Player Welfare
USA Rugby places player welfare and safety at the very top of our priorities. This is especially true with concussions and head injuries. USA Rugby's concussion policy is intended to follow World Rugby Regulation 10, and follow Recognize and Remove as the policy for community Rugby.
The guidelines around Concussion are well researched and outlined by World Rugby. Please review the following information for more insights and guidance.
- If a player shows symptoms of concussion before, during or after a match, that player must be removed from play immediately, not to return during that match. No Exceptions.
- The player needs to be evaluated by appropriate medical staff. Best practice would be evaluation by a medical physician who has training in concussion evaluation and management. A player must do this before returning to play rugby in any form.
- Once a player is cleared by a physician, they should be closely monitored for any lingering symptoms by coaches, parents, teammates and medical staff and be removed from play immediately if symptoms occur.
Full recovery from the concussion is required before return to play is authorized. This includes being symptom-free. Rest and some specific treatment options are critical for the health of the injured participant.
In order for safe return to play in rugby, the athlete must be symptom-free and cleared in writing by a qualified healthcare professional who is trained in evaluating and treating concussions. USA Rugby strongly recommends that the athlete complete the GRTP (Graduated Return to Play) protocol.
- What is a concussion? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a variety of information on concussions and steps for concussion prevention.
- Heads Up Online Training Course for coaches, parents and athletes a free, online course available to coaches, parents, and others helping to keep athletes safe from concussion. It features interviews with leading experts, dynamic graphics and interactive exercises, and compelling storytelling to help you recognize a concussion and know how to respond if you think that your athlete might have a concussion.
- Heads Up Online Training Course for health care professionals
To help bring the latest education around brain health to our community, USA Rugby has joined TeachAids, a nonprofit leader in global education innovation. Spun out of research from Stanford University, TeachAids developed the CrashCourse concussion education product suite in collaboration with world-class medical, sports and education experts. We are distributing TeachAids’ award-winning and interactive learning experiences.
There are three elements to the CrashCourse training: a Brain Fly-Through, a Concussion Education module, and a Concussion Story Wall.
These products aim to raise awareness of the latest science around concussions to shift the conversation away from fear and silence toward one of knowledge and empowerment. CrashCourse was designed to educate those interested in promoting brain health including the entire sports community of players, parents, coaches and officials.
The TeachAids CrashCourse concussion education is available free to the public through this page, as well as to USA Rugby members through the USA Rugby Learning Center. If you wish to have your completion marked on your permanent USA Rugby education record, please access the USA Rugby Learning Center via your USA Rugby Member Profile.
The CrashCourse Brain Fly-Through uses cutting edge technology from Stanford University’s Neurosurgical Simulation and Virtual Reality Center. It conceptualizes an otherwise “invisible injury”. Using dramatic race footage from world mountain biking champion Kate Courtney, coupled with her own personal concussion experience, this product takes the viewer on a journey through the human brain. The fly-through showcases the brain’s blood vessels, nervous system and cerebrospinal fluid cavities while emphasizing its complexity, fragility, and importance.
This 8-minute production can be accessed in virtual reality (Google Cardboard | Oculus Rift/Rift S|Oculus Go). An additional resource is a Discussion Guide to complement the Brain-Fly Through product.
This fundamental CrashCourse Concussion Education product was created with user-centered formative design research studies. It synthesizes first-person and third-person experiential perspectives to inform and motivate learning about concussion signs and symptoms, correcting myths and misconceptions, recognizing the seriousness of reporting and understanding the importance of working with a physician to determine the best strategies for improvement. It integrates these topics into a narrative, story-driven format with the learner at the center of the education experience.
Upon receiving a concussion, the learner is faced with a moral dilemma: to “Take a Knee” or “Stay in the Game.” Each decision leads the learner down a different path to reflect the consequences (both positive and negative) of their decision.
This 12-minute production can also be accessed in virtual reality (Google Cardboard|Oculus Rift/Rift S|Oculus Go). If taken through the USA Rugby Learning Center, the learner will have the opportunity to answer questions to test their knowledge.
This Concussion Story Wall product is an interactive database of more than 4,000 video stories relating to how an injury occurred, the symptoms experienced, and personal insights from those who have sustained a concussion. It includes a panel of the world’s leading medical experts addressing specific aspects of concussions. This product is intended as a comprehensive mental health resource for the many who are impacted – including athletes, parents, coaches, officials, teachers and military veterans. A key goal is combating stigma and communicating best health practices. The Concussion Story Wall serves as a referral source for athletic trainers, rehab specialists, physicians and concussion clinics.
This product is presented in collaboration with the Brain Injury Association of America, the National Council of Youth Sports, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education. The CDC has integrated the Concussion Story Wall as a resource for individuals with brain injuries.