Ontario recently passed new legislation aimed at reducing the incidence of concussion in amateur and youth athletes.

Bill 193, also known as Rowan’s Law, received its third reading in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on March 6. The law is named in honor of Rowan Stringer, a 17-year-old rugby player who died in 2013 from secondary impact syndrome, the result of sustaining multiple concussions over a short period of time.

The new legislation establishes mandatory requirements for sports organizations, including:

  • Annual review of concussion awareness resources by coaches and educators
  • Implementation of removal from sport and return to sport protocols
  • A concussion code of conduct aimed at minimizing concussions

The legislation also proclaims the last Wednesday in September to be Rowan’s Law Day—Wednesday, September 26, 2018.

Read the report of the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee.

Image: Mai Groves | Shutterstock