Australian Football, one of the most popular sports in the country, is facing a major challenge regarding brain injuries. Intense collisions, tackles, and high jumps are characteristics of this sport, and for this reason, brain injuries have become a serious issue. Numerous players have been forced to withdraw from the sport due to repeated brain injuries, and a class-action lawsuit against the governing body of this sport is currently under review.
New Measures Following a Player's Death
The new rules are the result of recommendations from a judge following the death of Shane Tuck, a former Australian football player who passed away in ۲۰۲۰ at the age of ۳۸ and was later diagnosed with a severe brain disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). In this context, the AFL's Chief Executive Officer in the area of health and football operations has reported a high priority on the health and well-being of players, stating: "Player health is the highest priority for the AFL."
New Restrictions on Training
According to the new rules, which will come into effect in ۲۰۲۷, all ۱۸ Australian football clubs will be required to limit contact training to ۱۲۰ minutes per week in the first month of the pre-season. Additionally, only one hour of this time can be allocated to high-intensity contact training. From the fifth week of the pre-season until the start of the competitions, this limit will increase to ۱۶۰ minutes and ۱۲۰ minutes for match simulation. Clubs will also not be allowed to conduct high-intensity training on consecutive days and must submit training footage to the governing body upon request.
These measures have been approved after two years of consultation with football administrators, coaches, medical staff, and players, and highlight the emphasis that brain injuries occur more frequently in match simulation conditions and high-intensity small-sided training. This framework is designed based on global medical consultations and is continuously evolving.
The ultimate goal of the AFL is to become a leader in brain health and management of brain injuries globally, and these actions are another step towards that goal.
