National campaign urges coaches to kick off season with concussion speech

A nationalcampaign aimed atgetting young athletesto talk more openly about concussionhas been launchedin Canada.

Team Up, Speak Up is urging coaches to talk totheir playersabout head injurybeforethe start of the playing season, and encourage them to say something if they believe a teammate has suffered a concussion.

• Kids should not be allowed to play contact sports, warns concussion expert
• Youth concussion bill 'Rowan's Law' passes 3rd reading

"We're changing social norms by actually having a coachgive the speech," said Chris Nowinski, a former athlete and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, at the campaign's launch at Queen's Park Tuesday.

"We're really framing the idea of identifying concussions as being a good teammate," said Nowinski.

Nowinski, who suffered numerous concussions as a professional wrestler, ending his career, said in the past athletes were inclined to hide their injuries. However today, with what's now known about the long-termeffects of repeated head trauma, he said it's critical for young people to speak up.

Nowinski said Rugby Canada is the first national governing body to participate in thecampaign, which was launched in the U.S. last year.

"Rugby Canada is partially involved because there is a former rugby player that really helped inspire this program," he said. "Her name was Rowan Stringer."

Remembering Rowan

Stringer died in2013 at the age of 17 after being knocked unconscious during a high school rugby match.

Aninquestfound theJohnMcCraeSecondary School student had suffered numerousconcussions before her death.

Teammates sometimes see things that happen during a game that coaches and others don't pick up on.- GordStringer, Rowan's father

In June 2016,the Ontario Legislature passed Rowan's Law, which mandates a new set of concussion protocols for youth sports.

"We fully support this initiative," said Rowan's father,Gord Stringer, at the launch. "I believe [Team Up, Speak Up]will and can be a difference-maker."

• Rowan Stringer ignored concussion symptoms days before death
• Inquest jury releases 49 recommendations after rugby death

"Had this been in place, [Rowan's] outcome mayhave been different," he said.

"She talked on social media with her friends about the possibilityofhaving a concussion. She never mentioned it to her coach, parents or anyone else. But teammates sometimes see things that happen during a game that coaches and others don't pick up on."

Nowinskiis encouraging coaches to speak to their players about concussionearly in the season, and to post their speechesonline with the hashtag#teamupspeakup beforeSept. 12.

"We're filming prominent coaches giving [their speech]... so people buy in that this simple, only one-minute speech canreally help change the culture of your team. It needs to be a part of the kickoff of every season with every new team."