Concussion

Baulkham Hills Australian Football Club (BHAFC) is committed to providing a safe, responsible and supportive environment for every young player. Our approach to head injuries is guided by the AFL’s The Management of Sport Related Concussion in Australian Football (March 2024), which sets the national standard for recognising, responding to and managing concussion.

In line with current AFL policy, any player who suffers a concussion must be immediately removed from training or match play and must not return to contact training or competition for a mandatory minimum period of 21 days, regardless of symptom resolution. A return to play is only permitted after this minimum stand‑down period and following appropriate medical assessment and clearance, in accordance with AFL return‑to‑play protocols and PlayHQ requirements.

We uphold a zero‑tolerance approach to returning a player to training or games while symptoms persist, and we follow clear return‑to‑learn and return‑to‑play steps to protect each child’s long‑term health. Coaches, volunteers and families all play a role in ensuring that concussion is taken seriously and managed with care.

• Come off the ground when asked by the Medic, Trainer or Coach.
• Be honest with how you are feeling both at the time of injury and during the recovery process.
• Take care of yourself and your teammates – if someone is not right, let the Trainer or Medic know.
• Be patient with your return to play program. Like any other injury, the process is designed to return you to play safely, not as quickly as possible.

• Know the Guidelines for the Management of Sport-Related Concussion in Australian Football.
• Assess the player and ask others who might have witnessed the incident. 
• Err on the side of caution.
• Do not allow coaches, parents or teammates to influence your decisions.
• No one can override your decision to take a player off for assessment if you think there may be a concussion.
• The trainer (in the absence of other medical staff) is responsible for the medical care of the players.

• Be familiar with the Guidelines for the Management of Sport-Related Concussion in Australian Football.
• Understand the importance of managing concussion conservatively.
• Accept the recommendations of the sports trainers and never try to over-rule the Trainer/Medic (or question the player who is reporting symptoms).
• Don’t try to rush or influence the sports Trainer/Medic’s decisions.
• Ensure that your player has been medically cleared to full contact training and playing.
• Set the culture of the team in terms of concussion management.

• Trust the Trainer/Medic and NEVER try to override their advice.
• Look after your child - do not leave them alone for 24-48 hours.
• Allow an initial period of rest and sleep especially if at a time when expected to sleep (i.e. at night-time).
• Take your child to a doctor for a medical assessment if they have sustained a concussion or a suspected concussion.
• Support your child’s entire recovery.
• Continue to monitor their progress throughout the recovery.
• Make sure they have fully recovered and are confident to return to play.

• Coordinate matters related to concussion, such as communication of activity restrictions and progress through the graded return to play process.
• Understand the concussion guidelines and assist in ensuring compliance at the Club level.
• Ensure that anyone diagnosed with concussion follows the concussion protocol.
• Encourage the player and/or parents or guardian to disclose the concussion to school and/or other sports that the player participates in.

• Enforce the rules to protect the heads of players.
• Alert the Trainer/Medic if you are concerned that a player may have had a concussion.