Concussion Safety - Rowan's Law

In 2018, the Government of Ontario introduced new regulations to better ensure the safety of young athletes in Ontario, which includes new resources which must be reviewed by all players, parents and coaches at the start of every season.

In accordance with Rowan’s Law (2018), all BWHA players and parents are now required to review the Government of Ontario’s Concussion Awareness Resource each year.

Click here to view the mandatory concussion resources as provided by the Ontario Women's Hockey Association (PDF)

Please take the time to read the section(s) applicable to you:

Appendix A for parents and players 15 years old and over.
Appendix B for players 11 to 14 years of age.
Appendix C for players 10 years old and younger.

Background:

In May 2013, 17 year-old-Rowan Stringer died as a result of a head injury she sustained while playing rugby with her high school team. In the week prior to her final game, Rowan had been hit twice, and likely sustained a concussion each time. These concussions were not recognized, and she continued to play. When she was hit again in her last game, she suffered what is known as Second Impact Syndrome - catastrophic swelling of the brain caused by a second injury that occurs before a previous injury has healed. Rowan collapsed on the field and died four days later in hospital.

A coroner’s inquest was convened in 2015 to look into the circumstances of Rowan’s death. The coroner’s jury made 49 recommendations for how the federal government, as well as Ontario’s government ministries, school boards and sports organizations, should improve the manner in which concussions are managed in this province.

Based on the recommendations of an extensive Coroner’s Inquest the Ontario Government introduced Rowan’s Law in 2018. These new regulations will better ensure the safety of young athletes in Ontario, by clearly defining the responsibilities and expectations for players, parents, coaches, and associations like the BWHA and OWHA.

Click here for the Government of Ontario's information page for Rowan's Law.