Rowan’s Law
The law is to improve concussion safety in amateur competitive sport.
Announcement: Fall/Winter Registration Is Now Open
What Is Rowan’s Law?
Rowan’s Law was named for Rowan Stringer, a high school rugby player from Ottawa, who died in the spring of 2013 from a condition known as second impact syndrome (swelling of the brain caused by a subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed). Rowan is believed to have experienced three concussions over six days while playing rugby. She had a concussion but didn’t know her brain needed time to heal. Neither did her parents, teachers or coaches.
What does this law mean for parents and skaters:
All athletes under 26 and parents of athletes under 18 years of age
must confirm that they have reviewed the Government of Ontario Concussion Awareness Resources and Skate Ontario’s Concussion Code of Conduct for Athletes and Parents/Guardians as soon as possible.
Skaters under 18 must sign their form as well as their parent.
Exemptions from Rowan’s Law:
PreCanSkate and CanSkate level skaters are exempt from this requirement as per the Law’s exclusion provision:
- Activities focused primarily on the development of fundamental movement or sport skills and that are not focused on competition are exempt, and sport organizations are not required to obtain confirmation from athletes and their parents respecting their confirmation on the review of the Concussion Awareness Resources and the sport organization’s Concussion Code of Conduct for the registration of those activities.
Skate Canada Concussion Ed App:
The Skate Canada Concussion Ed App is available for free in English and French through the App Store, Google Play and available via a web-based version for Blackberry and Window users.
Rowan’s Law Phase 1:
Effective Since:
Rules came into effect through the Province of Ontario’s Rowan’s Law, on July 1, 2019.
Reason:
The law is to improve concussion safety in amateur competitive sport.
Applies to:
All athletes under 26 years old and parents of athletes under 18 years old.
Concussion Awareness Resources:
Government of Ontario Concussion Awareness Resources – Rowan’s Law E-booklet:
Skate Ontario:
Acknowledgment Form:
Rowan’s Law Acknowledgement Form – for Athletes & Parents/Guardians (download below)
Rowan’s Law Phase 2 For All Sports Organizations
As of January 1, 2022, the second phase of Rowan’s Law came into effect. A sports organization must immediately remove an athlete from further training, practice, or competition if the athlete has sustained a concussion or is suspected of having sustained a concussion, in accordance with the removal-from-sport and return-to-sport protocols. Physicians and nurse practitioners are the only health care providers that can medically assess and provide confirmation of medical clearance for athletes to return to participation in amateur competitive sport.
What does this law mean for Coaches, parents and skaters:
All coaches along with their athletes under 26 and parents of athletes under 18 years of age must sign the Code of Conduct annually during registration.
Skaters under 18 must sign their form as well as their parent.
Rowan’s Law Phase 2:
Effective Since:
As of January 1st 2022 the second phase of Rowan’s Law came into effect.
Reason:
The law is to further enhance safe sport in Ontario through concussion prevention and management.
Applies to:
Coaches along with STAR Skaters and their parents.
Annual Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct for – Rowan’s Law Phase 2:
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