Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety), makes Ontario a national leader in concussion management and prevention by establishing mandatory requirements that call for:
• Annual review of concussion awareness resources that help prevent, identify and manage concussions, which athletes, coaches, educators and parents would be required to review before registering in a sport.
• Removal-from-sport and return-to-sport protocols, to ensure that an athlete is immediately removed from sport if they are suspected of having sustained a concussion and giving them the time required to heal properly.
• A concussion code of conduct that would set out rules of behaviour to minimize concussions while playing sport.
In honour of Rowan Stringer, the 17-year-old rugby player whose death resulted from sustaining multipleconcussions, the legislation establishes the last Wednesday in September as “Rowan’s Law Day”.
Ontario is the first jurisdiction in Canada to pass concussion safety legislation, setting a precedent for sport legislation across the country. The Ontario government worked closely with key medical experts, athletes, coaches and sport leaders – most notably the members of the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee – in establishing this first- of-its-kind legislation.
Starting this season, participants will be required to review the issued Concussion Awareness Resources, sign the acknowledgment form and submit it to their respective local ball hockey organization.
REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRANTS AND ORGANIZATIONS
- All Registrants registering July 1, 2019 or after must complete the review of information and acknowledgement prior to participation in the first game.
- All Team Officials registering July 1, 2019 or after must complete the review of information and acknowledgement prior to the start of the season.
We do have two changes to the playing rules as part of the OBHA Rowan’s Law initiative:
1) Any player in Men’s Ball Hockey born in 2005 or younger must wear full facial protection.
2) Any player assessed a double minor penalty (2+2) for deliberate Head Contact will also be assessed an automatic 10 minute Misconduct.
Additionally, any player who is assessed his/hers second automatic 10 minute misconduct for intentional Head Contact in the same season, shall be suspended for 1 game in his/hers teams next game
And beginning with the 2020 summer season, all referees will be required to wear CSA approved Helmets, black in colour. A CSA approved visor is also recommended.