Rowan's Law is Ontario legislation requiring concussion protocols in youth sports. Named after athlete Rowan Stringer, it aims to prevent concussion-related tragedies through education and safety measures.
Rowan's Law is Ontario legislation (Bill 193) that came into effect in 2018, requiring all sport organizations to have concussion protocols in place. Named after Rowan Stringer, a high school rugby player who died from Second Impact Syndrome in 2013, the law mandates concussion education, removal from play protocols, and medical clearance requirements for young athletes.
Rowan Stringer was a 17-year-old high school rugby player from Ottawa who tragically died in May 2013 after sustaining multiple concussions in a short period. Despite experiencing concussion symptoms, Rowan continued to play, suffering a fatal brain injury known as Second Impact Syndrome.
Her death sparked a movement to improve concussion safety in youth sports across Ontario and inspired the creation of Rowan's Law.
All sport organizations must develop and implement a concussion code of conduct that includes:
Organizations must provide free online concussion awareness resources approved by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport to:
These resources must be reviewed annually by all participants.
Before participating each season, athletes and parents must:
Immediate removal is required if an athlete:
The athlete cannot return to play the same day, regardless of symptom resolution.
An athlete cannot return to sport until:
Rowan's Law applies to designated sport organizations in Ontario, including:
The law protects athletes under age 26 participating in these designated sports programs.
Rowan's Law requires a minimum 6-step protocol before return to full competition:
Each step requires 24 hours minimum and progression only occurs if symptom-free.
Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) occurs when someone suffers a second concussion before fully recovering from a previous one. SIS can cause:
Rowan's Law helps prevent SIS by:
The Ontario government provides free resources at:
For comprehensive concussion management training beyond the basic requirements, organizations can access:
Organizations that fail to comply with Rowan's Law may face:
More importantly, non-compliance puts young athletes at serious risk of preventable injury.
While Rowan's Law sets minimum standards, best practices include:
Q: Can an athlete return to play the same day if symptoms resolve? A: No. Rowan's Law requires removal for the remainder of the day, even if symptoms improve.
Q: Who can provide medical clearance? A: Only a physician (MD) or nurse practitioner (NP) can provide clearance under Rowan's Law.
Q: Does Rowan's Law apply to adults? A: The law specifically protects athletes under age 26, but best practices apply to all ages.
Q: What if symptoms don't appear until later? A: If symptoms develop after the event, the athlete must be removed from all activity and follow the return-to-sport protocol.
Need help implementing Rowan's Law protocols?
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Article authored by Kailin Walter, DC, Director of Program Development at Shift Concussion Management. Last updated January 2025.