Most organizations depend on volunteers to help with their programming in many ways. One popular volunteer opportunity is coaching a youth sports team. Volunteers are often parents with some sports knowledge who just want to help. Parents may think, “How hard can it be to coach a few kids?”
These coaches, however, may be unprepared for what they’ll encounter when working with a group of children. It’s up to the youth organization to train their volunteer coaches to ensure they’re prepared to take on the challenge. In addition to covering the sport itself and what the organization expects from its coaches, there are a few safety topics to review with new coaches.
Coaches often work outdoors with large groups of children, so they must monitor the weather. Coaches need to know the organization’s policy on severe weather like tornadoes and lightning. Is practice cancelled? Do they reschedule? If the weather is questionable, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Also, how are coaches going to communicate with parents if a practice or game is cancelled? An email group or a team Facebook page can be helpful for communication purposes. There are also several free, easy-to-use apps that can push immediate notifications right to each parent’s smartphone.
Another weather concern is extreme heat. Every year we hear about young players collapsing during outdoor practices when their bodies overheat. Coaches must be vigilant in monitoring the heat index and ensuring the children drink enough fluids throughout the practice or game.
Coaches use different types of equipment for their practices, from balls and cones to nets and hoops. It’s important to regularly inspect equipment for defects and safety issues. Serious injuries can result from faulty equipment. One example is the risk posed by unsecured soccer goals. These heavy metal goals have seriously injured and even killed children when they’ve tipped over. Coaches should ensure goals are securely anchored to the ground before starting a practice or game.
Minor injuries are common during youth sports. Coaches should always have a first-aid kit with them. We recommend coaches be certified in CPR and first aid. This will help them respond confidently to any injuries. Concussions can happen in almost any sport. Repeated or severe head injuries have a significant impact on a child’s life. Coaches should be familiar with the signs of a concussion and be prepared to take a child out of the game or practice if he or she is showing any symptoms, such as headache, confusion, temporary loss of consciousness, dizziness, or ringing in the ears. Coaches should notify parents right away if they suspect a child has suffered a head injury.
An issue coaches don’t usually think about is child abuse allegations. Abuse allegations can have a devastating impact on someone’s life. Even if the allegation is false, the accusation alone is enough to result in a coach losing his or her position and, more importantly, reputation. Organizations must train coaches to understand this issue. A parent acting as a coach won’t think twice about being left alone with a child, but this presents an opportunity for an accusation to occur, and the coach wouldn’t have a corroborating witness.
Organizations should give coaches advice on what to do in different situations. What if a parent fails to pick up their child after practice? The coach could ask another family to stay until the child’s parent arrives. What if a parent asks the coach to drive the child home? They can politely explain it’s against the organization’s policy for coaches to drive their players anywhere.
Additionally, coaches are most likely mandated reporters of child abuse. There are many different signs of child abuse. If a coach notices a child acting differently or just feels something is off, it’s important to know the procedure for reporting suspected child abuse.
Coaches will need training on the organization’s expectations for appropriate verbal and physical interactions with their players. Sometimes coaches may be tempted to use inappropriate language to relate to their players, especially with older children. This, however, reflects badly on the organization and the coach. Also, what kind of touching is okay? High fives? Hugs? Does this change as the children get older? Organizations should clearly explain their policies so coaches can avoid using inappropriate language or contact.
Coaches can use this checklist before every practice or game to ensure they’re prepared: