Longer stand-downs, medical clearance required for concussed athletes

9:56 pm on 1 February 2024

Waikato's Stacey Waaka is checked for concussion during the Women's Rugby NPC semifinal in October 2015. Photo: Photosport

ACC is bringing in new national concussion guidelines for community sport to help protect players who have suffered head injuries.

The changes come into effect this winter, and include a 21-day minimum stand-down as well as getting medical clearance before people can return to their sport. Currently, stand-downs can vary from six to 23 days.

ACC deputy chief executive of prevention and partnerships Tane Cassidy said inconsistent treatment increases the risk of people not recovering properly.

"[It cost] us $64 million last year, so these are significant volumes and figures. You're talking about potential serious brain injury, and what we're trying to do is make sure that players get the right support at the right time and prevent future injuries."

Last year ACC accepted almost 11,000 claims for sports-related concussion - the highest number of claims and cost over the past five years.

From 2019 to 2023 a whopping $266m was spent to help people recover from their injuries.

Cassidy said it was important concussion symptoms were managed well.

"We're trying to prevent multiple knocks to the head... we're committed to increasing awareness in education around concussion and giving communities all the direction they need. We also know the good concussion recovery gets players back into the game ready to perform at their best."

Teenagers and preadolescents had the highest number of sports-related concussion injuries at almost 5000, because they played multiple codes.

The agency suspected 1100 people went untreated.

The new guidelines cover rugby and league, football, netball and equestrian. It was these team-based sports where ACC saw high numbers of concussions.

The seven national sporting organisations that partnered with ACC to launch the new guidelines included NZ Rugby, NZ Rugby League, Netball NZ, Basketball NZ, Touch NZ, NZ Football and Equestrian Sports NZ.