The first ever concussion policy will be introduced to the Central Murray Football Netball League (CMFNL) in 2017.
Earlier this week, the draft policy was distributed among the clubs.
The policy outlines how to deal with concussions at a time when the medical world learns how severe a knock to the head can be for athletes.
CMFNL chairperson John Brookshaw said the new policy would simplify the process when it came to dealing with head knocks.
“We have a formal draft policy which each club will be asked to endorse and we will tighten it up,” he told The Guardian.
“What is going to happen is our trainers will be trained in the concussion observation techniques and will have the final say… if they say the player isn’t going back on, they will not go back on.
“There will be penalties for breaches. We are taking a cynical view, we are liable if we do not do something about it and clubs and players are putting themselves in a position of vulnerability as well.
“The more trainers who take responsibility and say no, the better… it is about winning and losing, and teams want to win all the time and forget they have a duty of care.”
While the CMFNL is taking a proactive approach to the issue, they are still open to more research and how best to deal with concerns.
Resident football player Grant Ford, who suffered from epilepsy after a head knock in a game, said the policy was a good step forward.
“I am happy they have got this policy, it can impact people’s lives, their families and obviously themselves if something does happen,” he said.
“It is a good option to have a policy and hopefully clubs abide by it.”
Ford also said he didn’t want clubs fined large amounts of money for breaches.
Instead he hoped suspensions may deter clubs from risking the health of players.
To read more about this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (March 3).
