What this tracker does

It maps your recovery against a graded return to play structure and shows you which stage you are in, what activity that stage allows, and what has to happen before you move to the next one. It gives you a written record you can take to your GP, your clinician, or your club. It does not diagnose concussion, decide when you are ready, or replace assessment by a health professional.

Who it’s for

Athletes working through recovery, parents managing a child’s return after a head knock, coaches deciding who trains and who sits out, and club trainers and volunteers who need to know what stage a player is at. It is designed for community sport, where there is usually no doctor at training and the person making the call is a parent or a volunteer.

How to use it alongside your clinician

Use it between appointments. Your clinician sets the plan and confirms when you progress. The tracker keeps you on it in the days in between, when it is easy to lose track of what day you are on and what you are allowed to do. Bring the record to each appointment so decisions are based on what actually happened rather than what you remember.

What to do with your results

Save or screenshot the record at the end of each stage. Take it to your GP appointment, since it gives them a clear timeline rather than a vague account. Send it to your coach or team manager so there is no confusion about your availability. If you are seeing us, bring it to your assessment and we will use it alongside your objective testing.

Why this tracker is not medical clearance

Clearance to return to full contact sport is a medical decision made by a doctor, not by a tool or a checklist. This tracker shows you the stages and helps you follow them. It cannot examine you, it cannot test your exercise tolerance, and it does not know your history. Completing every stage in the tracker does not mean you are cleared. Your GP or treating doctor makes that call.

What happens if symptoms return at a stage

Stop the activity you are doing and go back to the last stage you completed without symptoms. Stay there for at least 24 hours before trying to progress again. Symptoms returning is common and does not mean recovery has failed, but it does mean you were not ready for that load. If symptoms keep returning at the same stage, or if they are worse than before, contact your clinician rather than pushing through.

What if I feel completely fine?

Feeling well is not the same as being recovered. Symptoms can settle before the brain has fully recovered, which is why the stages have minimum time frames attached to them rather than being based on how you feel. Returning to contact too early carries real risk, and a second concussion before full recovery is more serious than the first. Complete the stages even if you feel ready sooner.

Do I need to be seen by someone?

Yes. Anyone with a suspected concussion should be assessed by a health professional, and formal clearance to return to contact comes from a doctor. The tracker is there to support that process, not to replace it. If you need an assessment, you can book with us in Williamstown or by virtual consultation.