Concussion in hockey: Perth guide

Reviewed November 2026 by Online Concussion Clinic, a Perth-based telehealth concussion physiotherapy service. How this site is run

Hockey Australia's concussion policy applies to club and association hockey across Perth, including Hockey WA competitions.

The rules at a glance

No return that day without medical clearance.
Training: not until at least 14 days after the concussion, and only when symptom-free at rest.
Playing: not until at least 21 days after the concussion. A specialist concussion doctor (such as a sport and exercise physician or neurologist) can clear an earlier return in writing.
Written doctor clearance. Clearance must come from a medical doctor and be given to your association. Physiotherapists and sports trainers can't give clearance unless Hockey Australia's Chief Medical Officer has approved them.
Under-18s are managed more cautiously, and return to school comes before return to sport.
Symptoms lasting more than three weeks should be referred to a specialist.

The graded return to hockey

Every player works through the same stages, moving up only when the current stage causes no new or worse symptoms. Each stage takes at least 24 hours.

Relative rest for the first 24–48 hours, then light daily activity.
Light aerobic exercise such as walking or an exercise bike, at an easy pace.
Return to school or work without symptoms — this comes before return to sport.
Running and individual skills, with no contact and no risk of a head knock.
Non-contact team training at higher intensity.
Full contact training — only after clearance (see above).
Return to games, no earlier than the minimum timeframe for your sport.

If symptoms come back at any stage, drop back to the last stage that felt fine and try again after 24 hours. A physiotherapist or doctor with concussion training can guide this and adjust it for you.

Perth and WA clubs

Hockey WA clubs follow the Hockey Australia policy. Your association's general manager (or equivalent) receives clearance letters for local competitions.

Call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is:

Loss of consciousness, or getting drowsier or harder to wake
A seizure or convulsion
Severe or worsening headache
Repeated vomiting
Neck pain or tenderness
Double vision or loss of vision
Weakness, tingling or burning in the arms or legs
Increasing confusion, agitation, restlessness or unusual behaviour
A visible deformity of the skull

For children, the emergency department at Perth Children's Hospital (Nedlands) is open 24 hours. If you're unsure, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (24 hours) for nurse advice.

Who can help in Perth

Clearance has to come from a doctor, but a concussion physiotherapist can assess you, run your graded return, treat dizziness, neck pain and headache, and work alongside your GP or sports doctor.

Browse verified concussion providers across Perth, or find one by area. You don't need a referral to see a physiotherapist privately.

Where this information comes from

Hockey Australia. Concussion Policy (version 1.1, January 2024). hockey.org.au
Australian Institute of Sport. Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement 2024, and the Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport. ausport.gov.au/concussion

Sport rules are updated regularly, usually before each season. This page was checked in November 2026 — always check the current policy with your club, league or school. This page is general information, not medical advice.