For Players
I will help prevent concussions by:
- Wearing the proper equipment for my sport and wearing it correctly.
- Developing my skills and strength so that I can participate to the best of my ability.
- Respecting the rules of my sport or activity.
- My commitment to fair play and respect for all (respecting other athletes, coaches, team trainers and officials).
I will care for my health and safety by taking concussions seriously, and I understand that:
- A concussion is a brain injury that can have both short-and long-term effects.
- A blow to my head, face or neck, or a blow to the body that causes the brain to move around inside the skull may cause a concussion.
- I don't need to lose consciousness to have had a concussion.
- I have a commitment to concussion recognition and reporting, including self-reporting of possible concussion and reporting to a designated person when and individual suspects that another individual may have sustained a concussion.(Meaning: If I think I might have a concussion I should stop participating in further training, practice or competition immediately, or tell an adult if I think another athlete has a concussion.)
- Continuing to participate in further training, practice or competition with a possible concussion increases my risk of more severe, longer lasting symptoms, and increases my risk of other injuries.
I will not hide concussion symptoms. I will speak up for myself and others.
- I will not hide my symptoms. I will tell a coach, official, team trainer, parent or another adult I trust if I experience any symptoms of concussion.
- If someone else tells me about concussion symptoms, or I see signs they might have a concussion, I will tell a coach, official, team trainer, parent or another adult I trust so they can help.
- I understand that if I have a suspected concussion, I will be removed from sport and that I will not be able to return to training, practice or competition until I undergo a medical assessment by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner and have been medically cleared to return to training, practice or competition.
- I have a commitment to sharing any pertinent information regarding incidents of removal from sport with the athlete's school and any other sport organization with which the athlete has registered.(Meaning: If I am diagnosed with a concussion, I understand that letting all of my other coaches and teachers know about my injury will help them support me while I recover.)
I will take the time I need to recover, because it is important for my health.
- I understand my commitment to supporting the return-to-sport process.(I will have to follow my sport organization's Return-to-Sport Protocol.)
- I understand I will have to be medically cleared by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner before returning to training, practice or competition.
- I will respect my coaches, team trainers, parents, health-care professionals, and medical doctors and nurse practitioners, regarding my health and safety
Download My Copy For Officials
For Officials/Coaches
I will help prevent concussions by:
- Ensuring that my athletes wear the proper equipment and wear it correctly.
- Helping my athletes to develop their skills and strength so that they can participate to the best of their ability.
- Respecting the rules of my sport or activity and ensuring that my athletes respect the rules as well.
- My commitment to fair play and respect for all (respecting other coaches, team trainers and officials) and ensuring that my athletes commit to fair play as well.
- Reading and following the FC Emery Concussion Toolkit for Coaches and Parents
I will care for my health and safety by taking concussions seriously, and I understand that:
- A concussion is a brain injury that can have both short-and long-term effects.
- A blow to my head, face or neck, or a blow to the body that causes the brain to move around inside the skull may cause a concussion.
- Athletes do not need to lose consciousness to have had a concussion.
- I have a commitment to immediately remove athletes with suspected concussion from soccer related activities
- I have a commitment to concussion recognition and reporting, including self-reporting of possible concussion; reporting to a designated person when and individual suspects that another individual may have sustained a concussion.
- Continuing to participate in further training, practice or competition with a possible concussion increases my risk of more severe, longer lasting symptoms, and increases my risk of other injuries.
I will ensure that athletes feel safe to speak up for themselves and other athletes:
- Encourage athletes to share their concerns regarding health-related issues.
- Make sure that athletes understand that they can tell me, other team officials and their parents about their experience and symptoms of concussion.
- Understand that if an athlete has a suspected concussion, she/he will be removed from sport and that she/he will not be able to return to training, practice or competition until she/he undergo a medical assessment by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner and has been medically cleared to return to training, practice or competition
- Commit to providing opportunities before and after each training, practice and competition to enable athletes to discuss concerns related to concussions
I will support athletes to take the time they need to recover, because it is important for their health.
- I understand my commitment to supporting the return-to-sport process. (I will have to follow my sport organization's Return-to-Sport Protocol.)
- I understand that the athletes will have to be medically cleared by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner before returning to training, practice or competition.
- I will respect my fellow coaches, team trainers, parents, health-care professionals, and medical doctors and nurse practitioners, regarding my athletes' health and safety