Rowan's Law Overview

Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety) legislation was passed by the Ontario Government in 2018. This legislation is named in memory of Rowan Stringer who tragically died in 2013 of Second Impact Syndrome, the result of suffering multiple concussion playing rugby three times in six days. The legislation is designed to create a safer environment for competitive amateur athletes, children and youth to play sport.

Knowing how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and what to do if a concussion happens – whether you are an athlete, a student, a parent, a coach, a team trainer, an official, or an educator– saves lives.  The Ontario Government is committed to implementing Rowan’s Law by putting concussion safety information in the hands of people who need it most.  Increasing awareness and changing conversations in sport, at school and in our homes, will result in transformative change to the way in which concussions are managed in amateur competitive sport and beyond.

SWOAK Soccer is bound by the legislative requirements of Rowan's Law (Concussion Safety), 2018, S.O. 2018, c. 1 - Bill 193 and is committed to the support and implementation of concussion concussion codes of conduct, and the removal-from and return-to-sport protocols in our House League programs. 

WHAT ARE THE LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS OF ROWAN'S LAW?

Rowan’s Law is applicable to 65 sports in Ontario as well as to educational institutions.  

As of July 1 2019

All sports organizations (including SWOAK Soccer) must have in place Concussion Code of Conducts for players/parents and coaches/trainers.

At the point of registration, the following individuals must sign off on the relevant Ontario Government’s Concussion Awareness Resources and the SWOAK Soccer Club Concussion Code of Conduct.

• All players under 26 years of age
• Coaches
• Match officials
• Team trainers 

If the player is under 18 years of age, a parent/guardian must sign off for them.  

For example: 

• If a player participates in an Under 12 league, their parents/guardians would need to review and sign off on the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion Awareness
• If a coach, match official or team trainer is coaching, officiating or training an Under 16 team, they would need to review and sign off on the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion Awareness Resources for players aged 15 and above and the SWOAK Optimist Soccer Club Concussion Code of Conduct.

The Ontario Government’s Concussion Awareness Resources and the SWOAK Optimist Soccer Club Concussion Policies and Code of Conduct must be reviewed and signed off on every year.

As of January 1, 2021

All sports organizations must have Removal-from-Sport and Return-to-Sport protocols.

SWOAK Soccer will follow Ontario Soccer's Removal-from-Sport Protocols and Return-to-Sport Protocols