PLAYER INJURies, coNCUSSION MANAGEMENT & RETURN TO SPORT STRATEGY

• The Westshore Football Association (WSFA) endeavours to ensure that all players engage in our community football programs in a safe and sustainable manner. We prioritize the long term health and wellbeing of our players.
• Players in all Westshore Football programs are required to wear a complete set of gear to fully participate in practices or games (helmet, mouth guard, shoulder pads, girdle, knee pads and cleats). Players participate in many of the follow types of actions during practices and games (games include similar actions as practices, with higher intensity and frequency):

• sprinting/running
• jumping/hopping
• quick start-stop actions
• blocking
• tackling
• crouching As a full contact sport, participation in tackle footall has the potential for incidents and injuries.

INJURY PROTOCOL

• If a player sustains an injury during a practice or game, and the team's Trainer requires the player to be assessed by a physician or nurse practitioner, OR if a player repeatedly reports an ailment that prevents them from fully participating in practices or games, the team's Trainer may ask that the player be seen by a physician or nurse practitioner.
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• WSFA to complete an Injury Report and provide player with a Medical Assessment form.
• Player/patient needs to be assessed by a physician/nurse practitioner.
• Medical Assessment form to be completed by physician/nurse practitioner.
• Email copy of doctor’s note and/or Medical Assessment to WestshoreFA@gmail.com and the team Manager (WestshoreWarriorsAtomTeam@gmail.com, WestshoreWarriorsPWTeam@gmail.com or WestshoreWarriorsJBTeam@gmail.com )

CONcussion management protocol & return to sport strategy

• Guided by the BCPFA’s Concussion Policy, the Westshore Football Association (WSFA) requires any player who has sustained an injury with the potential for concussion to follow this Return to Sport strategy.
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• WSFA to complete an Injury Report and provide player with a Medical Assessment form
• Player/patient must be assessed by a physician/nurse practitioner as soon as possible.
• Medical Assessment form to be completed by physician/nurse practitioner.
• Email copy of doctor’s note and/or Medical Assessment to WestshoreFA@gmail.com and the team Manager (WestshoreWarriorsAtomTeam@gmail.com, WestshoreWarriorsPWTeam@gmail.com or WestshoreWarriorsJBTeam@gmail.com )

If a player is diagnosed with a concussion, they will be required to follow the WSFA Concussion Management Protocol & Return to Sport Strategy. WSFA will provide the player's parent/guardian with a copy of the Concussion Management Protocol & Return to Sport Strategy. Parents/guardians must stay in close contact with the team Trainer to track and report a player's progression through their specific Return to Sport Plan. Players returning to the field to participate in Step 3 (no gear, conditioning only) will wear a green pinny. A green pinny will be worn by a player in Steps 3 through 5 of their Return to Sport Plan. Players must be cleared by a physician or nurse practitioner BEFORE beginning Step 4 (at practices, in gear, no contact). Parents/guardians must provide WSFA with a copy of the player's updated Return to Sport Plan and doctor's clearance BEFORE the player will be allowed to return to the field in Step 4. Players must successfully participate in TWO Step 5 practices (in gear, full contact) before progressing to Step 6 and game play.