‘Keeping kids safe’: Sports players on the fence as AIS shake up community concussion protocols

Community and youth sport is about to receive a massive shake up with a major new policy protecting Australian kids from long-term damage sustained by from head injuries. Go inside the new changes >>>

Community and youth sport are about to receive a massive shake-up.

The Australian Institute of Sport has revealed a major new policy to protect Australian kids from the damage they can sustain from head injuries in sport.

Under the new rule change, players showing any symptoms of concussion won’t be allowed to play for a minimum of three weeks or train for two weeks.

The AIS rule change will apply to all junior and senior sports.

Currently, if a player is concussed, the minimum requirement is two weeks on the sidelines to ensure they don’t have any delayed reactions.

Surfers Paradise AFC players speak about the new concussion protocols to be introduced in sport. Andre Astras, James Carrigan, Lachlan Douherty, Brodie Cornish. Picture Glenn Hampson

Surfers Paradise Demons colts player Andre Astras had his first concussion at age 15.

Astras, now 17, believes two weeks is a fair amount of time to recover.

“I don’t think it is really necessary (to change it to three weeks),” Astras said.

“I have had concussions before and I think two weeks was a long enough time frame to make sure I was right.

“I had to go and get a doctor’s certificate to play again.

“Everything was all good and everything is all good now.”

His teammate James Carrigan thinks the rule change is a good idea.

“I think it is fine to change it to three weeks,” Carrigan, 18, said.

“The researches know best, it is their jobs to make sure we are looked after properly.

“Doesn’t bother me and, fingers crossed, it doesn’t in the future.”

If a player has multiple concussions in a year, the AIS will look to sideline them for the season.

Another Demons colts player, Brodie Cornish, agrees with the extended time on the sidelines.

“I think it is a pretty good idea,” Cornish, 17, said. “It is a pretty significant issue we are facing, not just in AFL but all sports.

“I have never been concussed but I have seen a few people get concussed and it doesn’t look great at all.

“If you get concussed multiple times in a year and have to sit out for the season, as much as I would hate it, they are only looking out for us.”

Lachlan Douherty, 19, thinks the rule change is a bit tough.

“It depends how far apart the concussions are, I reckon,” Douherty said.

“If you get a concussion, miss three weeks, then come back and get concussed that first week back, then sure.

“But if you get concussed round 1 and then in like round 15, I don’t think its fair.

“You could miss finals after playing pretty much the whole season.”

Carrigan disagrees with his fellow Demon.

“I think it is a good thing, it is keeping kids safe,” Carrigan said.

“It is making sure their brains are working properly when they are older.”