ROWAN’S LAW PROTOCOLS - WPBHL
Designated Person(s)
In accordance with the requirements set out in Rowan’s Law and its associated regulation,
every sport organization is required to identify a designated person(s) as having specific
responsibilities under the removal-from-sport and return-to-sport protocols. The responsibilities
for the designated person(s) may be shared between one or more individuals; for the Withrow
Park Ball Hockey League, this will be the responsibility of the Trainer for each team, to be
appointed by the Head Coach of each team. Please ensure that the Trainer is clear about their
responsibility under the Removal-from-Sport protocol and the Return-to-Sport protocol.
Under the Removal-from-Sport protocol for Withrow Park Ball Hockey League, the
designated person(s) is/are responsible for ensuring that:
- An athlete is immediately removed from further training, practice or competition if the athlete has sustained a concussion or is suspected of having sustained a concussion, regardless of whether or not the concussion was sustained from a sport activity associated with Withrow Park Ball Hockey League,
- If in the opinion of the designated person(s), there is an emergency and/or any red flag signs and/or symptoms appear – including those resulting from a suspected concussion, call 911;
- Removal of the athlete from further training, practice or competition; and if the athlete is under 18 years of age, the parent or guardian is informed of the removal;
- The athlete, or the parent or guardian if the athlete is under 18 years of age, is advised that the athlete is required to undergo a medical assessment by a physician or nurse practitioner before the athlete will be permitted to return to training, practice or competition according to the Return-to-Sport protocol for Withrow Park Ball Hockey League;
- An athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of age, the athlete’s parent or guardian receives the Removal-from-Sport and Return-to-Sport protocols for Withrow Park Ball Hockey League as soon as possible after the athlete’s removal;
- Once removed, the athlete is not permitted to return to training, practice or competition,
except in accordance with Withrow Park Ball Hockey League Return-to-Sport protocol;
Under the Return-to-Sport protocol for Withrow Park Ball Hockey League, the designated person(s) is/are responsible for ensuring that:
- An athlete who has sustained a concussion or is suspected of having sustained a
concussion does not return to training, practice or competition until permitted to do so in
accordance with the Withrow Park Ball Hockey League Return-to-Sport protocol; - When an athlete has not been diagnosed with a concussion, the athlete is only permitted to
return to training, practice or competition if the athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of
age, the athlete’s parent or guardian provides confirmation to the designated person(s)
about the outcome of the athlete’s medical assessment, specifically that the athlete has undergone a medical assessment by the physician or nurse practitioner and has not been diagnosed as having a concussion, and has been medically cleared to return to training, practice or competition by a physician or nurse practitioner.
- When an athlete is diagnosed by a physician or nurse practitioner as having a concussion,
the athlete is not permitted to move on to unrestricted training, practice or competition
unless the athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of age, the athlete’s parent or guardian
provides a confirmation of medical clearance by the physician or nurse practitioner to the
designated person(s); - An athlete is not permitted to return to training, practice or competition through Withrow Park Ball Hockey League graduated Return-to-Sport steps unless the athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of age, the athlete’s parent or guardian has shared the medical advice or recommendations they received, if any, with the designated person(s);
- When an athlete is diagnosed by a physician or nurse practitioner as having a concussion, the athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of age, the athlete’s parent/guardian has been informed of the importance of disclosing the diagnosis to any other sport organization with which the athlete is registered or school that the athlete attends. The regulation states that a designated person(s) may rely on the information received from an athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of age, from the athlete’s parent or guardian in
carrying out their responsibilities under Withrow Park Ball Hockey League Return-to-Sport protocol.
Removal-from-Sport Protocol
The following outlines a process for immediate removal of an athlete who is suspected of
having sustained a concussion.
1. Remove the Athlete
Designated person(s) to immediately remove the athlete from further training, practice or
competition if the athlete has sustained a concussion or is suspected of having sustained a
concussion regardless of whether the concussion or suspected concussion was sustained from
an activity associated with Withrow Park Ball Hockey League.
2. Call 9-1-1 if Emergency
Designated person(s) to call 9-1-1 if in their opinion, doing so is necessary (e.g., if there is an
emergency and any red flag signs and/or symptoms appear).
3. Inform
If the athlete is under 18 years of age, Designated person(s) to inform the athlete’s parent or
guardian about the removal from further training, practice or competition.
A medical assessment determines whether the athlete has a concussion. An athlete
will not be permitted to return to training, practice or competition until they receive
medical clearance by a physician or nurse practitioner to do so.
Designated person(s) to advise the athlete, or the parent or guardian if the athlete is under 18
years of age, that the athlete is required to undergo a medical assessment by a physician or
nurse practitioner before the athlete will be permitted to return to training, practice or
competition.
4. Give Protocols
Designated person(s) to provide the athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of age, the
athlete’s parent or guardian with Withrow Park Ball Hockey League Removal-from-Sport and
Return-to-Sport protocols as soon as possible after the athlete has been removed from further
training, practice or competition.
5. Record the Incident
Make and keep a record of incidences where an athlete is removed from further training,
practice or competition because they are suspected of having sustained a concussion
regardless of whether the athlete is later diagnosed with a concussion. The league must limit
the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information to that which is reasonably necessary
for the purpose of carrying out the sport organization’s protocols, and to limit access to such
personal information to only those individuals who require it for the purpose of fulfilling their
duties or obligations under the Act. Personal information collected under this protocol shall be
retained, disclosed and disposed of in a secure manner by the League Administrator. Any
incidents of suspected concussion which fall under this protocol should be informed to the
Administrator via email at info@withrowballhockey.net, where further instructions on
documentation will be provided.
Return-to-Sport Protocol
Once removed, the athlete is not permitted to return to training, practice or competition,
except in accordance with Withrow Park Ball Hockey League Return-to-Sport protocol.
The following outlines a return-to-sport process for an athlete who has been removed
from training, practice or competition due to a suspected or diagnosed concussion,
regardless of whether or not the concussion was sustained or is suspected of having
been sustained during a sport activity associated with Withrow Park Ball Hockey League.
1. Receive Confirmation
Ensure that an athlete who has sustained a concussion or is suspected of having sustained a
concussion does not return to training, practice or competition until the athlete or, if the athlete is
under 18 years of age, the athlete’s parent or guardian provides confirmation to the designated
person(s) that the athlete:
a) Has undergone a medical assessment by a physician or nurse practitioner and has not
been diagnosed as having a concussion, and
b) Has been medically cleared to return to training, practice or competition by the physician
or nurse practitioner.
2. If Diagnosed with Having A Concussion
If an athlete has been diagnosed by a physician or nurse practitioner as having a concussion
the athlete must proceed through the graduated return-to-sport steps.
3. Graduated Return-to-Sport Steps
It is important to note that typical recovery times vary from person to person, and that some
individuals may require more time to progress through the graduated return-to-sport steps.
The graduated return-to-sport steps may include the following activities. It is typically
recommended that an athlete with concussion rest for 24 to 48 hours before beginning step 1.
Activities Goal of Step Duration
STEP 1:
Symptom-limiting activities
Daily activities that don’t make symptoms worse, such as
moving around the home and simple chores
Gradual reintroduction of daily school, and work activities
At least 24 hours
STEP 2:
Light aerobic activity
Light activities such as walking or stationary bicycle at slow to
medium pace for 10 to 15 minutes.
Increase heart rate At least 24 hours
STEP 3:
Sport-specific exercise
Individual physical activity such as running or skating
No contact or head impact activities
Add movement At least 24 hours
STEP 4:
Non-contacttraining, practice drills
Harder training drills
Add resistance training (if appropriate)
Exercise, coordination and increased thinking
At least 24 hours
STEP 5:
Unrestricted Training and Practice
Unrestricted training and practice- with contact where applicable
Restore confidence and assess functional skills
At least 24 hours
Obtain clearance from physician or nurse practitioner before unrestricted training, practice or competition
STEP 6:
Return-to-Sport
Unrestricted competition
An athlete is typically ready to progress to the next step when they can do the activities at their
current step without new or worsening symptoms. If at any step symptoms get worse, they
should stop and return to the previous step before trying again. If symptoms do not improve or if
the symptoms continue to worsen, the athlete should return to the physician or nurse
practitioner.
4. Share Medical Advice
An athlete, or the athlete’s parent or guardian must share the medical advice or
recommendations they receive with the designated person(s) before being permitted to return to
training, practice or competition through the graduated return-to-sport steps, if any.
5. Disclosing Diagnosis
The designated person(s) must inform the athlete or, if the athlete is under 18 years of age, the
athlete’s parent or guardian of the importance of disclosing the diagnosis to any other sport
organization with which the athlete is registered or school that the athlete attends.
6. Medical Clearance
The athlete, or the athlete’s parent or guardian must provide the designated person(s) a
confirmation of medical clearance by a physician or nurse practitioner before the athlete is
permitted to move on to unrestricted training, practice or competition.
7. Record Progression
The Trainer must make and keep a record of the athlete’s progression through the graduated
return-to-sport steps until the athlete, or the athlete’s parent or guardian, has provided a
confirmation of medical clearance by a physician or nurse practitioner to the designated
person(s). Retention of this confirmation by the league will be managed by the League
Administrator, who can be contacted at info@withrowballhockey.net.
