OTTAWA – Canada’s sports minister says national standards on identifying and treating concussions – and when athletes can return to play – won’t apply to professional sports leagues.
Carla Qualtrough says the protocols being developed will only apply to amateur sport organizations that receive federal funds, but she intends to make a strong case to professional leagues operating in Canada to adopt the national standards once they are finalized.
Qualtrough says the standards being developed will include sport-specific protocols for when athletes can return to playing because each sport has different and distinct risks associated with it.
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She says the benchmarks could also be adopted more widely to outline when anyone can return to play, to work, or to school after a concussion.
Attendees at a Tuesday conference on concussions and brain injuries hosted by Gov. Gen. David Johnston called for a single, national concussion standard to simplify sometimes confusing messages to parents and young athletes.
During the conference, former National Hockey League player Eric Lindros said a national protocol to diagnose and treat concussions should be taught in schools to help young athletes, coaches and their parents recognize a head injury.