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Rowan’s Law & Your Legal Requirements

Jun 28, 2019

Rowan’s Law & Your Legal Requirements

(from www.Ontario Sailing.ca)

Certain aspects of Rowan’s Law are coming into effect on Monday, July 1st, 2019. This is what it means for you as a club or regatta host:

  1. Any participant who registers with your organization, or enters your regatta, after July 1st 2019 needs to do the following two things:
    1. Confirm they have read a Ministry Approved Concussion Awareness Resource.
    2. Confirm they have reviewed, and committed to, the Ontario Sailing Athlete Concussion Code of Conduct.
  2. Participants that register/enter prior to July 1st can continue to participate in activities. They will need to confirm both items next time they register. As we move forward, all participants will need to confirm both items once in a 12 month period.
  3. Coaches/Instructors need to also do both items below. They have until August 30th to complete those confirmations. Once again, moving forward, they will need to provide confirmation once every 12 months.
    1. Confirm they have read a Ministry Approved Concussion Awareness Resource.
    2. Confirm they have reviewed, and committed to, the Ontario Sailing Coach Concussion Code of Conduct.
  4. If you have a team trainer, which is defined as below, they are also required to meet the same requirements as coaches … “team trainer” means an individual who is assigned by a sport organization to respond to athlete injuries.

Below are the Ministry Approved Concussion Resources. There are three options based on age that we are sharing …

Concussion Awareness Resources Ages 10 and under – CLICK HERE.

Concussion Awareness Resources Ages 11 to 14 – CLICK HERE.

Concussion Awareness Resources Ages 15 and up – CLICK HERE.

 

Below are updated Ontario Sailing Concussion Codes of Conduct. They have been adjusted to meet some new specifics of the legislation. All member organizations are to use these Codes of Conducts as attached.

Ontario Sailing Concussion Code of Conduct – Athletes

Ontario Sailing Concussion Code of Conduct – Coaches

 

These are also available at https://ontariosailing.ca/concussion-information/

 

FAQ’S

Q1:  Can we do our own Codes of Conduct? Can we just change the Ontario Sailing ones to make them our own?

A1:  The updated Codes of Conduct are based on templates provided by the Ministry. Ontario Sailing is strongly encouraging all Ontario Sailing member organizations use the exact Concussion Codes of Conduct we have presented. If you alter the Codes of Conduct you risk not being legally compliant. If all Member Organizations use the same Codes of Conduct, this will eliminate the need for coaches and athletes to have to sign multiple codes when participating at regattas hosted by other Member Organizations.

 

Q2:  Can we continue to use the Concussion Resources Ontario Sailing provided in the winter or other Parachute or recognized Resources? OR The coach has completed training on concussions can that count as the Resource?

A2:  The law very clearly states that the Concussion Awareness Resource has to be a Ministry Approved item. At this point the Ministry has only produced these e-booklets, however we understand a video and module are coming from them at some point over the summer. They have indicated they are not planning on approving any other resource, training or qualifications under this legislation. As more resources become available from the Ministry, or if their position changes, we will communicate that with all our member organizations.

 

Q3:  Do we have to hold onto everyone’s signed Code of Conduct?

A3:  There is no rules within the law about how you collect that information. You do need to keep a record in some format that the participants and coaches have completed the requirements. We are suggesting a check box on your registration forms that has this statement: “I (and my parent/legal guardian if I am under 18) confirm that I have reviewed the provided Concussion Resources and I acknowledge and commit to the Ontario Sailing Concussion Code of Conduct.”

 

Q4:  We have St. John’s or a registered nurse etc. at our regatta to provide first aid, are they considered a Team Trainer?

A4:  Based on the definition within the regulations of the law, we believe that someone providing first aid at a regatta, or if it is their role at the club, would fit this definition. We have asked for further clarification however believe it does fall under their definition so suggest your comply with having your First Aid person confirm review of both items.

 

Q5:  What about all the procedures around removing participants with suspected concussions and return to sport?

A5:  At this time only parts of the law are coming into force, given the short time frame the Ministry has provided, we wanted to focus on the July 1st2019 implementation pieces. Updates about Removing and Return will be coming out in the fall. Those components of the law come into effect July 1st2020.

 

Q6:  I am a 25 year old adult do I need to do this?

A6:  Legally, all participants under 26 years of age and all participants in a college or university program need to participate in all aspects of the Law. Certain aspects (Removal & Return to Sport) will apply to all ages. Ontario Sailing, and other sports, have decided for overall safety, as well as ease of administration for our clubs, coaches, officials and other volunteers, to have our policies and procedures implemented for participants of all ages.

 

Other questions? Don’t hesitate to contact Lisa Roddie, COAST Manager (lisa@ontariosailing.ca)