As a volunteer coach you will have the care, custody and control of someone else’s children for 30-50 hours this season. In this capacity you have the potential both to create and to prevent accidents and injuries.

You should be aware of your legal responsibilities as a coach. Attention to these duties will help minimize your personal risk, prevent sports-related injuries, and avoid claims of coaching negligence. Your legal duties include:

1. Providing adequate supervision (general and specific to the game) - The health and safety of your team members are entrusted to your care. You must provide adequate supervision to avoid foreseeable accidents and injuries. NEVER leave players unattended! NEVER leave after a game or practice until all are safely picked up by parents or guardians!
2. Sound planning - Carefully plan your practices and drills so players progress and learn new skills at a safe pace. Don’t move too rapidly by forcing improvement. Make written practice plans and keep them on record for the duration of the season.
3. Warning players of inherent risks - Players and parents must know, understand, and appreciate the risks they are likely to encounter in soccer. YOU MUST TELL THEM! (the parent orientation meeting is the time to do this) Warn your players about potentially dangerous techniques.
4. Providing a safe playing environment - Be certain that practice and playing fields are free of hazards (e.g. holes, rocks, broken glass or other debris) and that equipment (e.g. goal posts) is in proper condition. Warn your players NOT to hang from the goal cross bar!
5. Evaluating players and determining any limitation regarding participation - Be sure players are physically capable of performing the required skills. This includes mental, physical, and even child abuse situations. Evaluate old injuries as carefully as you can before letting players return to action.
6. Matching or equating opponents - Fairly match players for practices and games, giving consideration to body weight, skill level, and maturity.
7. Providing proper first aid - Have a first aid kit available along with a plan which outlines emergency procedures. Know where to find emergency help and a telephone (put a couple of quarters in your first aid kit or have a cellular phone on hand). Don’t attempt to provide aid beyond your qualifications. ALWAYS have your players’ medical release forms with you - they should provide emergency phone numbers as well as permission for you to obtain emergency medical aid in the event a parent/guardian cannot be reached.

Be aware of problems concerning transportation. Carry adequate personal liability insurance. Accepting money for transportation may void your personal auto liability insurance - check with your insurance agent or carrier. The secondary liability insurance provided by OYSA will supplement your own coverage for transportation to and from games and practices.

Respect the civil rights of your players on and off the field. Consider the factors of the game as it relates to officials and spectators. Keep good records of an event especially in the case of an injury.

Finally, it is to your advantage to have a second adult in attendance at your practices. This reduces the risk that you could unjustly be accused of inappropriate behavior.

Coaches who successfully perform the above duties not only reduce their personal risk, but also demonstrate to parents and other coaches a desire and willingness to act responsibly for the benefit of the kids.

The risks of the game (called inherent risks) are acceptable as long as a coach acts prudently and as long as these inherent risks are known, appreciated, understood and consciously accepted by the participants.

NEGLIGENCE: The failing to act in manner that a reasonable and prudent coach would normally act in a similar situation.

All four must be present to prove negligence:

1. The presence of a duty: Do you have a duty/duties to your players?
2. Breaching the duty: Failing to act necessarily, acting wrongly or acting properly but in a wrong fashion.
3. Cause of the injury: Your breach of duty?
4. Extent of injuries.

When charged with negligence there are defenses:

1. Assumption of Risk: Players must know, understand and appreciate those risks.
   You must tell them.
2. Contributory negligence: The player acted negligently and contributed to the injury.
3. Comparative negligence: Negligence of both parties compared on a percentage basis. Player cannot recover if his/her percentage is above 49%.
4. Other defenses: Act of God or technical defenses.

Prior to each practice, game or organized activity all coaches, assistant coaches and others in charge of an activity should develop a habit of a safety check.

Coaches do not go to games and practices thinking about safety. Generally, they are not trained to do this and as a result do not know the problems to search for. As a result, safety is out of mind.

There are two seasons per year with practices, games, playoffs and tournaments. Coaches may average seven or eight hours per week with the team or as much as 192 hours per year. The coach has care, custody and control of someone else’s child and has the moral and legal obligation to see that the safety of each player is part of the every day routine.

As part of an effort to contain costs in the insurance program, BENE-MARC (OYSA’s insurance provider) is instituting a safety program. The following coaches checklist is the first part of this program.

A safety check-list would include but not be limited to the following:

• Goal posts anchored
• Edges rounded on goal post
• Posts welded properly
• Glass/Foreign objects removed from field
• Sprinkler heads seated properly
• Corner markers covered
• Cracks in field filled
• Playing area free of ruts/hills

• High winds
• Approaching rain or thunderstorm
• Lightning
• Heat: Light clothing, water
• Cold: Proper dress

• Covered shinguards on each player
• Jewelry removed
• Shoes adequate for conditions
• Ball in good shape

• Know special needs of all players
• Obtain authorization to have player treated (i.e. medical release forms)
• Have parents’ group health information

• Locate nearest telephone
• Find ambulance facilities
• Know location of health care facility

• Practice begins
• Practice ends
• Arrange for supervision of players without rides
• Arrange supervision prior to practice
• Arrive early enough to police fields

• Train and warm up properly
• Prohibit non-acceptable activities or behaviors
• Place players of similar ability together

• Are drivers aware of liabilities & responsibilities
• Have small player to adult ratio
• Plan out all activities
• Pack medical I.D. cards for emergency
• Take medical claim forms
• Understand medical & liability policies
• Know your legal & moral responsibilities

• First Aid
• Player I.D. cards
• Parent’s phone numbers

• Understand the Laws of the Game
• Understand the role of the referee & linesman
• Communicate the Laws clearly to players
• Attend coaching clinics
• Have balanced attitude

• Communicate with parent, especially after injuries
• Let parent know schedule
• Recruit their help in supervision
• Discuss your philosophies

When you accept the role of coach, you accept a major responsibility for the care and safety of your players. Although the athletes share in the responsibility for their protection and safety, their ability to understand what they can do,, how they can do it, and whether they are doing it correctly, may be limited. It is your job to help them practice and play as safely as possible.

The information below was adapted from the ASA/VIP Softball Safety Manual and the American Red Cross First Aid Reference Guide (1990). It is designed to help you better care for your players; it is not meant as a substitute for a first aid course. If you don’t already have first aid certification, we encourage you to enroll in both CPR and first aid classes to help prepare yourself to handle accidents that may happen while you are coaching.

Your job as a volunteer coach is to recognize an injury when it happens, to stabilize the injury as best you can, and to summon medical assistance if necessary. You need to understand the limitations of your training and knowledge. If you are not a trained medical professional, then it is your responsibility to call one immediately whenever you have any doubt as to what to do next.

It is important to have a well thought out plan for dealing with injuries. It is best to have a written response plan for emergencies. Keep this in your coaching bag where you can pull it out and refer to it if necessary. Some points to consider in your plan:

• Is a first aid kit available? (suggested contents are listed under Coach Equipment)
• Do I have all of my players’ medical consent forms and emergency contacts with me at all times?
• Where is the nearest phone?
• How do I get first aid and paramedics/ambulance?
• Do any of my assistant coaches or parent volunteers know first aid?
• Who will go for help if I need to attend to an injured player?
• Who will supervise other players if I need to summon help?
• Do my assistant coaches and players know the emergency plan?

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Prevent injuries in every way possible. Some important steps that can help you in your injury prevention plan include the following:

• Emphasize proper skill development
• Inspect practice and game fields (e.g. holes, sprinkler heads, other hazardous objects)
• Teach your players sound conditioning habits (including proper warm-up, stretching, cool down, and access to plenty of fresh water)

Place an effective barrier between you and the victim’s blood when you give first aid. Examples of such barriers are: the victim’s hand, a piece of plastic wrap, clean folded cloth, rubber or latex gloves.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after providing care.

Heat cramps

• Have athlete rest in a cool place.
• Give cool water.
• Stretch muscle and massage area.

• Have athlete lie down in a cool place with feet elevated 8 to 12 inches.
• Give cool water.
• Loosen tight clothing.
• Remove clothing soaked with perspiration.
• Apply cool wet cloths (such as towels) or ice packs (wrapped) to the skin.
• Call 911 if player refuses water, vomits or if level of consciousness changes.

• Send someone to get emergency medical help (call 911).
• Get the athlete out of the heat and into a cooler place.
• Cool the player fast - immerse in a cool bath, or wrap with wet towels and fan him/her.
• Give nothing by mouth.

Preventing heat emergencies

• Avoid being outdoors during the hottest part of the day, if possible.
• Change the activity level according to the temperature.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Drink large amounts of fluid.
• Wear light-colored clothing, if possible.

An injury to an ankle can take the form of a sprain or a break and may have different degrees of severity. Sprains are stretched or torn tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels around joints.

FIRST AID: Assume the injury could be severe.

Immobilize the player (avoid any movement that causes pain).

Have the player see a physician before returning to practice.

DON’T: Remove athlete’s shoe and sock until ice is available.

Have the player try to "walk it off".

The knee is the most complicated joint in the body, as well as the joint most frequently injured. It requires a specialist to treat knee injuries properly. Your job is to limit further injury and to get the player to the hospital.

FIRST AID: Help the player off the field.

Apply ice to the injured area.

Elevate the leg without moving the knee, if possible

Take the player to the hospital immediately

DON’T: Move the knee to examine the injury.

Allow the player to get up and "walk it off".

Allow the knee to move freely.

Allow the athlete to continue participating until he/she has seen a physician.

Dislocations and broken bones (fractures) are treated similarly. A dislocation is a displacement of a bone end from the joint. Dislocated joints will have pain, swelling, irregularity, or deformity over the injured area.

Blisters typically appear as a raised bubble of skin with fluid beneath; the fluid may be clear or bloody. The blister may be torn with new skin exposed. Generally painful.

Puncture blister - let a physician do so.

In most cases, bleeding can be controlled by placing direct pressure over the wound. To reduce risk of infection, whenever possible wear latex gloves and wash hands before (and after) treating an open wound.

Treat any bleeding lightly.

Let dirt get into the wound.

Panic. Call for help if you are unsure.

A bloody nose is a common occurrence following a blow to the face, or in association with high blood pressure, infection, strenuous activity or dry nasal passages. Although usually more annoying than serious, any bloody nose resulting from an injury to the face should be considered as a potential fracture. If you suspect a head, neck, or back injury, do not try to control a nosebleed; instead, keep the player from moving and stabilize the head and neck.

Apply a cold compress to the athlete’s nose and face.

Apply direct pressure by having the player pinch the nostrils with the fingers.

Take the athlete to the doctor if bleeding persists.

These injuries can be the most devastating of all injuries. Permanent paralysis may result from any neck injury, so these injuries must be handled with extreme care.

Unconsciousness (immediate or delayed).

Unequal pupils.

Tingling sensation or numbness in arms and/or legs.

Inability to move fingers, toes, or extremities.

Difficulty breathing.

Athlete not alert.

Make sure the athlete is able to breathe.

Keep the player still (stabilize head and neck as you found them).

Maintain body temperature.

Call parents or guardian immediately.

Pass all important information on to doctors.

Leave the player unattended.

Overstep the limits of your knowledge GET HELP IMMEDIATELY!

Fractures come in a variety of forms and may occur any place in the body where there is a bone. Remember, you are not a trained medical professional qualified to handle these many different situations. Your job is to recognize the injury (or possible injury) and to limit further injury.

Allow player to move the injured area.

Allow dirt into any injured area with protruding bones.