Return to Play - Role of the Sports Trainer /

Generally, a Medical Clearance is required where a player has missed games and training for longer than one week (7 days) due to a medical circumstance/condition affecting their ability to play.

The following resources will support you in your role as a Sports Trainer to understand protocol and best practice for players returning to the field:

• Policies and Guidelines, including Return to Play Policy will provide an understanding of the types of conditions requiring a Medical Clearance.
• Discuss the Medical Clearance process with your Club/Association to understand local requirements, relevant timeframes, and discover your main point of contact at your Club.
• Sports Trainer Documents provides access to protocol and medical form information.
• Concussion Management Resources for a better understanding of concussion management 
  • • A player who is removed from play with a suspected concussion MUST NOT return to play until formally cleared by a doctor.

Concussion is an evolving condition and complications can occur if a player continues playing before they have fully recovered, and their Club must ensure the player does not participate in any form of training or match until sufficiently cleared by a medical professional.

1. Utilise the NRL's Concussion Management Resources for more information and access to the below mentioned forms required by the Player for their Return to Play.
2. Ensure the Player (or their Parent/Guardian/Carer) receives a copy of the completed Medical Clearance Form / HIA Form from MySideline Manager to take to their doctor after the incident.  The Head Injury Recognition and Referral Form is also acceptable if completed as a paper copy.
3. Returning after a concussion varies from person to person so it is important for the Player to follow advice from their GP before starting a Graduated Return To Sport (GRTS) program.
4. You will need to receive an NRL Community Head Injury/Concussion Medical Clearance completed by the Player's doctor before they can start full contact training.  This page is also available as part of the Medical Clearance Form / HIA Form from MySideline Manager.

REMEMBER - a player will be made unavailable in their online squad in MySideline following a reported concussion.  This status can only be removed by your local Association - make sure to understand local rules for the Player to be made available to play.

• Medical Clearances are private and confidential documents and should only be shared with authorised Club/Association Members involved in the Return to Play process.
• Follow protocol as outlined by your Club/Association, and relevant NRL Policies and Guidelines.

REMEMBER - depending on the injury, a player may have been made unavailable in their online squad in MySideline.  This status can only be removed by your local Association - make sure to understand local rules for the player to be made available to play.

A player becomes Unavailable to select for future matches when an Injury Report indicates a concussion.  This "Unavailable" status can only be removed by Association level or higher, with the return of a completed NRL Community Head Injury/Concussion Medical Clearance.  This page is also available as part of the Medical Clearance Form / HIA Form from MySideline Manager.

Discuss protocol with your Club/Association to understand local processes for a Player to be made available to select.