As winter sport approaches, it’s worth taking a few minutes to refresh what concussion can look like and what to do next. Responding well isn’t just about managing risk – it’s part of creating safe, positive sport experiences for young people.
Concussion isn’t always obvious straight away. Symptoms can show up later, seem subtle and vary from person to person. Knowing what to watch for and acting early can make a real difference to recovery and long-term wellbeing.
If a young person has a knock to the head (or a heavy hit to the body with head or neck movement), keep an eye out for signs like:
- Seeming dazed, confused, or unsure of the score or play.
- Headache, dizziness, nausea, or feeling “not right”.
- Balance problems, slow reactions, or clumsy movement.
- Sensitivity to light or noise, blurred vision.
- Mood or behaviour changes (more irritable, emotional, unusually quiet).
- Symptoms that develop or worsen over the next few hours.
ACC has free concussion resources designed for community sport, including red flags to watch out for, symptom checklists and clear guidance on when and how to return to sport. They’re useful before the season starts so everyone knows the plan, and in the heat of the moment so decisions are clear and consistent.
For whānau and parents
- If your child has a knock to the head (or a heavy hit to the body with head/neck movement), check in with them, even if they want to “tough it out”.
- If you’re told your child may have a concussion, plan for them to stop playing that day and to be monitored afterwards.
- Let the coach or manager know if symptoms show up later (that evening or the next day).
- Follow health professional advice and use the ACC guidance so the return to sport is gradual and safe.
For coaches and volunteers
- If in doubt, sit them out – remove the player from training or competition straight away.
- Don’t let the young person decide alone – concussion can affect judgement and they might minimise symptoms.
- Record what happened and who you told (e.g., parent/guardian and team manager) and encourage medical assessment.
- Keep the message consistent across the team: health comes first and returning too early can slow recovery time.
For sport administrators and club/school leaders
- Make your concussion process easy to find (website, season info pack, team app) and align it with ACC guidance.
- Brief coaches/managers at the start of the season so they know what “remove and refer” looks like in practice.
- Support a consistent return-to-sport approach by requiring health professional clearance before full contact training or competition.
- Create a culture where players and whānau feel safe to report symptoms without pressure.
A simple rule to remember
Recognise. Remove. Refer. If concussion is suspected, remove the young person from play straight away and only return after they’ve been assessed and cleared by a health professional.
Together, we all play a role in protecting the hauora wellbeing of young people on and off the field by noticing the signs, backing the decision to stop, and supporting a safe return to sport.
