If you’ve started looking into concussion baseline testing for a junior sports player, you’ve probably noticed it’s offered in two different ways: as an individual appointment, or as a bulk team session arranged through a club. Both use similar assessment tools, but they’re set up for different purposes and different people.
For families and community clubs across the Mornington Peninsula, understanding this difference can help you choose the right option, or make sense of what your child’s club is already doing. This article walks through how individual and team baseline testing compare, and where each one fits.
What Baseline Testing Actually Involves
Baseline testing is a pre-season assessment that records how a young athlete performs across a range of measures, such as balance, memory, reaction time, symptom reporting and cognitive function, before any injury has occurred. This baseline becomes a reference point. If a concussion is later suspected, a clinician can compare the athlete’s post-injury results against their own individual baseline rather than relying only on general population norms.
This approach is consistent with recognised frameworks such as those used by Complete Concussions (CCMI) and referenced in guidelines like the AFL concussion guidelines. It’s important to note that baseline testing does not prevent concussion or guarantee a safe return to play. It’s one part of a broader picture that supports clinicians and families in making more informed decisions after a head knock.
Individual Baseline Testing
Individual baseline testing is typically booked as a one-on-one clinic appointment, often at the start of a sporting season or when a young athlete is taking up a new contact or collision sport. It usually involves a longer, unhurried session where an osteopath trained in concussion management can talk through the athlete’s medical history, prior head injuries, and any relevant learning or attention considerations that might affect test results.
Because it’s one-on-one, there’s more time to explain the process to parents, answer questions, and tailor the assessment to the individual. This is often the preferred option for:
- Athletes with a history of previous concussion
- Athletes with learning difficulties, ADHD or other conditions that can affect cognitive testing results
- Families wanting a more detailed conversation about return-to-play planning
- Adult recreational athletes or players not attached to a club testing day
If you’re after concussion testing on the Mornington Peninsula for a single athlete, an individual appointment allows the session to move at the athlete’s own pace.
Team Baseline Testing
Team baseline testing is arranged directly with a sporting club, typically ahead of a season, and involves multiple players being assessed in a single organised session. This model is popular with local football, netball, basketball and cricket clubs across the Peninsula because it’s efficient, gets an entire squad or age group tested in one sitting, and helps clubs build concussion awareness into their season planning.
While each athlete still receives an individual result and their own baseline record, the session itself is more streamlined. There’s less time for individual discussion, so team sessions work best for straightforward cases without complicating factors. Clubs often pair this with broader education for coaches and parents, which is where a resource like our free concussion workshop can be a useful addition, helping everyone involved understand how to recognise possible concussion signs during matches and training.
Which Option Suits Your Situation?
Neither approach is inherently better; they simply suit different circumstances. A club running a pre-season testing day for forty junior players needs the efficiency of a team session. A family with a teenager who has had two previous head knocks may get more value from a dedicated individual appointment where history and context can be properly discussed.
Some families choose to combine both: their child completes the team session with their club, and then books an individual follow-up if there are specific concerns worth exploring in more depth. This is a reasonable and common approach.
What Happens After a Suspected Concussion
Whether the original baseline was collected individually or as part of a team session, the process after a suspected concussion is similar. The athlete should be removed from play, monitored for symptoms, and assessed by an appropriate health professional. Having a baseline on file allows a clinician managing the athlete’s recovery to compare results and support a more informed, staged return-to-learn and return-to-play process, in line with recognised concussion guidelines.
Our osteopaths at The Seaside Osteo in McCrae are trained through the Complete Concussions (CCMI) framework and offer concussion baseline testing for individuals as well as arranging sessions with local clubs across Dromana, Rosebud, Rye and the wider Mornington Peninsula. If you’re weighing up which option is right for your family or your club, our team can talk you through the process before you book.
Getting Started, Individually or as a Club
If you’re a parent considering testing for one child, an individual appointment gives you time and space to ask questions. If you’re a club committee member planning ahead of a new season, a team session is generally the more practical route for getting your whole squad assessed. Either way, the goal is the same: giving athletes, families and coaches better information to support decisions around head injuries, alongside broader awareness through options like our osteopathy services and concussion education sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Is team baseline testing as thorough as an individual appointment?
Team sessions still record an individual baseline for each athlete, but there’s less time for detailed discussion of medical history or prior injuries. Athletes with a more complex history often benefit from a follow-up individual appointment.
How often should baseline testing be repeated?
Many families and clubs choose to update baselines each season, or when an athlete moves into an older age group, since baseline scores can change as young people grow and develop. Your clinician can advise on what suits the individual athlete.
Can a club arrange baseline testing for multiple age groups at once?
Yes, team sessions can generally be organised across different age groups or teams within the one visit, which is often more convenient for clubs planning pre-season activities on the Mornington Peninsula.
Does baseline testing replace the need for assessment after a head knock?
No. Baseline testing is a reference tool, not a diagnostic test on its own. Any suspected concussion still requires the athlete to be removed from play and properly assessed by an appropriate health professional.
Who can arrange team baseline testing for a local sporting club?
Club committees or team managers can contact a clinic offering concussion baseline testing, such as The Seaside Osteo in McCrae, to discuss scheduling a session that fits around pre-season training.
Concussion testing on the Mornington Peninsula
To learn more or arrange concussion testing, assessment or return-to-play support, visit our concussion testing page or book an appointment online with The Seaside Osteo in McCrae.
This article is general information for Mornington Peninsula families and is not a substitute for individual medical assessment. If you suspect a concussion, seek advice from a qualified health practitioner, and call 000 if there are emergency warning signs.