1.    Concussion is a brain injury. It can happen when players get a head knock, a bump or an impact to the body that sends force to the head. In footy it could be from a tackle, a mark or even a bad landing or fall. Basically, it’s a short-term change in how the brain works. For a little while, it takes more energy for the nerves to talk to each other. And you don't need to be knocked out to have a concussion. In fact, most concussions happen without the person losing consciousness.

2.    Spotting a suspected concussion is key. A suspected concussion is a head knock or impact to the body that sends force to the head plus signs or symptoms afterwards. But here's where it gets tricky – concussion signs and symptoms aren’t always obvious. Players might feel fine right after a knock, but symptoms can show up hours or even up to a few days later. Remember: if in doubt, sit it out.

3.    Recovery is crucial, and is different for everyone. The good news is most players make a full recovery from concussions. But they need to give their brain time to heal. Just like with a sprained ankle, they can't rush back into play. Kick off recovery by seeing a doctor, and following the AFL Guidelines for Graded Return to Play. Take it slow and steady, building up their confidence as symptoms improve. And then it’s back to playing the game we love! 

Remember, concussions can happen at any level of play. Whether you’re a parent or a player, speak out if you see something that worries you. Sitting isn’t quitting! 

Concussions don't just happen during big matches. They can happen while you’re doing everyday things like falling off a bike or even just tripping over your own feet.

The good news? Most concussions aren't as scary as they sound. In fact, most symptoms improve within a few days. With the right care, almost everyone can recover comfortably at home, getting back to normal life and gradually getting back to play.

When Symptoms Stick Around

While most people recover in 3–4 weeks, it's important to know that recovery varies from person to person and for some people it might take a bit longer. This doesn't mean anything's gone wrong – just that everyone’s brain recovers differently.  

Even if you’ve recovered from your symptoms, you still need to take things slowly. That means gradually working back up to your normal schedule at school, work and play. Check the AFL’s Graded Return to Play for a step-by-step guide to recovery. 

Can Concussion Be Serious?

Head trauma, either as a single concussion, repeat concussions or repetitive “non-concussive” head impacts, may be associated with an increased risk of brain degeneration later in life.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Neuropathological Change (CTE-NC or CTE) is a specific pattern of changes that have been identified at autopsy in the brains of people who are exposed to repeated head trauma.

There are still many important questions related to CTE and other neurodegenerative conditions linked to head trauma that remain unknown. These include:

• How common is CTE? 
  Many of the studies have been done on small and very select groups of individuals, most of whom have a documented history of concussion.
• How does CTE present during life? 
  It has been suggested that CTE may be a cause of changes in mental health and deterioration in brain health, but the presence of CTE at autopsy does not necessarily mean that the person had any symptoms while they were alive. This is especially true for lower severity of CTE.
• What is the link between concussion and/or repeated head trauma and mental health? 
  The research suggests that the risk of suicide or problems with mental health in those who played a contact sport was lower than or equal to that seen in the general population.
• What are the risk factors for developing CTE? 
  Exposure to repeated head trauma seems to be one factor, but the influence of other factors, including drug and alcohol use, other mental health and medical conditions remains unclear.

LEARN MORE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SPORT RELATED CONCUSSION IN AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL

Involved in Local Footy? 

Learn more with the AFL’s Concussion and Injury Management Module. It’s a simple online training module designed for community sport trainers and First Aiders to help understand concussion and how to treat it. 

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On the Ground

Keep your eyes open for any knocks to the head, falls where a player's head whips back, bumps between players, or any impact to a player’s body that sends force to their head. Remember, it doesn't have to be a big knock to be serious.

Call It Out

If you see what you think might be a concussion, call it out. Don’t assume someone else will speak up – talk to a team manager or trainer. Footy can be hectic, and we know it’s hard to slow things down sometimes. But calling it out means looking out for others.  

Watch and Ask 

A suspected concussion is a head knock or impact to the body that sends force to the head plus signs or symptoms of concussion afterwards.

If the player’s knocked out or has any other red flags, we need to get the player to hospital straight away. Otherwise watch the player for signs, and ask them how they’re feeling. Are they confused? Do they seem slower than usual? Learn exactly what to check for here.

Sometimes you might see a big impact that worries you, even if the player doesn't have any signs or symptoms. When that happens, play it safe and keep them off the ground. Symptoms don’t always show up straight away – they can take hours or even up to a few days. Remember: if in doubt, sit them out.

The Golden Rule

This one’s important: if you suspect there’s a concussion, remove the player from the ground. No playing on – it’s better to miss some time than take the risk. Your job is simply to recognise a potential concussion and look after the player. Once they’re off the ground, refer them to a doctor and leave the diagnosis to the professionals.

By staying alert, speaking up, and sitting them out when in doubt, we can all play a part in making our game safer. Keep your head in the game, but keep it safe too!

When you see a player take a knock to the head or an impact that sends force to the head, check for the signs or symptoms of concussion.

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
• Getting more irritable or aggressive

If the player has any of these, they need to be taken to hospital straight away. They could have a more serious head or neck injury.

There are other signs and symptoms that don’t need urgent transfer to hospital, but the player still needs to be referred to a doctor. Signs of concussion are things you can see in a player, 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 usual
• Being mentally ‘foggy’
• Being sensitive to light or noise
• Just feeling ‘not quite right’

If a player has any of these signs or symptoms, either right away or in the days after the impact, they need to be medical assessed as soon as possible by a GP or at a hospital emergency department.

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 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. 

Stay alert, speak up, and keep players safe!

Step 1: Recognise
If you see a head knock or a worrying impact, let the team manager or trainer know.

Footy can be hectic, and it can be hard to speak up. But you’re not only helping keep players safe, you’re helping your team stay strong for the season.

Does your club have a concussion officer or plan in place? Check out the For Clubs section for ideas on how to master concussion care at your club.

Step 2: Remove
If you suspect there’s a concussion, take the player off the ground. Concussion isn’t always obvious – the signs and symptoms might not show up right away. Even if the player says they’re okay, it could be minutes, hours, or even up to a few days before they start feeling off.

We know players don’t want to stop playing. But that time off the field could save them weeks on the bench. Whether you're a coach, a parent, or a player, it's about smart play for the long game.

If the player’s unconscious or has any red flags, they need to go to hospital straight away. Otherwise check them for the common signs and symptoms of concussion. You don’t need to diagnose a concussion – your job is to recognise a suspected concussion. That’s a head knock or impact to the body that sends force to the head plus any signs or symptoms of concussion.  

Step 3: Refer
If a player has any of the signs or symptoms, either right away or in the days after the impact, they need to be medically assessed as soon as possible by a GP or at a hospital emergency department.  If their symptoms worsen, take them to the hospital emergency department. 

Download your essential guide that shows the flow on match day including recognising any signs / symptoms, removing the player from the ground and referring them for assessment.  

LEARN MORE

What’s Next? 
Now it’s time to take it easy as the player recovers from concussion. Find out more about the steps to follow and how they work.   

Whether you're a sports trainer, First Aider, player, coach, parent or spectator, your voice matters. You don't need a whistle or a medical degree to speak up about concussion. If you see something that worries you, say something.

Trust Your Gut 
Noticed a teammate looking a bit wobbly after a collision? Maybe your child's not quite right after a match? Don't second-guess yourself. If something feels off, it's worth mentioning.

Be Direct and Specific 
When you're flagging a worry, be clear about what you've seen. ‘I saw Jack hit his head in that tackle and he seems confused’ is more helpful than just saying, ‘Something's not right.’

Look After Your Mates
Players, keep an eye out for your teammates on the ground. If you think a mate's taken a hard knock, don't let them brush it off. A simple check for signs and symptoms of concussion can make all the difference.

The Coach is Key
Coaches, it’s really important to take concerns seriously. You help to create a culture where players feel okay about speaking up and sharing their symptoms. And players, if you're not feeling right, let your coach know. Sitting isn’t quitting – it’s the smart move for the long game.

Tell Others
The more we know, the easier it becomes to speak up. Share what you know about concussion with your club. Does your club have a concussion officer or plan in place? Check out the For Clubs section for ideas on how to master concussion care at your club.

Champion Move
Speaking up is a true sign of strength and team spirit. You're not just looking after one player – you're looking after everyone and the sport we love. In the game of concussion awareness, everyone's on the same team. So let's make some noise and keep the game safe for everyone!

Going slow with any injury can be frustrating – especially when a player feels fine. But the best way to recover is to take the time they need. Remember, everyone is different, and each person's recovery will be unique. Here are the three stages of recovery to follow for the AFL’s Graded Return to Play.

Stage 1: Relative rest
This stage lasts for 24–48 hours. Take it easy. Players don’t have to stay in bed – walking around is fine. Try gentle activities like reading or stretching.

Stage 2: Recovery
This stage of the graded return lasts for at least six days. Players can start with some light everyday activities, like going for a short walk. The next step is to move to light aerobic exercise, like jogging or cycling. Sometimes symptoms might get a bit worse for a short time. That’s normal. But if symptoms are more severe, or last more than one hour, go back a step and see a doctor. Read more about when to step back here.

During the Recovery stage, it’s also time to return to school or work. Start slow – a smaller workload, rest breaks, or only a few hours at a time. Don’t push yourself.

The final step of Recovery is high-intensity aerobic exercise. During this step, players can try gentle weights too, at about half of what they normally do.

Once players are back to their regular school or work schedule and don’t have any symptoms, even in high-intensity exercise, they’re ready to move on to the final stage.

Stage 3: Graded Loading Program
This is where players start training again, working up slowly from just joining the warm-ups to non-contact drills and then to limited contact training. Players have to remain totally symptom-free in this stage. Then it’s time to see a GP for medical clearance so they can get back to full-contact training and playing again. It takes at least two weeks to go through this stage, with at least a day’s break between sessions.

Remember, return to play is different for everyone, and it takes at least three weeks to progress through the different stages. 

When it comes to concussion recovery, it's all about pacing yourself and knowing when to step back. Let's break down the recovery process, depending on symptoms. 

Examples of the Return to Play Timeline:

• Mild and brief symptoms: At least 21 days to return to play
• Symptoms resolve after 14 days: At least 28 days to return to play
• Persisting symptoms beyond 28 days: An extended recovery time and further medical review is needed

When symptoms take longer to fully resolve, we need to take a more conservative approach in returning to play.

Move On Only When Ready 
Players can only move through Stage 2 of the graded return if their symptoms stay the same (or only get worse briefly and mildly after activity) or improve. To progress into and through Stage 3, they need to be completely symptom-free. Everyone's brain heals differently, so be patient and supportive. Learn more about the stages of the Graded Return to Play here. 

When to Take a Step Back 
Sometimes players might feel worse after an activity during Stage 2: Recovery. But does that mean they need to take a step back? Use the 2-Point Rule: Imagine a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 is no symptoms, and 10 is the worst you've ever felt. If players’ symptoms increase by more than 2 points on this scale and last for over an hour compared to how they felt before an activity, it's time to take a step back.

For example, if they felt like a 3 before exercise and now they’re at a 6 for more than an hour, that's their cue to step back. Try the same level of activity again the next day.

Listen to Your Body 
Recovery isn't always a straight line. Some days players might feel great, others not so much. That's normal! The key is to encourage players to listen to their body and not push too hard.

Taking the time to recover properly means getting back to the game we love sooner – and safer. 

1. Start with Rest – But Not Bed Rest

   In the first couple of days after a concussion, players’ brains need a break. This means both physical and mental rest, but they don’t need to be stuck in bed. It’s fine for them to walk around and do gentle day-to-day activities. Swap screen time for a book or a chat with a mate. 

2. Ease Back In 

   Chances are players are starting to feel better. But keep an eye out for symptoms as players gradually ramp up their activity. Start with light exercise like a gentle walk. Remember, if symptoms flare up, it's a sign to pull it back.

3. Keep People in the Loop 

   Encourage honesty with coaches and doctors about how players are feeling. They're on your team for recovery. Regular check-ins help the professionals guide players safely back to play. Toughing it out alone isn’t being a team player.

   Bonus Tip: Be Patient

   Sometimes recovery can be frustrating. Going slow with any injury can be hard, especially when players feel fine. Everyone's concussion journey is different. Follow the Graded Return to Play, encourage players to listen to their body, and don’t compare their recovery to anyone else’s. You’ve got this.