Return to Play guideGet urgent medical help now
Signs that need emergency care include: neck pain, double vision, weakness or tingling/burning in the arms or legs, seizure or convulsion, loss of consciousness, a deteriorating conscious state, repeated vomiting, a severe or increasing headache, or increasing restlessness, agitation or confusion.
Return to Play, one step at a time.
Enter the original injury date to build a guided return-to-sport plan. Already seen a clinician? You can join at the right stage without restarting the 21-day minimum timeline.
Progress depends on symptoms, completed stages and medical clearance — never the date alone.
How the guide works
Enter the injury date. Tell us what care and rehabilitation has already happened.
Track each stage. Record symptoms and response to activity as you recover.
Meet the checkpoints. Minimum time periods and medical clearance still apply.
Who this is for
Athletes, parents, coaches and clinicians managing a concussion in community sport. It suits Australian Football and, through the AIS framework, any other sport. It works alongside whoever is providing your care, whether that is MHCG or your own doctor or clinician.
This guide is educational. It does not diagnose concussion and it cannot clear anyone to play. Diagnosis and clearance are decisions for a doctor. If symptoms are severe or getting worse, seek medical care now.
Return to Play Guide
A step-by-step guide through recovery after concussion — from rest, through recovery and graded loading, to a safe return to sport. It follows the checkpoints in the AFL and AIS community protocols and won't let you skip them.
Who's using this today?
Athlete/parent mode guides you day by day and locks anything that needs a clinician.
Athlete details
Joining recovery after the injury?
Use the actual injury date above, not the date of diagnosis. Elapsed days alone never advance rehabilitation or grant clearance.
Which protocol?
Not sure? For Australian Football use the AFL protocol. For other sports, or if your clinician has told you to follow the AIS framework, choose AIS. Your clinician can advise.
Sway testing
Privacy: everything you enter is processed and stored on this device only. Nothing is sent to MHCG or anyone else. Clearing your browser data removes it. You can download a backup of your plan at any time from the dashboard, and restore it here on a new device.
Today
Your pathway
Progress log
Today's check-in
Back in the game
Return summary
Keep a copy for the club and your own records. The concussion date matters for managing any future head knock.
What to watch for now
Most people return without a hitch. Keep an eye on three things over the coming weeks:
1. Symptoms with head knocks. Headache, fogginess, dizziness or feeling "off" after a bump, even a small one.
2. Delayed symptoms. Concussion symptoms can surface hours or a day after a knock, not just straight away.
3. A lower threshold. Getting concussed by smaller impacts than before is a warning sign that needs proper review, not a normal part of the game.
This concussion is now part of the history
A second concussion in the same season, or a third within 12 months, calls for a slower and more conservative recovery next time, guided by a doctor with concussion expertise. Note the date, tell any new clinician or club, and treat the next head knock with respect.
Questions after returning?
Whether it is a niggle you are unsure about, a fresh knock, or planning for next season, MHCG is here. If you are under another clinician's care, they should be your first call.