St. Vincent Taekwondo Federation (STF) – Injury & Concussion Management Policy

1. Purpose

The St. Vincent Taekwondo Federation (STF) recognizes that athlete safety and welfare are the foundation of sustainable sport. Taekwondo is a physically demanding and contact-based martial art where the risk of injury — particularly head injuries and concussions — is real and must be addressed with strict protocols, education, and a culture of prevention.

This policy is designed to:

1. Protect the Long-Term Health of Athletes

• Ensure injuries are prevented wherever possible and that all athletes receive timely and appropriate care when injuries occur.

• Safeguard both short-term recovery and long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional health, especially for developing youth athletes.

1. Promote a Culture of Safety Over Performance

• Make it clear that no competition result, ranking, or medal is worth risking an athlete’s health.

• Ensure that coaches, referees, and team staff understand their legal and moral obligation to prioritize safety over winning.

1. Address the Specific Context of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

• Recognize that our island nation has limited access to sports medicine specialists and diagnostic facilities.

• Create clear, step-by-step protocols that can be implemented reliably even with limited on-site medical resources, while still aligning with World Taekwondo (WT) and international concussion management standards.

1. Provide a Standardized System for Injury Response

• Ensure that all STF-sanctioned activities — including training sessions, competitions, grading examinations, and demonstrations — follow the same injury reporting, management, and clearance procedures.

1. Educate and Empower the STF Community

• Train coaches, referees, athletes, and parents to recognize injury symptoms, understand the importance of rest and recovery, and follow proper return-to-play protocols.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All STF-registered athletes, from grassroots beginners to elite national team members.

• All STF-licensed coaches, referees, volunteers, and event officials.

• All STF-sanctioned training, competitions, grading examinations, and promotional events, whether held locally or overseas.

3. Guiding Principles

The STF’s injury and concussion management approach is based on:

1. Prevention First – Reduce the risk of injury through proper warm-ups, conditioning, technical discipline, and safe competition practices.

2. Immediate Action – Injuries must be addressed as soon as they occur, without delay.

3. Medical Clearance – Only a qualified healthcare professional can authorize an athlete’s return to training or competition.

4. Graduated Recovery – Recovery timelines should be individualized and may exceed international minimums if local conditions require.

5. Transparency & Documentation – All incidents must be recorded and reported to the STF for tracking and review.

4. Injury Management Protocol

4.1 Immediate Response

When an injury occurs during training or competition:

• Stop activity immediately and ensure the safety of the injured athlete.

• Conduct a rapid on-site assessment by the supervising coach, referee, or on-site medical staff.

• If serious, contact local emergency medical services.

• Remove the athlete from play if there is any doubt about their safety to continue.

4.2 Recording the Injury

• Complete an STF Injury Report Form within 24 hours, detailing:

  • Date, time, and location.

  • Athlete’s name, age, and club affiliation.

  • Type of injury and cause.

  • Immediate care provided.

  • Whether medical services were called.

• Submit the report to the STF Technical Director for review and record-keeping.

5. Concussion-Specific Policy

5.1 Recognizing a Concussion

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a direct or indirect blow to the head, resulting in temporary impairment of brain function. Symptoms may appear immediately or hours later.

Common signs and symptoms include:

• Headache or pressure in the head

• Dizziness or loss of balance

• Nausea or vomiting

• Confusion or memory loss

• Blurred or double vision

• Sensitivity to light or noise

• Delayed response to questions

• Changes in mood, behavior, or personality

5.2 Immediate Action Steps

If a concussion is suspected:

1. Remove the athlete from play immediately — “If in doubt, sit them out.”

2. Conduct a sideline assessment using a recognized concussion checklist (e.g., SCAT5).

3. Ensure the athlete is evaluated by a licensed healthcare professional as soon as possible.

4. The athlete must not return to play on the same day, even if symptoms resolve.

5.3 Return-to-Play Protocol

An athlete diagnosed with a concussion can only return to training or competition after:

1. Complete rest (physical and cognitive) until symptom-free.

2. Medical clearance from a qualified healthcare professional.

3. Completion of a Graduated Return-to-Play Program over at least 7–10 days, which may include:

• Light aerobic activity.

• Sport-specific drills without contact.

• Non-contact training with increased intensity.

• Full-contact practice (only after clearance).

• Return to competition.

6. Education & Training

• All STF coaches, referees, and chaperones must complete injury prevention and concussion recognition training annually.

• Awareness materials on concussion symptoms will be distributed to athletes and parents at the start of each season.

7. Compliance & Enforcement

• Coaches or officials who knowingly allow an athlete to return to play without proper clearance will face disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation of STF licenses.

• Clubs that fail to report injuries or concussions will be subject to sanctions.

8. Review

This policy will be reviewed every two years by the STF Medical Committee and Technical Director to ensure alignment with the latest World Taekwondo medical guidelines and regional sports health policies.