Kids, parents, teachers, and coaches will be better protected from concussion in sport than ever before thanks to new guidelines launched by the Australian Institute of Sport.
The Youth and Community Sport Guidelines, which form part of the updated Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement, have been unveiled today to coincide with the return of school sport across the country, as well as the start of pre-season for various football codes and winter sports.
The AIS, the Australian Sports Commission’s (ASC) high performance arm, in a world first, has aligned the Youth and Community Sport Guidelines with advice in both the United Kingdom, through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation.
“This multi-national approach to the Youth and Community Sport Guidelines provides all Australians with a clear, consistent, and strong message on how to manage concussion in sport,” said AIS Chief Medical Officer Dr David Hughes AM.
“It’s important to manage all instances of concussion with an abundance of caution and make it clear that a conservative management approach is needed for people aged under 19 who have growing brains and are at risk of prolonged recovery times, as well as for community sport where advanced health care support is often not available.”
“The AIS wants everyone involved in sport to remember, when considering an athlete with possible concussion, ‘if in doubt, sit them out’.”
Information for parents and teachers to help recognise the symptoms of concussion and understand the best process for treatment and ongoing management of concussion.
