The AFL has released updated guidelines for the management of sport related concussion in Australian Football, to be used as best practice at all levels of the game outside AFL and AFLW.
The guidelinesare designed to help those involved in the game including medical staff / first aiders, volunteers, coaches, players, parents and administrators, outline the steps in the initial management of a suspected concussion and the stages for return-to-play following concussion.
The 2026 updates reflect new information that has emerged over the last two years.
The 2026 guidelines have been updated to reflect the updated science and evidence base.
Descriptions around AFL safety initiatives including the continued evolution of the Laws of the Game, the use of evidence based training interventions, and ongoing research into headgear have also been updated to reflect 2026 best practice.
There are no substantive changes to the day of injury management requirements or the return to play process. However, there have been enhancements including the addition of a new section outlining PlayHQ concussion management functionality.
The PlayHQ functionality:
- 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
- Provides automated notifications
- Provides de identified reporting to support monitoring of concussion trends while maintaining player privacy
The most significant enhancements to day-of-injury management are outlined below:
- Clarification that briefly resolving symptoms does not rule out a concussion, and additional guidance around monitoring concussion symptoms for at least 24 hours post-event.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
There is also a greater focus on prevention, education and return to school guidance, including:
- The introduction of 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.
- New information on the Australian Football Headgear Standards, and clarification 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.
- Clarification of the limitations of baseline testing in children and adolescents due to developmental changes.
- Added guidance for schools to develop or update their concussion management plan prior to the start of each school year, and advice that a medical assessment is recommended where difficulties arise when returning to learning following a concussion.
Click here to view the 2026 Guidelines.
Click here to visit the AFL Play Concussion Hub.