I. Definitions
The following terms have these meanings in this Policy:
– “Activity” means all CAS, PTSO and affiliated club business and activities;
– “Athlete” refers to any minor or adult registrant participating in an Activity;
– “CAS” refers to Canada Artistic Swimming;
– “Coach” means any registrant who instructs figures or routines on a regular basis and includes
Instructor, which is a specific level of coach who teaches the AquaGO! or other recreational
programming;
– “Concussion” refers to a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head, face,
neck or body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth and can alter the way the
brain normally functions leading to signs or symptoms that can be physical (e.g., headache, dizziness),
cognitive (e.g., difficulty concentrating or remembering), emotional or behavioural (e.g., depression,
irritability) or related to sleep (e.g., drowsiness, poor quality of sleep);
– “Concussion Awareness Resources” refer to information or materials on concussion prevention,
detection, reporting and management;
– “Concussion Diagnosis” refers to a clinical diagnosis made by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner;
– “Concussion Management Protocol” refers to the companion document to this Policy that helps inform
and guide the management of artistic swimmers through a sport-related concussion and includes the
CAS Removal-from-sport and Return-to-sport protocols;
– “Concussion Recognition Tool 5” or “CRT5” is the most recent revision of the Pocket Sport Concussion
Assessment Tool that was introduced by the Concussion in Sport Group in 2005. The CRT5 is designed
to assist non-medically trained individuals to recognise the signs and symptoms of possible sportrelated concussion and provides guidance on removing an athlete from sport and seeking medical
attention.
– “Designated Person” refers to the person assigned to have final decision-making authority to remove an
athlete who is suspected of having sustained a concussion from further training, practice or
competition;
– “Including” means including but not limited to;
– “Licensed healthcare professional” means a healthcare provider who is licensed by a nationalprofessional regulatory body to provide concussion-related healthcare services that fall within their
CAS Concussion Policy June 2019 2
licensed scope of practice. Examples include medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists,
athletic therapists, and chiropractors;
1
– “Medical Assessment” means the evaluation of an individual by a licensed healthcare professional to
determine the presence or absence of a concussion.
– “Member” means any Provincial or Territorial Sport Organization registered with CAS;
– “Minor” refers to any person under 18 years of age;
– “Officials” refers to all registrant judges, including practice judges, referees and scorers;
– “Parents” refers to parents or guardians of minors;
– “Participants” means all persons engaged in any paid or volunteer capacity with CAS or its Members or
affiliated clubs;
– “PTSO or Provincial or Territorial Sport Organization” refers to a provincial or territorial organization
Member that is responsible for the management of artistic swimming within its provincial or territorial
boundaries;
– “Registrant” means any club or individual that has fulfilled the requirements of registration as required
by CAS and has paid any associated registration fees to CAS. A complete list of Registrant categories
can be found in the CAS By-laws and related CAS Registration Policy; and
– “Sport-related Concussion” refers to a concussion injury sustained during artistic swimming Activity.
II. Application
This Policy applies to CAS and its Members, Registrants and Participants. It applies at all times wherever an
Activity takes place, including CAS, PTSO or affiliated club workplaces as well as external locations in
Canada and abroad and includes all events and activities sanctioned by CAS or the PTSO.
This Policy recognizes that jurisdictions across Canada have legislation that governs the management of
concussions within their jurisdiction. Government legislation may supersede aspects of the policy. Failure
to abide by this Policy and the protocols contained in the CAS Concussion Management Protocol may result
in disciplinary action in accordance with the CAS Conduct Policy or the conduct policies of the applicable
PTSO.
III. Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is to provide the framework to create a safe and positive sport environment
through education and training, and by making CAS Members, Registrants and Participants aware of artistic
1 Among licensed healthcare professionals, only medical doctors and nurse practitioners are qualified to
conduct a comprehensive medical assessment and provide a concussion diagnosis in Canada. The types
of medical doctors qualified to do such an evaluation are: Pediatricians, family medicine doctors, sport
medicine doctors, internal medicine doctors, orthopedic surgeons, emergency department and
rehabilitation (physiatrists) physicians; neurologists and neurosurgeons.
CAS Concussion Policy June 2019 3
swimming-specific concussion awareness resources to assist in recognizing and managing a concussion
injury.
IV. Renewal
This Policy will be reviewed annually and updated, as necessary, to reflect legislative or regulatory
developments or any new medical advances communicated by or in reference to the Canadian Concussion
Protocol Harmonization Project (Parachute) and the Canadian Concussion Collaborative.
V. Concussion Awareness Resources
CAS, the PTSOs and affiliated clubs will make the following concussion awareness resources available on
their public websites:
1. CAS or PTSO Concussion Policy
2. CAS Concussion Management Protocol including:
– Head Injury Recognition (Concussion Recognition Tool – CRT5)
– CAS Removal-from-sport Protocol
– CAS Return-to-sport Protocols including, as appropriate:
– Club Environment
– Short-term Centralized Training (e.g., National or Provincial teams)
– Full-time Training Group (e.g., Senior National Team).
VI. Concussion Recognition and Reporting
All Participants including Coaches, Officials, Athletes and Parents are responsible for recognizing and
reporting any athlete who demonstrates any of the visual signs or behaviours of a suspected concussion or
who reports concussion-related symptoms.
VII. Governance
A. CAS Responsibilities
CAS will:
1. Participate in multi-disciplinary working groups on sport-related concussions;
2. Develop and maintain a Concussion Policy and related Concussion Management Protocols
including Removal-from-sport and Return-to-sport protocols;
3. Develop and maintain a system for collecting and analyzing concussion injury data;
4. Maintain records of sport-related concussions for National teams, including medical clearance
letters for Athletes;
5. In collaboration with the PTSOs, assess changes in concussion rates over seasons and identify
and, if possible, make recommendations with respect to those training or routine elements that
put Athletes in a position of high risk for concussion injury;
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6. Develop or communicate concussion awareness resources for Coaches, Officials, Athletes and
other Participants;
7. Provide annual concussion education for Members, Coaches, Officials, Athletes and other
Participants at CAS-hosted conferences, clinics or calls; and
8. Receive and investigate complaints of any breach of the CAS Concussion Policy and Concussion
Management Protocol and, where appropriate, determine an appropriate disciplinary response.
B. PTSO Responsibilities
PTSOs will:
1. Adopt the CAS Concussion Policy and related protocols, which may include an appendix, if
necessary, to comply with provincial or territorial legislation and regulations;
2. Report annually to CAS on sport-related concussions;
3. Maintain records of sport-related concussions for provincial or territorial teams;
4. In collaboration with CAS and other PTSOs, assess changes in concussion rates over seasons
and identify and, if possible, make recommendations with respect to those training or routine
elements that put Athletes in a position of high risk for concussion injury;
5. In collaboration with CAS and other PTSOs, develop or communicate concussion awareness
resources for Coaches, Officials, Athletes and other Participants; and
6. Receive and investigate complaints of any breach ofthe CAS Concussion Policy and Concussion
Management Protocol and, where appropriate, determine an appropriate disciplinary response.
Effective date for B. 2. through 5. is September 1, 2020.
C. Affiliated Club Responsibilities
Affiliated clubs will:
1. Adopt the CAS Concussion Policy and related protocols, which may include a PTSO appendix, as
appropriate, to comply with provincial or territorial legislation and regulations;
2. Report all instances of suspected or confirmed sport-related concussions to the PTSO using the
prescribed system for collecting concussion injury data;
3. Maintain records of sport-related concussions;
4. In collaboration with CAS and the PTSO, assess changes in concussion rates over seasons and
identify and, if possible, make recommendations on training or routine elements that put
Athletes in a position of high risk for concussion injury;
5. In collaboration with CAS and the PTSO, communicate concussion awareness resources for
Coaches, Athletes and other Participants; and
6. Receive and investigate complaints of any breach of the CAS Concussion Policy and Concussion
Management Protocol and, where appropriate, determine an appropriate disciplinary response.
Effective date for C. 2. through 5. is September 1, 2020.
CAS Concussion Policy June 2019 5
VIII. Safeguarding
A. CAS Responsibilities
1. Ensure all CAS-hosted meets/training camps, selection and assessment processes and National
Team Activity is properly supervised, including the use of certified lifeguards in aquatic
environments in accordance with municipal or facility requirements;
2. Assign the Designated Person for all CAS hosted meets, selection and assessment processes
and teams (e.g., onsite Event Medical Lead or Chief Referee for meets or Team Medical Lead or
Head Coach for National Teams);
3. Keep a copy of the CRT5 on deck and available to Coaches at all CAS-hosted meets, selection
and assessment processes and National Team Activity;
4. Implement the CAS Return-to-sport Protocol for all instances of concussion injury among
National Team Athletes; and
5. Maintain records and statistics to help identify training or routine elements that put National
Team Athletes in a position of high risk for concussion injury.
B. PTSO Responsibilities
1. Ensure all PTSO-hosted meets/training camps, selection and assessment processes and
provincial team Activity is properly supervised, including the use of certified lifeguards in aquatic
environments in accordance with municipal or facility requirements;
2. Keep a copy of the CRT5 on deck and available to Coaches at all PTSO hosted meets, selection
and assessment processes and provincial team Activity;
3. Implement the CAS Return-to-sport Protocol for all instances of concussion injury among
provincial team Athletes; and
4. Maintain records and statistics to help identify training or routine elements that put provincial
team Athletes in a position of high risk for concussion injury.
C. Affiliated Club Responsibilities
1. Ensure all club Activity is properly supervised, including the use of certified lifeguards in aquatic
environments in accordance with municipal or facility requirements;
2. Ensure Coaches are familiar with their responsibilities under the CAS Concussion Management
Protocol including how to recognize, report and manage a sport-related concussion injury;
3. Keep a copy of the CRT5 on deck and available to Coaches;
4. Implement the CAS Return-to-sport Protocol for all instances of concussion injury; and
5. Maintain records and statistics to help identify training or routine elements that put Athletes in
a position of high risk for concussion injury.
IX. Designated Person
The Designated Person has responsibility to:
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1. Remove an athlete who is suspected of having sustained a concussion from further training,
practice or competition, in accordance with the CAS Removal-from-sport Protocol;
2. Call 911 immediately if any Red Flag symptoms are present (see CRT5);
3. For minors or other vulnerable Athletes, inform the parent of the removal and remain with the
athlete until discharged to a parent or other trusted adult or EMS. For Athletes over 18 years of
age, the Designated Person should contact their emergency contact person;
4. Communicate to the athlete or athlete’s parent the need for immediate medical assessment by
a medical doctor or nurse practitioner when Red Flag symptoms are not present but other
concussion symptoms are reported or observed and the athlete has been removed from further
training, practice or competition;
5. Provide a copy of the CAS Removal-from-sport Protocol and CAS Return to Sport Protocolto the
athlete or, in the case of a minor athlete, the athlete’s Parents when the athlete is removed from
further training, practice or competition
6. Ensure medical clearance is provided by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner before allowing
the athlete to return to training, practice or competition, in accordance with the CAS Return to
Sport Protocol; and
7. Ensure the CAS Return to Sport Protocol is implemented for all instances of concussion injury.
The Designated Person may delegate any of the above responsibilities to another qualified
Designated Person, if necessary. Final decision-making authority to remove an athlete who is
suspected of having sustained a concussion rests with the Designated Person.