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Community Concussion Guidelines - FAQs

What’s changed?

The updates primarily reflect new information that has emerged since the 2024 guidelines (e.g. headgear standards, PlayHQ concussion functionality, and the Play AFL Concussion Hub) and streamline the content to make it clearer and easier to use.

It is important to note that there are no substantive changes to:

  • The day‑of‑injury management (e.g. recognise, remove, refer); or  
  • The return‑to‑play process (e.g. graded loading program, 21+ days, medical clearance).  

Key updates include:

  1. Renamed the document to “Guidelines for the Management of Sport‑Related Concussion in Australian Football” to reflect the references to “the guidelines” throughout the document. The guidelines are adopted as policy within the National Community Football Policy Handbook, removing any ambiguity about whether the protocols are mandatory.  
  2. Updated references from “head trauma” to “head impacts” throughout to align terminology with AFL and AFLW concussion guidelines. 

  1. To strengthen the AFL’s science and evidence‑based position, the updated guidelines provide a balanced overview of what is currently known, and not yet known, about long‑term brain health in footballers, and particularly CTE (page 4 and 5).

  1. Updated description of the AFL’s efforts to enhance player safety including the continued evolution of the Laws of the Game, the use of evidence‑based training interventions, and ongoing research into headgear (page 5).

  1. Reduced duplication by consolidating the summary into five clear principles before expanding into operational detail (page 6).

  1. Clarified that briefly resolving symptoms does not rule out a concussion (page 7).
  2. Moved the section on managing an unconscious player and identifying when to seek emergency assistance earlier in this section to increase prominence and align with the logical sequence of actions when managing a concussion on the day of injury (page 10).
  3. To provide further guidance, it was added that following a concussion, players should be monitored for at least 24 hours; during this time, they may take simple analgesia and should be allowed to sleep (page 11).
  4. Updated the section to clarify that teams with a medical doctor on the sidelines are expected to use the SCAT6 or Child SCAT6 to assist in the assessment and management of the player, rather than the previous wording which indicated they can be used (page 11).
  5. Updated the initial sideline management flowchart to integrate that, in the case of an unconscious player, an ambulance must be called, basic first aid (DRABC) should be applied, and only a medical professional or ambulance officer should move the player. Previously, this information appeared in a separate note and was not fully integrated into the decision flow for managing an unconscious player.

  1. Moved the figure illustrating the Stages of Graded Return to Play earlier as the section summary, with the detailed explanations for each stage following to create a more logical and user friendly flow (page 14).
  2. Moved the figure illustrating the different return‑to‑play timelines based on recovery patterns to earlier in this section, so it sits alongside the content addressing return‑to‑play timing, improving clarity and alignment with the surrounding guidance (page 17).
  3. Simplified the sections relating to teams with a medical doctor or other healthcare practitioners to emphasise adherence to established concussion management and return‑to‑play principles. In addition, reinforced that only a medical doctor can provide medical clearance for a player’s return to full contact training or competition, ensuring clarity around clinical responsibility and scope of practice (page 18).
  4. Added a new section outlining PlayHQ concussion management functionality, which streamlines the recording of suspected concussions, guides participants through the return‑to‑play process, ensures medical clearance is obtained before a player becomes eligible to return, and provides automated notifications and de‑identified reporting to support monitoring of concussion trends while maintaining player privacy (page 19).

  1. Introduced the AFL Play Concussion Hub which consolidates education, videos, microlearning guides, and practical resources to support all stakeholders in recognising, responding to, and managing concussion (page 20).
  2. Reflecting developments in headgear since the 2024 guidelines, added new information on the Australian Football Headgear Standards, clarified that while compliant headgear may help reduce impact forces it is not yet proven to reduce concussions, and outlined details of GameGear’s laboratory testing and the planned 2026 on‑field trial (pages 20 & 22).
  3. Clarified limitations of baseline testing in children and adolescents due to developmental changes (page 22).

  1. Reiterated that a medical assessment is recommended where difficulties arise when returning to learning (page 25).
  2. Added guidance for schools to develop or update their concussion management plan prior to the start of each school year (page 26).

Why have these changes been made?  

It is important to ensure that Guidelines reflect new information that has emerged since the 2024 guidelines (e.g. headgear standards, PlayHQ concussion functionality, and the Play AFL Concussion Hub).  The content has also been streamlined to make it clearer and easier to use.

 

What hasn’t changed?  

There are no substantive changes to:

  • The day‑of‑injury management (e.g. recognise, remove, refer); or  
  • The return‑to‑play process (e.g. graded loading program, 21+ days, medical clearance).  

The most important steps in initial management remain:

  • Recognising a suspected concussion (know the signs and symptoms).
  • Removing the player from the match or training session.
  • Referring the player to a medical doctor for assessment.

The key components of the return‑to‑play protocols remain:  

  • A graduated return‑to‑play program with relative rest, a period of recover and a graded loading program.
  • Requirement of a medical clearance before returning to full contact training.
  • The earliest that the player may return to play (once they have completed a graded loading program and have obtained medical clearance) is on the 21st day following the concussion.

 

Where can I go to get more information / support on concussion management in AFL?

The AFL Play Concussion Hub provides education, videos, microlearning guides, and practical resources to support all stakeholders in recognising, responding to, and managing concussion.