Football is without doubt one of the most physically demanding games on the planet. Yet, the sport consistently ranks as one of the safest youth recreational activities in the country. The reason? It boils down to one simple word: Prevention. When the inevitable injuries occur, readiness and emergency planning can reduce the severity of most injuries.
But being ready means more than just understanding how to treat on-field injuries. A youth coach or administrator must be prepared for any type of situation. That’s why it is strongly recommended that every league, club, team and facility draw up an Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
“Having an Emergency Action Plan is the right thing to do if you’re a league administrator or coach,” says Dr. David Joyner, orthopedic surgeon and USA Football Health & Safety Committee Chairman. “You want to make the sport as safe as possible. Injuries do occur, but you should have them occur at the lowest level. If they do occur, you should be very efficient in be being able to protect the athlete.”
Emergencies ranging from natural disasters to the serious injuries of players, coaches and spectators can occur anywhere and at any time. To limit confusion, a league’s EAP should be the same for every game, every practice, every team and every situation.
Your plan should include information and medical releases from all players and coaches, emergency contact numbers for parents and/or guardians, methodology for contacting emergency services, and names and availability of medical technicians (EMTs) at practice and game fields. It also should include designated shelters and strategies for player protection from severe weather or other significant events.
Developing an EAP is the responsibility of the each coach and league administrator. It is important that each person – coach and league administrator – know what to do in the event of an emergency and practice, putting the EAP in motion.
“You should have a plan,” Dr. Joyner says. “You should write down who is in charge of calling 911, who should have a cell phone at every practices and games. And at least one member of the always present staff, should be trained in first aid, ideally in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). An action plan is important because those kind of seconds can make a difference in life- and limb-saving.”
Additionally, USA Football recommends that each team keep a first aid kit on hand at all games, practices and team functions. Coaches and league administrators should maintain effective communication tools to contact emergency services should the need arise.