CONCUSSION SAFETY
Effective and last reviewed: August 27, 2026
OUR APPROACH
A concussion is a brain injury that may result from a hit to the head, face, neck or body. Symptoms may appear immediately or later.
Rowan’s Law requirements apply to Alpha Cheer’s competitive cheerleading activities where required. For consistency and safety, Alpha uses the same immediate stop-and-assess response whenever a concussion is suspected in any Alpha program.
Alpha staff do not diagnose concussions. This page explains our Concussion Code of Conduct and our Removal-from-Sport and Return-to-Sport process. It is not medical advice.
ANNUAL REVIEW AND CONFIRMATION
Athletes and parents or guardians can review Ontario’s age-appropriate Concussion Awareness Resources at:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/rowans-law-concussion-awareness-resources
Where Rowan’s Law applies:
• athletes under age 26 must review an Ontario Concussion Awareness Resource and Alpha’s Concussion Code of Conduct;
• a parent or legal guardian must also review both when the athlete is under 18; and
• the required confirmations must be completed at registration and at least once every 12 months.
Alpha records these confirmations through its seasonal Smartwaiver. Families do not need to complete a separate concussion form. Alpha’s coaches, team trainers and officials complete the annual reviews required for their roles through Alpha’s staff process.
ALPHA CHEER CONCUSSION CODE OF CONDUCT
Athletes—and parents or guardians of athletes under 18—commit to:
• participate fairly, respectfully and within Alpha’s safety rules and coaching directions;
• report possible concussion signs or symptoms immediately, including their own symptoms;
• tell a coach if they suspect another athlete may have sustained a concussion;
• never hide symptoms or pressure anyone to continue participating;
• cooperate with immediate removal and Alpha’s graduated Return-to-Sport process;
• follow the advice of the physician or nurse practitioner involved in the athlete’s care; and
• share pertinent information about a removal or concussion with the athlete’s school and any other sport organization with which the athlete is registered.
Alpha’s coaches and team trainers make the same commitments. Coaches provide opportunities for athletes to raise concussion concerns before and after training, practices and competitions.
IF A CONCUSSION IS SUSPECTED
An athlete must stop immediately and tell a coach if they experience symptoms after a hit, fall or other impact—or if they simply do not feel right. Anyone who notices possible signs in another athlete should report them immediately.
Alpha will:
1. remove the athlete from further training, practice or competition;
2. call 911 when emergency care appears necessary;
3. notify the parent or guardian when the athlete is under 18 and contact the emergency contact as appropriate;
4. ensure the athlete is supervised and not left alone while awaiting pickup or medical assistance;
5. record the removal and provide this protocol to the athlete or guardian; and
6. explain that the athlete must be medically assessed by a physician or nurse practitioner before returning through this process.
Once removed, an athlete may return only through Alpha’s Return-to-Sport process. A suspected or diagnosed concussion that occurred outside Alpha must be reported before the athlete’s next Alpha activity.
EMERGENCY WARNING SIGNS
Call 911 for warning signs such as:
• loss of consciousness;
• seizure or convulsion;
• repeated vomiting;
• severe or worsening headache;
• neck pain or tenderness;
• weakness or tingling in the arms or legs;
• double vision; or
• increasing confusion, agitation or unusual behaviour.
MEDICAL ASSESSMENT AND CLEARANCE
Anyone removed with a suspected concussion should be assessed by a physician or nurse practitioner as soon as possible.
If the athlete is assessed, not diagnosed with a concussion and medically cleared, the athlete or guardian must provide Alpha with confirmation before returning. Alpha will follow any restrictions given by the health-care provider.
If a concussion is diagnosed, the athlete must follow medical advice and complete the graduated Return-to-Sport process below. School-aged athletes should also follow their school’s Return-to-School plan; returning fully to school comes before unrestricted sport.
For non-urgent questions, contact info@alphacheer.ca. Alpha will provide a secure method for submitting medical documents or clearance information.
GRADUATED RETURN-TO-SPORT PROCESS
Each step takes at least 24 hours, and some athletes will need longer.
1. DAILY LIVING AND RELATIVE REST: For the first 24 to 48 hours, gradually resume ordinary activities that do not worsen symptoms more than mildly and briefly. Minimize screen time.
2. LIGHT, THEN MODERATE AEROBIC ACTIVITY: Begin with walking or stationary cycling and increase gradually. Light resistance work may be added when appropriate.
3. INDIVIDUAL, LOW-RISK SPORT-SPECIFIC MOVEMENT: Complete individual conditioning or simple movement drills with no contact or risk of head impact. No stunting, partner work or tumbling.
4. NON-CONTACT TRAINING AND DRILLS: After the required medical clearance, progress to harder conditioning and supervised non-contact drills. No stunting, contact activity or tumbling.
5. UNRESTRICTED PRACTICE: Gradually return to unrestricted practice, including activities with fall or contact risk, when permitted by Alpha.
6. RETURN TO COMPETITION: Return to unrestricted competition after successfully completing the earlier steps.
If symptoms worsen, the athlete must stop, tell Alpha and follow medical advice rather than advance. If symptoms return after medical clearance, the athlete must step back and be reassessed by a physician or nurse practitioner.
Medical clearance from a physician or nurse practitioner is always required before unrestricted training, practice or competition.
RECORDS AND PRIVACY
Alpha keeps records of concussion removals and Return-to-Sport progression. We collect only the information reasonably necessary to manage the process safely, restrict access to people who need it and handle the information securely.
Read Alpha’s Privacy, Cameras & Media information:
https://www.alphacheer.ca/privacy