The Long Game Concussion · Brain health · Sport Built around community sport

There's more to the game than the final whistle.

Concussion and repeated head impacts can have consequences that extend beyond the playing field. The Long Game explores the science, sporting culture, and social pressures surrounding brain health in sport.

Explore the Issue
Australian rules footballers in club guernseys embrace and smile together after a game.
Recognise Report Recover Speak up. Look out for each other.

01 Our purpose

Protecting the Game. Looking Beyond It.

The Long Game is a science communication campaign exploring concussion, repeated head impacts, and long-term brain health in sport.

Our aim is to improve how young athletes aged 14–25 recognise, report, and recover from suspected concussion by addressing the social pressures that can discourage them from speaking up.

Through accessible scientific information, sporting perspectives, and practical resources, we want to help athletes make more informed decisions about their health without discouraging participation in sport.

02 Why it matters

When Playing Through It Becomes the Problem

In sport, pushing through discomfort is often seen as a sign of determination. But when it comes to a potential concussion, continuing to play can put an athlete's health at risk.

Athletes may hesitate to report symptoms because of the pressures around them.

Understanding concussion is important, but so is creating a sporting culture where athletes feel supported when they speak up.

Why athletes stay quiet

  • Letting teammates down
  • Disappointing the coach
  • Losing their place in the team
  • Appearing weak

03 Recognise the signs

Know What to Look For

Concussion can occur following a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. Symptoms can vary and may not always be immediately obvious.

Recognising the signs is an important first step in responding appropriately to a suspected concussion.

Symptoms on Healthdirect

Common symptoms include

  1. 01Headache or pressure in the head.
  2. 02Dizziness, nausea, or balance problems.
  3. 03Confusion or difficulty concentrating.
  4. 04Blurred vision or sensitivity to light and noise.
  5. 05Unusual tiredness or changes in mood.

04 What to do next

Suspect a Concussion? Speak Up.

  1. 01Stop playing immediately
  2. 02Get an appropriate medical assessment
  3. 03Follow medical guidance on returning to sport

If concussion is suspected, the athlete should stop playing immediately and receive appropriate medical assessment. Returning to play too soon can place their health at risk.

Do not ignore symptoms or feel pressured to continue playing. Coaches, teammates, and parents all have a role in supporting athletes who report a possible head injury.

Concussion management and return to sport should follow appropriate medical guidance.

If You've Had a Head Knock
Two cricketers in whites walk out across a sunlit ground towards the pavilion, one carrying a bat.
Beyond the immediate injury

05 The long-term picture

Looking at the Long-Term Picture

Concussion is an important consideration in sport, but questions about brain health also extend to repeated head impacts over time.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with exposure to repeated head impacts. It has attracted increasing attention in discussions about athlete welfare and the potential long-term consequences of participation in some sports.

Exposure to repeated head impacts does not mean a person will develop CTE, and CTE can currently only be confirmed by examining the brain after death. There is still much to understand about the relationship between repeated head impacts and long-term neurological outcomes.

Learning about the available evidence helps athletes, families, and sporting organisations engage with these questions more critically.

Explore CTE
Archival match photo: Australia's captain, in the gold national team kit, walks out onto the pitch alongside Argentina's captain before an international match.

06 Real experiences from sport

Listening to Athletes

Scientific research is essential to understanding concussion and long-term brain health, but the experiences of athletes also help show how these issues affect people involved in sport.

As part of The Long Game, we have interviewed people with sporting experience, including former Socceroos captain Paul Wade, to explore sporting culture, concussion awareness, and the importance of protecting athletes' long-term health.

These conversations provide additional perspectives that complement the scientific information presented throughout the website.

Meet Paul Wade

07 The evidence

Understanding the Research

Concussion and CTE are complex topics, and it is important to distinguish established evidence from questions that researchers are still investigating.

Our research section explores the science behind repeated head impacts and brain health, helping visitors understand the evidence informing current discussions about concussion and sport.

By making scientific information more accessible, The Long Game aims to support more informed conversations about athlete welfare.

Explore the Research
Players and coaching staff in a tight team huddle with arms around each other on a community rugby ground.

08 Supporting your teammates

Looking Out for Each Other

Creating safer sporting environments is a shared responsibility.

Athletes should feel supported when they report symptoms, coaches should take suspected concussion seriously, and teammates should encourage one another to put health first.

Changing attitudes towards concussion starts with recognising that speaking up is not a sign of weakness. It is an important part of looking after yourself and the people you play alongside.

09 Further information

Keep Exploring

Want to learn more about concussion, CTE, the science behind repeated head impacts, or the wider discussion around brain health in sport?

Explore our information pages and resources to learn more.