"Return to Learning" Concussion Guidelines Emerging

With return to physical activity and game play after a concussion injury fairly well established in practice, it's only now being recognized that there might need to be a separate "Return to Learning" concussion protocol.

At this time, clear guidelines do not exist. The American Academy of Pediatrics published a clinical report in October 2013 discussing the need for "return to learning" guidelines. Here's their abstract:
Following a concussion, it is common for children and adolescents to experience difficulties in the school setting. Cognitive difficulties, such as learning new tasks or remembering previously learned material, may pose challenges in the classroom. The school environment may also increase symptoms with exposure to bright lights and screens or noisy cafeterias and hallways. Unfortunately, because most children and adolescents look physically normal after a concussion, school officials often fail to recognize the need for academic or environmental adjustments. Appropriate guidance and recommendations from the pediatrician may ease the transition back to the school environment and facilitate the recovery of the child or adolescent. This report serves to provide a better understanding of possible factors that may contribute to difficulties in a school environment after a concussion and serves as a framework for the medical home, the educational home, and the family home to guide the student to a successful and safe return to learning.
Some caution has been advised.  Overall, although unclear and still confusing, this is a definite step forward.
...continue reading >

Scores - Western AAA Ringette Challenge Cup

Scores for the Western AAA Ringette Challenge Cup schedule, January 17-19, 2014, are below. Congratulations to Western Region on winning Gold in overtime.

Friday, January 17, 2014
12:00 PM - Western 4 vs United 2
1:30 PM  - Southern 4 vs Central 3
3:00 PM  - Northeast 2 vs Eastern 9

6:00 PM - United 1 vs S 6
7:30 PM - Central 8 vs NE 3
9:00 PM - E 4 vs W 5

Saturday, January 18, 2014
10:00 AM - NE 1 vs S 8
11:30 AM - W 3 vs C 4
1:00 PM  - E 9 vs United 4

5:00 PM - S 2 vs W 4
6:30 PM - United 8 vs NE 1
8:00 PM - C 2 vs E 9

Sunday, January 19, 2014
9:00 AM  - W 9 vs NE 2
10:30 AM - C 3 vs United 2
12:00 PM - S 4 vs E 8

FINAL
4:00 PM - 2nd Eastern 5 vs 1st Western 6
...continue reading >

Return to Play Concussion Protocol

Concussion knowledge and recovery practice is growing all the time and that's great.

The Sports Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) has evolved to SCAT3 (pdf) and there's even a SCAT3 for kids 5 years old to 12 years old.  A great central resource about concussions and concussion recovery is ThinkFirst.ca, where you can also download a pocket version guide for Concussion Recognition.

That's the assessment side.  What about recovery?

ThinkFirst has a 2-page PDF summarizing the Return to Play concussion protocol, which they have created from  the Zurich Guidelines outlined in the Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport.  These return to play guidelines have been reviewed by the highly qualified ThinkFirst Concussion Education and Awareness Committee (visit this page and scroll down to see the members).

Post-Concussion Return to Play Steps (more detail):

  1. No activity, only complete rest
  2. Light aerobic exercise
  3. Sport specific activities
  4. Begin drills, without body contact
  5. Begin drills with Body Contact
  6. Game Play

Some steps require a 1 day wait-time, concussion symptom free, while others require physician clearance.
...continue reading >

Western Region AAA Ringette Challenge Cup Schedule 2014

The Western AAA Ringette Challenge Cup schedule, January 17-19, 2014, is below and is also on Score2Stats.

All games will be played at Pyramid Recreational Centre in St. Marys > View Map

Friday, January 17, 2014
12:00 PM - Western vs United
1:30 PM  - Southern vs Central
3:00 PM  - Northeast vs Eastern

6:00 PM - United vs S
7:30 PM - Central vs NE
9:00 PM - E vs W

Saturday, January 18, 2014
10:00 AM - NE vs S
11:30 AM - W vs C
1:00 PM  - E vs United

5:00 PM - S vs W
6:30 PM - United vs NE
8:00 PM - C vs E

Sunday, January 19, 2014
9:00 AM  - W vs NE
10:30 AM - C vs United
12:00 PM - S vs E

FINAL
4:00 PM - 2nd vs 1st


...continue reading >

World Ringette Championships 2013 Gold Medal Game

Team Finland won the 2013 World Ringette Championship Jacks Division best 2 out of 3, taking the gold, with silver going to Team Canada. Final score for game 2 was 7-5.

> View Game Sheet
> View Game Summary

There was a problem with the video stream in the 4th period. You can watch the 4th period on YouTube.

Finland: A. Pohjola (04:37 2nd), M. Virta (06:37 2nd), R. Häyrinen (14:17 2nd), M. Virta (09:24 3rd), S. Kallionpää (11:56 3rd), K. Pukkila (01:18 4th), K. Pukkila (07:54 4th)

Canada: A. Ferguson (10:42 1st), K. Youldon (12:39 1st), J. Gaudet (03:46 3rd), A. Ferguson (08:54 4th), A. Ferguson (14:40 4th)
...continue reading >

Canada vs Finland Ringette Webcast

Final Score: Team Finland 8 Team Canada 4 - Game 1 in the Sam Jacks Pool, 2013 World Ringette Championships, in North Bay. Game 2 will be played on Jan 3 at 7:00 pm EST.

Watch World Ringette Championship Webcast, 2 Jan 2014 - Game 1, best of 3:


> View list of all available World Ringette Championship 2013 Webcasts
...continue reading >

Team Sweden vs U19 Canada Webcast - President's Pool

Final Score: Team Sweden 2 vs Team Canada 14
President's Pool ringette - 2 January 2014.

> Watch the webcast



> View list of all available World Ringette Championship 2013 Webcasts ...continue reading >