Concussion Mgt – Return to Play Process
If an athlete is suspected of suffering a concussion, they will be ineligible to practice or play until the full recovery process has been completed. During this period, the athlete will appear as “Medically Ineligible” and thus, can’t be placed on a playing roster until cleared.
QUICK SUMMARY:
If pulled from a match and marked Medically Ineligible, SoCal’s Player Welfare Manager must clear the athlete in order for them to return to play. To clear the athlete, the Player Welfare Manager needs completion of the form below, which includes:
- Signed Physician Review and Office Stamp
- Signed Graduated Return to Play
Questions? Christine Mitchell, Player Welfare Manager – christine@socalyouth.rugby
OFFICIAL USA RUGBY CONCUSSION POLICY
USA Rugby’s concussion policy is intended to follow World Rugby Regulation 10, and follows the “5 Rs” of concussion awareness:
REGOGNIZE and REMOVE – If a player shows symptoms of concussion before, during or after a match, that player must be removed from play immediately, not to return during that match. No Exceptions.
REFER – The player needs to be evaluated by appropriate medical staff. Best practice would be evaluation by a medical physician who has specific training in concussion evaluation and management. A player must do this before returning to play rugby in any form.
RECOVER – If a concussion is diagnosed, that player must sit out of activity with full rest for 2 weeks (14 full days for Youth and HS players 18 and under) AND be symptom free before beginning the Graduated Return to Play (GRTP). The athlete must not return to contact rugby before GRTP is fully complete and the athlete is symptom free.
RETURN – Once a player is cleared by a physician, they should be closely monitored for any lingering symptoms by coaches, parents, teammates and medical staff and be removed from play immediately if symptoms occur.