Concussion Awareness & Safety Protocol

The Navan Curling Club takes the health, safety, and well-being of all participants seriously. Curling involves moving over low-friction ice surfaces, and head safety is paramount. In alignment with Ontario's Rowan's Law and CurlON guidelines, our concussion policy mandates immediate removal from play and structured clearance protocols.

"When in Doubt, Sit Them Out"

Any participant who experiences a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that results in signs or symptoms of a concussion must be removed from the ice immediately. Continuing to play risks severe secondary complications. A player removed with suspected concussion symptoms may not return to play on the same day.

Recognizing a Concussion

Red Flag Symptoms (Call 911 Immediately)

If a player exhibits any of the following critical indicators after a fall or collision, call 911 without hesitation:

Neck pain or tenderness
Loss of consciousness (even briefly)
Seizures, fits, or convulsions
Repeated vomiting or nausea
Deteriorating conscious state or severe confusion
Weakness, tingling, or numbness in the arms or legs
Severe or progressively worsening headache
Unusual behavior or heightened combativeness

Signs Observed by Others vs. Symptoms Reported

Signs Observed by Teammates & Officials:

Appears dazed, stunned, or blank-eyed
Moves clumsily, stumbles, or loses balance easily
Answers questions slowly or repeats the same question
Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes
Forgets the score, stone count, or end rotation

Symptoms Reported by the Curler:

Headache or a feeling of "pressure" in the head
Dizziness, blurred vision, or balance difficulties
Sensitivity to rink lights or arena noise
Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
Difficulty concentrating or remembering

On-Ice Action & Return-to-Play Process

Immediate 4-Step On-Ice Protocol

Remove: Remove the player from the game immediately. Do not allow them to finish the end or slide back to the hack.
Inform: Notify the League Convenor or Club Manager that an incident occurred and complete the NCC Incident Report Form.
Monitor: Do not leave the player alone. Ensure a teammate, family member, or responsible adult accompanies them to a quiet, calm area.
Refer: Advise the participant to seek assessment by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner as soon as possible.

Graduated Return-to-Curling Strategy

Returning to competition must be gradual and supervised. Each step requires a minimum of 24 hours symptom-free before progressing to the next:

Symptom-Limited Activity: Daily activities that do not provoke symptoms (walking, light reading).
Light Aerobic Exercise: Walking or stationary cycling; no resistance training.
Curling-Specific Drills: Practice slides, stick deliveries, or sweeping drills on quiet ice without stone collisions or competitive pressure.
Non-Contact Team Practice: Full team practice, hard sweeping, and regular sliding drills.
Medical Clearance: Obtain written medical clearance from a medical doctor or nurse practitioner before entering competition.
Full Return: Return to regular league and bonspiel play.

Note: If symptoms reoccur at any stage, the curler must drop back to the previous stage for at least 24 hours.

Rowan’s Law, Youth Rules & Protective Headgear

Rowan's Law Compliance & Youth Athletes

Under Ontario's Rowan’s Law, all athletes under the age of 26, parents of athletes under 18, coaches, and match officials must review government-approved concussion awareness resources annually prior to registration.

Youth curlers must confirm review of the Rowan's Law resources during season registration.
Volunteers and coaches working with youth programs must complete the required concussion safety education and submit verification to the Match Director[cite: 2].

The NCC adheres to CurlON Policy BD-PSO-018 (Curl Ontario Concussion Policy and Code of Conduct)[cite: 2].

Protective Headgear Policy & Guidance

Mandatory for Youth: All participants under 12 years of age must wear a CSA-approved hockey, ski, or skateboarding helmet while on the ice surface.
Strongly Recommended for All: The club strongly encourages protective headgear for novice curlers, stick curlers, senior curlers, and anyone returning from an injury.
Headgear Options: Popular modern curling head protection includes CSA-approved multisport helmets, insulated impact-reducing curling tuques, padded baseball caps, and specialized padded headbands (e.g., Ice Halo).