitive stimulation such as using screens, reading, undertaking learning activities should be gradually introduced after 48 hours.
• At least 14 days symptom free (at rest) before return to contact/collision training. The temporary exacerbation of mild symptoms with exercise is acceptable, as long as the symptoms quickly resolve at the completion of exercise, and as long as the exercise-related symptoms have completely resolved before resumption of contact training.
• A minimum period of 21 days (from the date of injury incident) until the resumption of competitive contact/collision sport, as compared to contact/collision training.
• Consideration of all symptom domains (physical, cognitive, emotional, fatigue, sleep) throughout the recovery process.
• Return to learn and work activities should take priority over return to sport. That is, while graduated return to learn/work activities and sport activities can occur simultaneously, the athlete should not return to full contact sport activities until they have successfully completed a fully return to learn/work activities.
• A recommendation that schools (and clubs) introduce a ‘concussion officer’ to oversee the management of concussion. A single point of contact who manages the coordination of matters related to concussion. Their job is to be the recipient of information in relation to concussion and to ensure that the concussion protocol is enacted and followed. Risk & Compliance Manager Sherryn Ross is the SJC Concussion Officer.

Please remember to notify the College should your son sustain a concussion outside of school so that we can ensure that we support him in his recovery.