Junior AFL Concussion: What Parents Should Do After A Head Knock
One of the most common questions we receive from parents after a head knock is: What do we do now?
Many parents are trying to work out whether their child has a concussion, whether they need a scan, whether they can go to school, and when they can return to football.
This guide was written to provide a practical roadmap based on current AFL guidelines and what we use every day in clinical practice.
The short answer
- If concussion is suspected, your child does not return to play that day.
- They should be assessed by a medical doctor as soon as possible.
- Watch them closely for the first 24 to 48 hours.
- School comes back before football.
- Junior and community AFL return to play is Day 21 at the earliest, with medical clearance.
The first decision is simple
At junior level, we do not need a perfect diagnosis on the boundary. We need a safe decision.
If concussion is possible, they come off.
They might have a headache, look dazed, feel foggy, move awkwardly, answer slowly, or simply say they do not feel right. They do not need to be knocked out.
The day of injury. No same day return.
Monitor, rest, sleep and seek medical advice.
Earliest AFL match return if every stage is complete.
Concussion symptoms parents often notice
Some kids mainly report headache. Others look flat, emotional, tired or not quite themselves. Parent and teacher observations matter because teenagers often under-report symptoms.
| Physical | Cognitive | Emotional | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headache Dizziness Nausea Balance problems Blurred vision Light or noise sensitivity | Foggy feeling Slow thinking Poor concentration Memory gaps Confusion Trouble following instructions | Irritable Flat mood Anxious More emotional than usual Frustrated easily | Drowsy Trouble falling asleep Sleeping more than usual Waking overnight Feeling wiped out the next day |
A normal conversation does not clear them
A child can answer questions, walk around and still have a concussion. Symptoms can also appear later that night or the next morning.
Red flags that need urgent medical care
Most concussions do not need an ambulance. Some head injuries do. If any of these signs are present, treat it as urgent.
| Symptom | Why It Matters | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Worsening headache | Pain that keeps building can suggest something more serious than a simple concussion. | Seek urgent medical assessment. |
| Repeated vomiting | This can reflect significant irritation after head trauma. | Go to emergency or call 000 if severe. |
| Seizure or convulsion | This needs immediate medical review. | Call 000. |
| Increasing confusion or unusual behaviour | A child who is deteriorating needs urgent assessment. | Go to emergency. |
| Weakness, numbness, slurred speech or trouble walking | These can be neurological warning signs. | Call 000. |
| Neck pain after impact | The neck can be injured with the same force that caused the head knock. | Keep them still and seek urgent care. |
| Hard to wake or loss of consciousness | This needs medical assessment even if they later seem better. | Go to emergency or call 000. |
Does my child need a CT scan?
This is one of the first questions parents ask.
Brain scans are not required for most concussions. A doctor may organise a scan if they are worried about bleeding, fracture, a significant neck injury, or another structural problem.
A normal scan does not rule out concussion
Concussion is usually a change in how the brain is functioning. That is why a scan can be normal and the child can still have concussion symptoms.
What to do in the first 24 to 48 hours
Do
- Keep them away from football and contact sport.
- Let them rest and sleep.
- Monitor symptoms and behaviour.
- Book medical assessment.
- Tell the school and club what happened.
Do not
- Let them return because they seem fine at quarter time.
- Use a normal scan as proof they are clear.
- Push through worsening headache or dizziness.
- Send them back to full school and full training together.
- Let them play another sport while football is restricted.
School, screens and exercise
School
A day or two off may be reasonable. Then build back with half days, breaks, reduced tests or quiet spaces if needed.
Screens
Screens are not banned forever. Use short blocks. If symptoms flare, reduce brightness, duration and pace.
Exercise
After the early rest period, light activity can help if symptoms only increase mildly and briefly. No contact or head impact risk.
What to tell the club and school
Good communication prevents accidental overload. The school needs to know about learning changes. The club needs to know the player is not available for contact training or match play yet.
Simple message you can send
“Our child had a suspected concussion on the weekend. They are being assessed and will be following the AFL concussion process. Please hold them out of PE, contact training and games until medical clearance is provided.”
What we do at GRIT
We help families move from worry and guesswork to a clear, staged plan. The assessment is practical, not just a quick symptom chat.
We map symptoms, triggers, recovery pattern and what makes things worse later that day.
We check control in simple and sport-relevant positions, because balance changes can be subtle.
We assess dizziness, eye movement, visual motion sensitivity and busy-environment tolerance.
We check whether the cervical spine is contributing to headache, dizziness or pain.
We find the workload the athlete can tolerate and use that to guide the next step.
We bridge the gap from light aerobic work to running, acceleration and change of direction.
We assess readiness for skills, full training, contact and AFL match demands.
FAQs
Does every concussion involve being knocked out?
No. Many junior concussions happen without loss of consciousness. Symptoms, behaviour and the story of the incident matter.
Does my child need a CT scan?
Not always. A doctor may order one if they are worried about a more serious injury. A normal scan does not rule out concussion.
Can they use screens?
Usually, yes, in small doses. If screens flare symptoms, reduce the time, brightness and pace, then rebuild slowly.
Can they go to school?
Often, yes, but some students need modified days, breaks, less screen time, delayed tests or reduced homework at the start.
Can they exercise?
After the first short rest period, light activity can be introduced if it is safe and symptoms remain controlled. No contact sport.
What happens if symptoms return?
Stop, rest, return to the last stage that was tolerated, then retry after symptoms settle. If symptoms keep returning, get reviewed.
Why does AFL use a 21-day rule?
The community AFL pathway is conservative. Day 21 is the earliest possible return after the graded process and medical clearance, not an automatic return date.
What parents should remember
- If concussion is possible, your child does not return that day.
- Being knocked out is not required for concussion.
- Red flags need urgent medical care.
- Return to school comes before return to football.
- Day 21 is the earliest possible AFL return, not a guarantee.
If your child has had a head knock or is working through the AFL return-to-play process, GRIT can help with assessment, symptom tracking, school planning, exercise progression and football readiness.