Concussion: An Overview for Amateur Sports

Dr. Carl Byrne

Dr. Carl Byrne currently works in Emergency Medicine as a Specialist Registrar in Dublin. He has a passion for Sports having competed in several different sports from rugby and archery to marathon running, this is all mirrored in his passion for Sports Medicine.

Carl completed his MSc in Sports & Exercise Medicine with the University of Bath, and his Post Graduate Cert in Sports Emergencies with UCD. He also completed Membership Examinations in Sports and Exercise Medicine in the UK.

When he isn't out running, he is actively involved with pitchside medicine in Rugby, having worked at matches such as the URC league games and Champions Cup.

This micro-credential is designed for those involved in amateur sports who want to learn more about concussion. This includes players, coaches, referees, parents or spectators. Learn how to spot this condition and what to do when it occurs.

You will explore concussion through 12 key topics, by the end of this micro-credential we hope you will be able to:

• Recognise the signs of concussion.
• Explain the importance of removing players from play with a suspected concussion.
• Know how to apply the return to play guidelines for your chosen sport.
• Understand the expected course of concussion.
• Recognise the importance of a safe return to play post-concussion.

In order to achieve these goals, this micro-credential will cover twelve main topics:

• Concussion: Introduction
• Pathophysiology of concussion: What causes a concussion? 
• Concussion identification
• Post game signs of concussion
• Concussion rehabilitation
• Sleep and concussion
• Post concussion headache
• Nutrition and concussion
• Return to learning and work
• Psychology and mental health
• Gender and age considerations
• Summary

The micro-credential will help learners spot the signs of concussion, give indications on when specialist input should be sought and help the learner to assist themselves or their colleagues in the post concussive phase.

This micro-credential is delivered through the UCD online learning platform (Brightspace) and will consist of short video lectures, text, infographics, and specialist presentations. It is entirely online and on-demand, so learners can move through the course at their own pace. For the duration of the course, learners will have contact details for the Course Lead and Educational Technologist, should they have questions or experience technical difficulties.

A repository of resources will be available to support your learning, and as a UCD student, you will have full access to the library. 

This is a 2.5 ECTS micro-credential and involves approximately 50 hours of learner effort.

Applicants should hold a Level 8 degree or international equivalent, in healthcare or another relevant discipline, including the social and natural sciences. Applications will also be considered from individuals who do not possess a level 8 qualification but have significant experience working with sports teams.

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proof of English proficiency as per UCD's minimum English language requirements.

All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

• The micro-credential will conclude with a multiple-choice question test to assess the learners' comprehension of the topic.

• Learners will get their MCQ results in addition to a short description explaining the answer to each question.

More micro-credentials in this field are in development.

If you have any questions about this micro-credential, or would like to speak to a UCD staff member, please contact (opens in a new window)microcredentials@ucd.ie.

Please note: Learners can avail of only one form of funding per application. 

Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy-Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3

The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy has been introduced to enable more learners to address critical skills gaps and engage with lifelong learning through micro-credentials. The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy is funded by Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 

HCI Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidies are available on identified micro-credentials only and in fixed numbers from March 2024 until October 2025.  

Please see Eligibility Criteria for further information.