The resources on this page will help sport organizations develop and implement evidence-based, best-practice concussion protocols based on the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport. These resources are free to download and use.
Be sure to check if your National Sport Organization or your Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization has adopted a harmonized protocol.
The Return-to-Sport Strategies in the Resources section, below, help athletes, parents, coaches, trainers, teachers and medical professionals to partner in allowing an athlete to make a gradual return to sport activities following concussion. Where possible, activities are tailored to create a sport-specific strategy that helps the athlete return to their respective sport.
Parachute, Parachute’s Concussion Expert Advisory Committee, and National Sport Organizations worked together to develop the sport-specific strategies. If your sport is listed, we encourage you to include the sport-specific strategy in your organization’s concussion protocol. Suggested activities in these strategies may need to be adjusted to ensure they are appropriate for the level of sport.
Please check back as new sport-specific strategies continue to be developed.
Resources
Develop your concussion protocol
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Canadian harmonized sport concussion protocol template
This template provides an example of a concussion protocol that aligns with the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport.
266.29 KB Word
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Canadian harmonized sport concussion protocol checklist
A tool to help you ensure your concussion protocol aligns with the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport.
186.85 KB PDF/UA
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Sport-specific return-to-sport strategy adaptation tool
This tool will help ensure your Return-to-Sport Strategy is tailored to include sport-specific activities that help athletes return to your sport after a concussion.
37.37 KB Word
Implement your concussion protocol
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Child Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (Child SCAT5)
The Child SCAT5 is a standardized tool for evaluating concussions designed for use by physicians and licensed healthcare professionals. If you are not a medical professional, please use the Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5). The Child SCAT5 is to be used for evaluating Children aged 5 to 12 years. For athletes aged 13 years and older, please use the SCAT5.
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Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5)
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Medical assessment letter
A medical assessment letter should be provided to athletes diagnosed with a concussion, indicating a concussion has been diagnosed. Athletes that are determined to have not sustained a concussion must be provided with a Medical Assessment Letter indicating a concussion has not been diagnosed and the athlete can return to school, work and sport activities without restriction.
343.40 KB PDF/UA
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Medical clearance letter
Before returning to full contact practice and game play, each athlete must provide their coach with a standardized Medical Clearance Letter that specifies that a medical doctor or nurse practitioner has personally evaluated the patient and has cleared the athlete to return to sport.
143.19 KB PDF
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Pre-season concussion education sheet
Have all stakeholders review and sign this education sheet, at the time of sport registration or before the beginning of each sports season, to confirm that all participants received key information about concussion.
226.83 KB PDF
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Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5)
The SCAT5 is a standardized tool for evaluating concussions designed for use by physicians and licensed healthcare professionals. If you are not a medical professional, please use the Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5). The SCAT5 is to be used for evaluating athletes aged 13 years and older. For children aged 12 years or younger, please use the Child SCAT5.
Sport-Specific Return-to-Sport Strategies
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Alpine Ski Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Artistic Gymnastics Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Badminton Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Canoe and Kayak Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Cross-country Ski Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Curling Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Equestrian Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Field Hockey Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Freestyle Ski Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Hockey Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Judo Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Nordic Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Rugby Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Sailing Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Ski Jumping Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Soccer Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Volleyball Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Water Polo Return-to-Sport Strategy
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Wrestling Return-to-Sport Strategy
Build awareness
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Concussion Ed app
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Concussion guide for athletes
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Concussion guide for coaches and trainers
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Concussion guide for parents and caregivers
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Player code of conduct
Have players sign this code of conduct to agree to respect themselves and respect others at play.
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Return-to-Sport Strategy
Additional resources
Check out these resources from our partners.
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Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT)
The Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) is a series of online educational modules and resources with the goal of standardizing concussion recognition, diagnosis, treatment and management. Good concussion management may decrease the risk of brain damage and potentially reduce long-term health issues.
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Concussion resources – Sport Information Resource Centre
The Sport Information Resource Centre has a collection of information on concussion.
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Making Head Way Concussion e
Learning Series Designed to help you gain the knowledge and skills required to ensure the safety of your athletes, these National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Professional Development modules will make you concussion smart! Developed by the Coaching Association of Canada. Requires registration and takes 60 to 90 minutes to complete a module.
Media
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NFL gives significant funding to help youth ‘SHRed’ the burden of concussion
University of Calgary — November 16, 2018
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How concussion research is changing university sports
Calgary Journal — October 24, 2018
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Former Crazy Canuck Podborski going full speed ahead on concussion management
The Star — October 21, 2018