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ROWANS LAW

WHO IS THIS FOR?

All participants including players (and their parents), coaches/trainers and umpires.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Review annually the appropriate Concussion Awareness Resource for the age group you participate with.
Review annually the appropriate Code of Conduct.
Acknowledge annually that you have read and understand the Concussion Awareness Resource, and that you have read, understood and agree to abide by the appropriate Code of Conduct

ONTARIO MINISTRY'S CONCUSSION AWARENESS RESOURCES

There are 3 age variations of the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion Awareness Resources

Players/parents/guardians/coaches/umpires/trainers are to review and sign off on the resources that are relevant to their participation. For example, if a player participates in an Under 13 league, their parents/guardians would need to review and sign off on the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion Awareness Resources for players aged 11 to 14. If a coach coaches an Under 17 or senior team, they would need to review and sign off on the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion Awareness Resources for players aged 15 and above.

BASEBALL ONTARIO CODES OF CONDUCT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Concussion Management Protocol

Player Code of Conduct

Parent Code of Conduct

Coach Code of Conduct

Umpire Code of Conduct

Concussion Education Acknowledgement

OVERVIEW

Rowan’s Law 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’re 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.

Baseball Ontario and by association all our Member Clubs and registrants are legally bound by the requirements of the Law.

REQUIREMENTS OF ROWAN’S LAW LEGISLATION

Certain aspects of the Rowan’s Law legislation came into effect on July 1, 2019. Rowan’s Law is applicable to 65 sports in Ontario as well as educational institutions. In summary;

From July 1 2019, all sports must have in place Concussion Code of Conducts for players/parents and coaches/trainers.
From July 1 2019, all players, coaches, match officials, trainers at the point of registration must review and sign off on the Ontario Ministry’s Concussion Awareness Resources and the Baseball Ontario Concussion Code of Conduct. If the player is under 18 years of age then their parent/guardian must sign off. This needs to be done annually.
Between July 1 and August 30 2019, all currently registered coaches and trainers must review and sign off on both the Ministry’s Concussion awareness resources and Baseball Ontario Concussion Code of Conduct.
Between July 1 and August 30 2019, all currently registered match officials must review and sign off on the Ministry’s Concussion awareness resources.
Point 5 – From January 1, 2022, Phase 2 of Rowan’s Law mandates all sports must have in place Concussion Removal and Return to Sport protocols.