Concussion
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Start by Checking for Red Flags
These are red flags:
- neck pain or tenderness
- double vision
- weakness or tingling or burning in their arms or legs
- intense headache or one that’s getting worse
- seizures
- blacking out
- losing awareness of surroundings
- repeated vomiting
- getting more restless
- being irritable or aggressive
If the player has any of these, they need urgent transfer to a hospital.
No red flags? Check for other signs and symptoms
There are other signs and symptoms that don’t require urgent transfer to a hospital, but still need close attention.
Signs of concussion are things you can watch a player for, like:
- Being confused or disoriented
- Looking blank or vacant
- Struggling with balance or coordination
- Not seeming like their usual self
- Struggling to concentrate or remember things
Symptoms of concussion are things you can ask the player about, like:
- Headaches
- Nausea (feeling like you’re going to vomit)
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness (feeling sleepy)
- Blurred vision
- Feeling more irritable, sad or nervous than normal
- Being mentally ‘foggy’
- Being sensitive to light or noise
- Just feeling ‘not quite right’
If a player has any of these signs or symptoms, they need to come off the ground. Even if they don’t show any signs or symptoms, remember these don’t always happen straight away. If in doubt, sit them out.
If there are any signs or symptoms, take the player off the ground
Even if players don’t have signs or symptoms, continue to keep an eye on them. Symptoms can develop minutes, hours or even up to a few days after the impact. For bigger impacts that have you worried about the player – take them off the ground, even if they don’t have signs or symptoms.
If players have signs or symptoms either right away or in the days after the impact, they need to be handballed to a GP. If their symptoms are severe, go straight to the hospital emergency department.
If you haven’t already, download the HeadCheck app. You’ll be guided through simple questions to spot and act on the signs and symptoms of concussion right where you are.
For more in-depth information, refer to the official guidelines: The Management of Sports Concussion in Australian Football.
Follow these steps if you’ve seen or experienced a possible concussion? Follow these steps.
PlayHQ Concussion Management Functionality
PlayHQ’s concussion management functionality enables the recording and oversight of suspected concussions, guiding participants through the required return to play process, and ensuring appropriate medical clearance is obtained before a player becomes eligible to return to play.
This document is a one-stop shop for concussion management, covering how to create an incident, submit a clearance, review a medical clearance, and more.
Privacy
Once a player’s return-to-play date has passed, the concussion incident will only be visible to the profile owner and no longer to leagues or clubs.
Reporting Dashboard
Provides de-identified insights, including:
- Number of concussion incidents and the ‘return status’ (open, pending, closed, needs review)
- Basic demographics (age, gender) and average return-to-play timeframe
Return-to-Play Declarations
After 21+ Days: Players must declare completion of the graded loading program and confirm medical clearance. No action is required from the club.
Before 21 Days: Players must declare a doctor has confirmed no concussion occurred. Clubs must also confirm they’ve sighted the medical clearance before the player becomes eligible.
Automated Notifications
Sent to PlayHQ profile owners (player or parent/guardian) outlining the required steps to return to play.
Sent to club admins (with notifications enabled) and team managers when an incident is logged and throughout the recovery process.
Player Ineligibility & Clearance
Enables suspected concussions to be recorded, making players ineligible for selection until they complete the return-to-play process.
Concussion Explained
Level up your knowledge of concussion with AFL Play’s Concussion Explained series. In three simple episodes, you’ll learn:
- What concussion is and how you can tell if players might have one
- What to do if you see a possible concussion, and how to tell if something’s wrong
- How to help players recover and return to play
For Clubs
Level up your club’s concussion knowledge with all the resources and essential forms you need to recognise and manage concussion – on match day and beyond.
Management of Sport-Related Concussion in Australian Football
For the AFL’s official guidelines, refer to this PDF.
A collection of useful resources for club members, including downloadable posters.
Forms
Players Match Day Head Injury Form (Aged 13+)
After an impact, fill out the match day forms for your age group – and make sure you get checked by a doctor before returning to full-contact training or play.
This form requires medical clearance from a registered medical practitioner.
Concussion Recognition Tool (CRT6)
CRT6 is to be used by non-medically trained individuals for the identification and immediate management of suspected concussion. It is not designed to diagnose concussion.
AFL Play Concussion Hub
Struggling to understand a concussion? Don’t know how to spot one – or what to do next? And how about recovery? Whether you’re a club, player or parent, AFL Play’s Concussion Hub has you covered.