Overview

Rowan’s Law legislation was passed by the Ontario Government in 2018. This legislation is named in memory of Rowan Stringer who tragically died in 2013 of Second Impact Syndrome, the result of suffering multiple concussion playing rugby three times in six days. The legislation is designed to create a safer environment for competitive amateur athletes, children and youth to play sport.

Knowing how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and what to do if a concussion happens – whether you’re an athlete, a student, a parent, a coach, a team trainer, an official or an educator– saves lives.  The Ontario Government is committed to implementing Rowan’s Law by putting concussion safety information in the hands of people who need it most. Increasing awareness and changing conversations in sport, at school and in our homes, will result in transformative change to the way in which concussions are managed in amateur competitive sport and beyond.

Northumberland Soccer Club (NSC) is committed to being a leader in the support of and implementation of Rowan’s Law. NSC and by association all our Members and registrants are legally bound by the requirements of the Law.

Requirements of Rowan’s Law Legislation

Certain aspects of the Rowan’s Law legislation came into effect on July 1, 2019. Rowan’s Law is applicable to 65 sports in Ontario as well as educational institutions. In summary;

  1. From July 1 2019, all sports must have in place Concussion Code of Conducts for players/parents and coaches/trainers.
  2. From July 1 2019, all players, coaches, match officials, trainers at the point of registration must review and sign off on the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion Awareness Resources and the NSC Concussion Code of Conduct. If the player is under 18 years of age then their parent/guardian must sign off. This needs to be done annually.
  3. Between July 1 and August 30 2019, all currently registered coaches and trainers must review and sign off on the Ministry’s Concussion awareness resources.
  4. Between July 1 and August 30 2019, all currently registered match officials must review and sign off on the Ministry’s Concussion awareness resources.
  5. From July 1, 2020, all sports must have in place Concussion Removal and Return to Sport protocols.

Northumberland SC Actions to comply with Rowan’s Law Legislation

  1. For new 2019 registrants after July 1, NSC will reach out to them to complete the necessary Government requirements. They will need to do so before their registration is activated to allow them to commence participation in soccer related activities.
  2. NSC will be reaching out to all currently registered coaches and medical staff to provide them with and help them to sign off on the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion awareness resources. Coaches and medical staff have until October 1st, 2019 to comply with the legislation and maintain their active status with NSC.
  3. NSC will be reaching out to all currently registered match officials to provide them with and help them to sign off on the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion awareness resources. Match officials have until November 1st, 2019 to comply with the legislation and maintain their active status with NSC.
  4. In 2020 and all subsequent years, all registrants will be required to review and sign off on the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion Awareness Resources. If the player is under 18 years of age then their parent/guardian must sign off.

Ontario Ministry’s Concussion Awareness Resources

There are 3 age variations of the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion Awareness Resources

  1. For players under 10 years of age
  2. For players aged 11 to 14
  3. For players ages 15 and above

Players/parents/guardians/coaches/match officials/trainers are to review and sign off on the resources that are relevant to their participation.

The concussion awareness resources also include two posters.

  1. Rowan’s Law Concussion Poster 1
  2. Rowan’s Law Concussion Poster 2

NSC Concussion Codes of Conduct

Part of the requirements of Rowan’s Law is that NSC is required to have a concussion Code of Conduct in place for both players and coaches/trainers. All players and coaches/trainers are required to review and sign off on the relevant Code of Conduct at the point of registration each season.

Below the first link is the confirmation letter that all parents, coaches and managers must sign under current law. The other 2 links is the Northumberland Soccer Club’s Code of Conduct for each respective group that also must read and signed prior to participation.

Rowan’s Law Proof of Review of Concussion Resource Materials

Concussion Code of Conduct for Coaches and Managers 2019

Concussion Code of Conduct for Players and Parents 2019