Concussion in Grassroots Sport: an evaluation of the implementation of the UK Concussion Guidelines for Non-Elite (Grassroots) Sport

Sport-related injuries are the leading cause of concussion among children and young people and there is growing awareness of the possible long-term impacts of concussion on brain health, including dementia. Although the evidence of a causal link between selected sporting activities and dementia remains uncertain, what is known provides grounds for taking a precautionary approach when providing guidance on concussion management in sport. It is against this background that, in April 2023, the UK Government and the Sport and Recreation Alliance published the ‘UK Concussion Guidelines for Non-Elite (Grassroots) Sports’. Using the strapline ‘If in doubt, sit them out’, the UK Guidelines aim to improve concussion awareness and management among players, coaches, parents, and sports bodies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is now the opportunity to systematically assess how different sports have implemented the guidelines and understand how widely they are known. This study was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in collaboration with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to help fill this important knowledge gap.