Last Updated: Thursday, December 2, 2010 | 11:32 PM AT Comments12Recommend11

CBC News

Hockey Nova Scotia has established a new policy designed to address head injuries, and it could require a player who has suffered a concussion to wait months before returning to the ice.

The new policy will affect more than 17,000 players across the province.

Hockey Nova Scotia spent about six months developing the rules after consulting doctors, coaches and parents.

Under the policy, if a coach suspects a player has sustained a head injury, they have to stop playing immediately and see a doctor.

The new rules also outline a multi-step protocol that has to be followed before a player who's had a concussion can step back onto the ice.

"Those steps have to be followed. There's no getting around it," said Darren Cossar, executive director of Hockey Nova Scotia. "Because if they're not followed, the coach will be removed, as well as the player could be removed from hockey for a significant period of time."

The protocol could require several days or months before someone can resume playing, depending on the severity of the concussion.

The symptoms of a concussion can range from a headache and dizziness to slurred speech, delayed reaction times and vomiting.

"It was something we felt we had to do," Cossar said. "A lot of people don't understand the seriousness of a concussion, and in particular, returning to play too soon, it can cause life-changing injuries if not death. This isn't something we're doing to penalize, it's something we're doing to hopefully save lives."

Glenn Carvery, whose son plays hockey in the Halifax Regional Municipality, thinks more information on how to spot a concussion has to trickle down to coaches, parents and players alike.

"Most of the parents are volunteers. They should be educated to the fact, to know what the signs are to look for," Carvery said. "With a concussion, you can't second guess it, you have to see the signs and act on it. Unless everybody is educated, they're not going to be able to make the right call."

The policy will take effect Jan. 1. Hockey Nova Scotia is encouraging teams to follow the guidelines voluntarily in the meantime.