Football Toronto / Athletes
Helping athletes
navigate concussions
Reporting a hit is how you protect your season, not how you lose it. Playing through a concussion is what turns one missed week into a missed year. Everything below is here so you know what to look for, what to say, and what recovery actually involves.
This page is a resource, not medical advice. It does not replace assessment, diagnosis, or direction from a physician, nurse practitioner, or other qualified medical professional. If you think you have a concussion, tell your coach or trainer and get assessed.
Two things to read before the season
Football Canada's Safe Contact guidance for players, and the handout on checking that your helmet actually fits. A helmet that moves is a helmet that is not doing its job.
Government of Ontario / Rowan's Law
Concussion awareness resource
Ontario publishes its concussion awareness resource in three versions. Open the one written for your age.
Documents and resources
Know it, then handle it
- Infographic / Holland BloorviewSigns of a concussion One page. The fastest thing on this list to read, and the one to read first.
- Infographic / Holland BloorviewSix things you should know about concussions The basics, in six points.
- Infographic / Holland BloorviewConcussion myths versus facts Corrects the things you have probably heard in a locker room.
- PDF / Parachute CanadaConcussion guide for athletes The full picture: what a concussion is, what it does, and what happens next.
- Infographic / Holland BloorviewI think I have a concussion. How do I get better? What to do in the first days.
- PDF / Ontario Neurotrauma FoundationConcussion do's and don'ts A tear-away sheet worth keeping in your bag.
- Infographic / Holland BloorviewHow to conserve energy after a concussion Managing school, screens, and daily load while you recover.
- Infographic / Holland BloorviewSleep tips for concussion recovery Sleep is part of the treatment, not a break from it.
- Video / Dr. Mike EvansConcussion management and return to learn How getting back to the classroom fits into getting back on the field.
Keep this page current
Know a resource we should add?
Guidance changes as the research does. If something here is out of date, or you found something that helped you get back, tell us and we will review it for this page.
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