Mr. Ger Ryan:

In 2007, the GAA produced a position statement on concussion and this position was subsequently updated in 2013. A multifaceted educational programme was devised earlier this year which aims to transfer knowledge to players, coaches, parents, referees, administrators and medical personnel on concussion, as well as the GAA’s guidelines in this regard. This programme comprises concussion workshops, seminars, a specific e-learning course and information leaflets designed to get to as wide an audience as possible.

The GAA has teamed up with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland on awareness campaigns which saw posters being distributed to each club, video campaigns featuring high-profile players and wallet cards being produced for coaches. The association has operated a national injury database since 2007 in conjunction with the University College Dublin’s School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science. It informs us on the incidence of concussion injuries associated with playing senior inter-county football and hurling, while trends in numbers and impact of such injuries can be monitored and reported.

The GAA has worked closely with the Gaelic Players Association, Gaelic Games Doctors Association, UPMC Beacon Hospital and the Department of Education and Skills to ensure our guidelines are up to date. The GAA recommends consideration be given to establish a task force with representations from sports organisations, sports medicine bodies and primary and post-primary schools to devise an appropriate educational programme to improve awareness of sports-related concussion, its management and possible consequences among players, parents, coaches and medics.

The GAA believes there is scope to provide education and training for all GPs, out-of-hour GP services and accident and emergency departments in post-traumatic brain injury assessment and management to limit the chance of players receiving varying advice. There is scope also for additional research.

The most important message for all stakeholders is that players with symptoms that indicate a concussion be removed from play - If in doubt, sit them out. Thereafter, appropriate management is essential for reducing the risk of long-term symptoms and complications.