Concussion assessment and return-to-play clearance in Hobart
Most sports require a medical doctor to clear you before you return to contact training after a concussion. Charles assesses concussion, guides your recovery and completes your sport's clearance form at Entity Medical in the Hobart CBD.
No referral needed. Bring your sport's clearance form if you have one.
Call 000 or go to the emergency department if there is
- neck pain or tenderness
- double vision
- weakness, tingling or burning in the arms or legs
- a seizure or convulsion
- loss of consciousness
- increasing drowsiness or confusion
- vomiting
- a severe or worsening headache
- increasing restlessness, agitation or aggression
These are the red flags listed in the AFL community concussion guidelines. Don't wait for a GP appointment.
When to see a doctor
Anyone with a suspected concussion should be assessed promptly by a medical doctor. The AFL's community guidelines say this can be a doctor at the ground, a local GP or a hospital emergency doctor.
You'll see a doctor again before going back to contact training, to be cleared. Seeing the same doctor through your recovery makes that clearance more straightforward.
What happens at your appointments
- Assessment. Charles asks how the injury happened and about your symptoms, examines you, and checks for anything that needs a scan or hospital care.
- Recovery plan. A day or two of relative rest, then a gradual return to daily activities, school or work, and light exercise, stepping up as your symptoms allow.
- Review. Follow-up appointments to check your progress and adjust the plan. If you see a physiotherapist, Charles can work with them on your graded return to training.
- Clearance. Once you're symptom-free, back at school or work, and have completed non-contact training, Charles assesses you for clearance and completes your sport's form.
If your symptoms last four weeks or more, keep coming back, or you've had several concussions, Charles will refer you to a doctor with specialist expertise in concussion.
Return-to-play rules in community sport
Each sport sets its own rules. Most require a doctor's clearance, and most set a minimum of 21 days before you can play again. That minimum is the earliest possible return, not a target: many people need longer, especially children and teenagers.
| Sport | Who can clear you | Earliest return to play |
|---|---|---|
| Australian football | A medical doctor | The 21st day after the concussion, counting the day of injury as day 0 |
| Cricket | An independent medical doctor | 21 days after the concussion |
| Soccer | A medical practitioner | 21 days for most players |
| Rugby union | A medical doctor | At least 12 days for adults and 21 days for players 18 and under |
| Rugby league | A medical doctor, on the NRL clearance form | A set minimum, longer for players 18 and under |
| Basketball | A medical practitioner | No fixed minimum |
| Netball | A doctor, or a physiotherapist or chiropractor with concussion training | The 21st day after the concussion |
Sources: AFL Community Concussion Guidelines (May 2026); Cricket Australia Community Concussion and Head Impact Guidelines (2025); Football Australia Community Sports Related Concussion Guidelines (April 2025); Rugby Australia Concussion Management Procedure (2026); NRL Community Rugby League Concussion Policy (November 2025); Basketball Australia Concussion Policy (December 2024); Netball Australia MED002 Guidelines (December 2025). Your club or league can confirm which version applies to you.
Children and teenagers
Young players usually take longer to recover, often four weeks or more. Australia's national concussion guidelines say anyone under 19 should be symptom-free for at least 14 days before contact training, and should not play competitively for at least 21 days.
Before clearance, children also need to be back at school without symptoms. For Australian football, a parent or guardian signs the clearance form for players aged 18 and under.
What to bring
- Your sport's clearance form, such as the AFL Medical Clearance Form, Cricket Australia's Medical Referral and Clearance Form, or the NRL Head Injury/Concussion Medical Clearance Form
- The head injury or referral form from the day of the injury, if you were given one
- Notes on your symptoms and when they settled
- Details of any previous concussions
Common questions
Who can give concussion clearance?
For Australian football, cricket, rugby union, rugby league, soccer and basketball, clearance must come from a medical doctor, and a GP can do it. Netball also accepts a physiotherapist or chiropractor with concussion training. Physiotherapists often guide the rehabilitation stage, but in most sports they can't sign the final clearance.
How soon can I play after a concussion?
In most community sport, the earliest return is 21 days after the injury, and only once you're symptom-free and have completed graded training. Many people take longer.
Do I need a referral?
No. Book a standard GP appointment with Charles through HotDoc or by calling the clinic on (03) 6164 8600.
What does it cost?
Entity Medical is a private billing practice. Reception can tell you the fee when you book.
Can I be cleared on the day of the injury?
No. Community sport doesn't allow a return to play on the same day as a concussion, even if symptoms seem to settle quickly.
Other sports injuries
Charles also sees people for sprains, strains, joint and overuse injuries, and getting back to sport after time out. Read about sports medicine with Charles.