Prior to and during the season, ensure that all the following safety steps are taken during training and competition and after the season ends.
| BEFORE THE SEASON |
- Update policies and regulations
- Medical examination/approval
- Parental permission forms signed
- Team/group matching (size, skill)
- Preseason conditioning
- Training program preparation
- Staff skill training
- Instructional materials
- Practice plans
- Emergency Action Plans
- First aid kit stocked and available
- Emergency numbers
- Sports safety training handbook
- All coaches properly trained and certified
- Proper orientation arranged for new coaches
- Facility inspection
- Equipment inspection
- Communication equipment available, with backup system available
- Parent orientation program
- Athlete orientation
- Risks
- Safety procedures
- Injury prevention
- Changes in rules, techniques
- Equipment use and maintenance instruction
- Facility use instruction
- Documentation that athletes have been orientated
|
| DURING TRAINING AND COMPETITION |
- Training program assessment and revision
- General supervision
- Program implementation
- Equipment use
- environment (heat, cold, hazardous weather)
- periodic facility inspection and maintenance (document dates and results)
- periodic equipment inspection and maintenance (document dates and results)
|
| AFTER THE SEASON |
- Offseason conditioning
- Program assessment and revision
- Staff skill-training assessment
- Injury cause and response evaluation
- Facility inspection
- Equipment inspection
| |
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.