After the 2019 elections, Master Lear, as a newly elected Board member, reported on his observations during the World Championships in Inzell.
It had come to his attention that in some bouts, after hits to the head, athletes had continued to fight despite showing signs that indicated concussion. It was also felt that some coaches, judges and even medical professionals had not correctly assessed symptoms.
These statements were frightening because they carry a great risk and it was decided to take action. This resulted in the Concussion Policy project.
Why an ITF Concussion Policy?
Taekwon-Do sparring as a competitive discipline always carries a potential risk of danger, especially when we talk about a contact to the head. It is important to recognise if and when a contact has consequences.
Here, a wrong decision can have long term or even fatal consequences, which primarily affect the athletes themselves, but also the coach, the referees, the medical department and the ITF as an organisation.
In order to minimise or exclude the risk and to fulfil our responsibility towards the competitors, the ITF Board of Directors has decided on a guideline – the ITF Concussion Policy – that serves to protect everyone involved and is already part of the revised Competition Rules.
The health and safety of our competitors is paramount.
To ensure that the policy is understood and implemented at the VIII ITF World Cup in Koper, the ITF offers an introduction and briefing via zoom platform, on August 27 and September 10, 2022 with two times each day. There, Mr Kirk Lee, who developed the guideline in joint work with Master Lear, will explain everything necessary (cf. https://itftkd.sport/blog/protecting-competitors-presentation-of-the-itf-concussion-policy/). Both will also advise and support the medical staff in Koper.
I ask the responsible persons for a lively participation in the event.
Thank you for your support.
Kind regards.
GM Paul Weiler
ITF President
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