Pre-Season Tips
- Before the training begins, make sure players have been to the doctor for a routine physical exam, so that any health risks a player may have will be noted.
- If a player wears eyeglasses, ask a doctor about the proper sports eyewear.
- Proper footing will help players avoid unnecessary injuries. Find out what kind of cleats are appropriate for the league in which the player participates.
- Keep on top of the latest safety equipment available. Ensure that equipment is available and properly fitted for players.
Practice Tips
- Insist that players put on all the proper and required safety equipment at practice, as well as games. Tackle football players must wear: a helmet with facemask, shoulder pads, hip and tailbone pads, knee pads, and a mouth guard with a keeper strap.
- Coaches and parents should take the same safety precautions during practice as they would for a game.
- First aid must be readily available at all practices. Ensure that a first aid kit on site contains all fundamental items.
- Coaches must schedule frequent water breaks for players, especially during hot weather.
- Require players to warm up and stretch before practice.
- Football practice should be a fun, learning experience for all players. Push too hard and a player's risk of injury increases.
Game-Day Tips
- Coaches and officials must enforce all the rules and regulations of the game. Coaches and officials must never allow illegal blocking (pulling a player down by the knees or grabbing the face mask), blockling from behind, or "spearing" (using the top of the helmet to tackle).
- First aid must be readily available at all games. Ensure that any first aid kit on site contains all fundamental items. Identify any trained medical personnel in attendance. Designate someone to help coach in case of an emergency.
- Players must understand the importance of reporting any pain or injury to the coach. Emphasize the importance of not playing through pain. Make certain to follow the doctor's orders for recovery and be sure not to allow players to return to participation before the doctor's approval.
- Require players to warm up and stretch before a game.
- On game day, winning must not be the primary focus. It should be a fun learning experience for all players. Pushing players too hard can increase the risk of injury.
The evaluation of any athlete, whether as a part of health evaluations prior to activity or as a diagnosis of an injury as the consequence of sports activities, is specific to that individual and the history and current state of the individual presented. Advice, diagnosis and treatment is individualized according to numerous factors, including patient health and age information, medical history and symptoms. All athletes should be cleared by a physician or other appropriate medical professional before engaging in physical activities and, after injury, diagnosis and treatment, for return to play.