EA Supplement to Concussion in Sport Australia Position Statement

Equestrian Australia fully endorses the Concussion in Sport Australia Position Statement.

For the past two years a concussion protocol has been active in Eventing Competition in which any athlete suspected of concussion after a fall at a competition is removed from further competition, issued with concussion advice and advised that they may not return to competition until either 21 days have elapsed and/or they are certified fit to compete by a medical practitioner.

Consistent with its support for the Concussion in Sport Australia Position Statement Equestrian Australia will introduce a similar protocol for all equestrian disciplines effective July 1^st 2019.

This protocol will include the following key features of the Concussion in Sport Australia Position Statement:

• Distinction between those 18 years and under, and those 19 years and over

• Removal of a fixed exclusion period in favour of advising the athlete to follow a graduated return to sport program with minimum exclusion periods of 6 days (19 years and over) and 14 days (18 years and under)

• Requiring all athletes to have written clearance to compete from a medical practitioner before returning to competition

The existing Eventing Concussion protocol will be changed to align with the all disciplines protocol.

Recognising that falls occasioning concussion may frequently occur outside of organised competition, Equestrian Australia asks all members to be aware of the risks, symptoms, management guidelines and return to sport protocols embodied in the Concussion in Sport Australia Position Statement and act accordingly.

In support of this Equestrian Australia is undertaking education and communication programs for all stakeholders including athletes, officials, coaches, parents and guardians.