CONCUSSION – Recognition / Management / Prevention.
For Coaches / Trainers / Parents / Players.
Please see information below, from AFL’s Adrian Anderson, on concussion issues, past present and future.
Education & Awareness are the key ingredients in tackling this issue, and we would ask that all staff involved with our players please make use of the attached material.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
You may be aware of recent media coverage regarding the prevalence and management of concussion in contact sport at all levels.
Much of this attention has been triggered by developments in the United States involving former NFL players and speculation about
the longer term health effects of impacts to the head over a sporting career.
At the outset it is worth noting that the research, prevention and management of concussion has been a key focus for the AFL for
several decades – it has not suddenly become a topic of interest for us because of passing media attention. We have been at the
forefront of global sporting efforts to better understand the condition and its short, medium and long term impacts, and also to
implement measures that seek to minimize any demonstrated or potential risks.
The AFL takes very seriously the welfare of our players, past and present.
We have adopted a four-pronged approach to addressing concussion:
Laws and penalty changes to protect the head and neck of players
Revised guidelines leading to more conservative management of concussion
Education and awareness-raising amongst community level competitions + updated community management guidelines
Building knowledge by working with acknowledged concussion experts and through long term research projects
Australian Football is a safe game to play and we intend to keep it that way.
The following material (Downloades Below) provides detailed background about the AFL’s methodical, proactive and medically-driven
approach to concussion and its possible implications for people who play our game:
Responsible approach to concussion in the AFL – information paper
Management of Concussion in Australian Football (brochure outlining community level concussion management guidelines)
Concussion Recognition & Management Guidelines for players
Concussion Recognition & Management Guidelines for parents
Sports Trainers in Community Australian Football Policy
We think it is important that people are well informed on the topic, and so would encourage you to circulate this information
throughout your networks.
Kind regards,
Adrian Anderson
Last Modified on 28/04/2015 14:12