Concussion & Head Injury

A concussion may result from a throw, fall, slam or other impact involving the head, neck or body. Symptoms may appear immediately or develop over the following hours or days. Remove an athlete from activity if they show any of these signs:

• Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness
• Lying motionless or being slow to get up
• Poor balance, unsteadiness or a vacant look
• Confusion or unusual responses
• Headache, pressure in the head or neck pain
• Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
• Blurred vision or sensitivity to light or noise
• Feeling foggy, slowed down or “not right”
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Unusual drowsiness or emotional changes
• A seizure or convulsion

Only one sign or symptom is needed to remove the athlete. Coaches, referees and parents do not need to diagnose a concussion.

If a concussion or head injury is suspected:

1. Stop the activity immediately.
2. Remove the athlete from training or competition.
3. Do not leave them alone.
4. Check their airway, breathing and responsiveness.
5. Call an ambulance if any emergency warning sign is present.
6. Do not allow them to return to BJJ that day.
7. Notify the athlete's parent or guardian if they are under 18.
8. Complete an incident report within 24 hours.
9. Arrange assessment by a qualified healthcare practitioner, ideally within 24–48 hours.

An athlete with suspected concussion must not drive themselves home.

Referees must stop a match immediately when they suspect a concussion or head injury. The athlete must then be assessed by the event's onsite first responder. A coach or official cannot overrule the referee's safety decision.

An athlete who loses consciousness because of head trauma must not compete again during that tournament and must obtain medical assessment. Slamming, spiking and direct neck cranks outside a legal choke are prohibited at AFBJJ-sanctioned training and competitions.

Losing consciousness from a choke is different from an impact concussion, but it is still a serious medical event. If an athlete loses consciousness from a choke:

• Release the choke immediately.
• Place the athlete in the recovery position.
• Check their breathing, responsiveness and vital signs.
• Have them assessed by first aid or medical personnel.
• Do not allow further rolling or sparring during that training session.
• Record the incident in the club's Concussion Register.

At a competition, the athlete may only be considered for further participation if the onsite first aid team declares them fit. If the athlete's head also struck the mat, or the cause of unconsciousness is unclear, treat the incident as a suspected concussion and the athlete must not return that day.

Athletes should tap early. Being choked unconscious must never be treated as a rite of passage or badge of honour.

Anyone with a suspected or confirmed concussion should be assessed by:

• A medical doctor; or
• A physiotherapist with specific concussion-management training and experience.

Coaches, referees and onsite first responders may recognise and remove an athlete, but they cannot diagnose concussion or clear an athlete to return. Written medical clearance is required before returning to contact training, and again before returning to competition.

Recovery must be gradual. Each stage should normally last at least 24 hours:

1. Rest for 24–48 hours and obtain medical assessment.
2. Resume normal daily activities.
3. Begin light aerobic exercise and gradually return to school or work.
4. Perform stationary BJJ skills with minimal head movement — no rolling.
5. Add moderate cardio and drills involving controlled head movement.
6. Add resistance exercise and sport-specific drills — still no contact.
7. After medical clearance, increase sport-specific training.
8. Return to full-contact training and live rolling.
9. Complete competition-simulation training.
10. Return to competition after receiving separate written clearance.

If symptoms return or worsen, stop the activity, return to the previous stage when symptom-free and seek further medical advice.

For athletes under 19 and community-level adults without an individually supervised medical recovery plan:

• They must be symptom-free at rest for at least 14 days before returning to contact training.
• The 14 days begin when symptoms resolve — not on the injury date.
• They must not return to competition until at least 21 days after the concussion.
• Written medical clearance is still required.

There are no exceptions for an important grading or tournament.

An athlete must be referred to a concussion specialist and follow an individual recovery plan if they experience two or more concussions within three months, or three or more concussions within 12 months.

Everyone has a role in concussion safety: