Concussion Guidelines for Kickboxing GB
The rules surrounding the minimum suspension periods following a head injury during a competitive bout are outlined in WAKO’s official medical rules document, which can be accessed here:
https://wako.sport/.../04/WAKO-Medical-Rules-v3-30012021.pdf
It is crucial for all coaches to familiarise themselves with these protocols. The suspension periods are applicable not only during competitions but also in instances where a knockout or concussion occurs during training or even in unrelated activities (e.g., if the coach is informed that their fighter has suffered a concussion or knockout while participating in another sport).
Club coaches bear a duty of care to their athletes, and it is your responsibility to report any incidents of concussion to the National Federation (i.e., Kickboxing GB). Kickboxing GB is, in turn, responsible for ensuring that all knockouts and concussions are reported to the International Federation, WAKO IF.
The suspension periods following concussions are as follows:
• Concussion without loss of consciousness: The athlete is restricted from training or competing for 30 days.
• Loss of consciousness lasting less than one minute: The athlete is restricted from training or competing for 90 days.
• Loss of consciousness lasting more than one minute: The athlete is restricted from training or competing for 180 days.
Please note that these suspension periods represent the minimum duration and cannot be shortened, even if a head scan or other tests show no visible injuries. After the mandatory medical restriction period, the kickboxer must provide medical clearance (a new medical certificate) through the National Federation, confirming their fitness to compete.
The medical clearance must be written in English and include the date of the brain CT or MRI scan, along with a confirmation that the results were negative. A copy of this clearance must be submitted to WAKO's Medical, Health & Anti-Doping Committee in order for the kickboxer to participate in future WAKO events.
In addition to WAKO’s concussion management policies, we would also like to highlight the UK government’s concussion guidelines, which now apply across all grassroots sports.
The UK grassroots protocol emphasises a safety-first approach with the guideline: “If in doubt, sit them out.” This means that anyone suspected of having sustained a concussion should be immediately removed from play and is not permitted to return to sport within the first 24 hours.
The graduated return to play process begins with increasing tolerance for both mental and physical activity (e.g., a return to work or light, non-contact training). If symptom-free after 14 days, full training can be considered.
Athletes may return to competition no earlier than 21 days post-injury, provided they have been symptom-free both at rest and during full training for at least 14 days.
During the graduated return process, medical advice should be sought via NHS 111 if symptoms worsen or fail to improve within 14 days. Anyone experiencing symptoms beyond 28 days must stay out of sports and seek further medical advice from their GP.
For an overview of the protocol, please refer to our educational hub:
https://www.kickboxinggb.com/Educ.../Concussion%20Guidelines
In addition to the educational content on our website, we highly encourage all coaches to familiarise themselves with concussion recognition and the appropriate responses to suspected cases.
The UK Coaching platform offers excellent resources on concussion management, safe practice, and a coach’s duty of care. They also provide a Sports England-funded digital badge that focuses on key areas such as diversity, inclusion, mental health and well-being, physical well-being, safeguarding, and safe practice:
https://www.ukcoaching.org/concussion
We kindly request all club coaches to ensure this vital information is communicated to your staff and members.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Gordon Mitchell
KBGB Welfare Director
https://wako.sport/.../04/WAKO-Medical-Rules-v3-30012021.pdf
It is crucial for all coaches to familiarise themselves with these protocols. The suspension periods are applicable not only during competitions but also in instances where a knockout or concussion occurs during training or even in unrelated activities (e.g., if the coach is informed that their fighter has suffered a concussion or knockout while participating in another sport).
Club coaches bear a duty of care to their athletes, and it is your responsibility to report any incidents of concussion to the National Federation (i.e., Kickboxing GB). Kickboxing GB is, in turn, responsible for ensuring that all knockouts and concussions are reported to the International Federation, WAKO IF.
The suspension periods following concussions are as follows:
• Concussion without loss of consciousness: The athlete is restricted from training or competing for 30 days.
• Loss of consciousness lasting less than one minute: The athlete is restricted from training or competing for 90 days.
• Loss of consciousness lasting more than one minute: The athlete is restricted from training or competing for 180 days.
Please note that these suspension periods represent the minimum duration and cannot be shortened, even if a head scan or other tests show no visible injuries. After the mandatory medical restriction period, the kickboxer must provide medical clearance (a new medical certificate) through the National Federation, confirming their fitness to compete.
The medical clearance must be written in English and include the date of the brain CT or MRI scan, along with a confirmation that the results were negative. A copy of this clearance must be submitted to WAKO's Medical, Health & Anti-Doping Committee in order for the kickboxer to participate in future WAKO events.
In addition to WAKO’s concussion management policies, we would also like to highlight the UK government’s concussion guidelines, which now apply across all grassroots sports.
The UK grassroots protocol emphasises a safety-first approach with the guideline: “If in doubt, sit them out.” This means that anyone suspected of having sustained a concussion should be immediately removed from play and is not permitted to return to sport within the first 24 hours.
The graduated return to play process begins with increasing tolerance for both mental and physical activity (e.g., a return to work or light, non-contact training). If symptom-free after 14 days, full training can be considered.
Athletes may return to competition no earlier than 21 days post-injury, provided they have been symptom-free both at rest and during full training for at least 14 days.
During the graduated return process, medical advice should be sought via NHS 111 if symptoms worsen or fail to improve within 14 days. Anyone experiencing symptoms beyond 28 days must stay out of sports and seek further medical advice from their GP.
For an overview of the protocol, please refer to our educational hub:
https://www.kickboxinggb.com/Educ.../Concussion%20Guidelines
In addition to the educational content on our website, we highly encourage all coaches to familiarise themselves with concussion recognition and the appropriate responses to suspected cases.
The UK Coaching platform offers excellent resources on concussion management, safe practice, and a coach’s duty of care. They also provide a Sports England-funded digital badge that focuses on key areas such as diversity, inclusion, mental health and well-being, physical well-being, safeguarding, and safe practice:
https://www.ukcoaching.org/concussion
We kindly request all club coaches to ensure this vital information is communicated to your staff and members.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Gordon Mitchell
KBGB Welfare Director
