ARE COACHES TRAINED IN KEY SPORT SAFETY GUIDELINES?
One of
the most influential people in your child’s sports experience is the coach (or coaches). These people set the team culture,
organize team activities, and make decisions on equipment. Most (if not all) high schools and youth
sports leagues require coaches to complete a standard training program that
minimally includes training in first aid and CPR and basic sport specific skills
and drills. More recently, training is
also required in concussion recognition and management. For those sports that require equipment (e.g.,
football and boys lacrosse) coaches may or may not have training in recognizing
proper fit and use of equipment. As a
parent it is important to understand what is required by your organization’s
governing body when it comes to training for coaches.
Key Governing Organizations:
When
focusing on youth sports and private leagues, many have a national organizing
body that set policies and procedures for your local league. These organizations not only have bylaws and
guidelines for rosters and tournaments, but also often dictate policy on
training for coaches and safety guidelines for athletes. It is important to be familiar with the
policies set by the governing organization.
There are hundreds of youth sports organizations out there ranging from
the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Police Athletic League (PAL), YMCA/YWCA to
USA Football and Little League. It is always
important for parents to research their leagues to understand what the league
governs. When investigating your
governing organization you will want to consider the following: 1) required training for coaches, 2)
concussion policy and education, 3) game safety rules, and 4) specific
equipment guidelines. Not all leagues
govern the same things, but to give you a head start on some of the major
national organizations that govern youth sports check out this list:
- USAFootball
- PopWarner Football
- AmericanYouth Football Organization
- LittleLeague Baseball & Softball
- BabeRuth League Baseball & Softball
- Amateur Softball Association of America
- US Lacrosse (Boys & Girls)
- American Youth Soccer Organization
- US Soccer (Boys & Girls)
- USAHockey (Boys & Girls)
Concussions:
A
majority of states have some form of concussion legislation meant to protect
young athletes. This legislation not
only sets guidelines for how concussions are evaluated and managed following injury
but also requires education of parents and coaches on the recognition of the
signs and symptoms of concussions. Given
the growing demand for education and training there are several qualified
groups that offer training in this area.
Two of the more common programs are Concussion Health and
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) “Heads Up” on Concussions
program. Concussion recognition is also part of the Athletes Saving Athletes program offered by A4IA. Remember, the state legislation
focuses on school sports, not private youth leagues. You should check with your local league and
national governing body to obtain the details of the concussion program and policies in your
given league. I would advocate for all
leagues to have a standard concussion policy if one is not already in place and it should include education for coaches and parents.
Equipment:
Many
sports require that participants wear protective equipment of some kind. The amount and type of equipment varies by
sport and position. When utilizing equipment it is
important to note the following: 1)
equipment is appropriate to age group, 2) fit is appropriate and reassessed
regularly, 3) participant wears/uses equipment as intended, and 4) equipment is
in working order and not worn or broken.
Failure to follow these guidelines can increase the likelihood of injury. Equipment has a specific purpose and its
effectiveness improves when worn properly.
Given this, it is important to remember that no equipment will prevent
all injuries.
Resources
for fitting equipment:
Helmets
are one of the most commonly worn pieces of equipment in sports, especially
given the popularity of tackle football in the United States. Helmets in conjunction with a facemask are
designed to prevent skull fractures and other injuries to the face. Many recent technological changes have been made
in an effort to decrease the occurrence of concussions, but helmets cannot
eliminate concussions completely and do not prevent the possibility of neck
injuries. All helmets whether football,
lacrosse, hockey, or baseball are certified by a national organization. Football helmets must be reconditioned
annually in order to ensure their effectiveness. The
National Operating Committee on the Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE)
certifies football, lacrosse, baseball, and softball helmets. Hockey helmets are certified by The Hockey Equipment Certification Council
(HECC) in the United States.
Mouth
guards are another common piece of equipment.
There is a wide variety of options when selecting a mouth guard. Just like a football helmet, one of the most
important factors in its effectiveness is fit.
When fitted properly the wearer should still be able to breathe and
speak normally. The purpose of mouth
guards is to prevent dental injuries.
There is no current research that validates the claim that mouth guards
help prevent concussions. Be careful
when spending additional monies on a mouth guard because it states that it will
help prevent concussions, an unproven claim.
Heat and mold mouth guards typically cost much less than customized
mouth guards made by a dentist. Both can
be effective, but typically, the fit is much better with a custom mouth guard
if the cost is not prohibitive. The key
to the best fit with a heat and mold mouth guard is to follow the molding
instructions carefully and be sure to suck on the mouth guard when molding, do
not bite it.
Resource
for selecting and fitting mouth guards:
Football Skills:
Tackle
football is a very popular sport in the United States with about one million
participants in high school football alone.
The recent focus on concussions has also put focus on the health and
safety of participants. While Pop Warner
already has weight and age guidelines in place, there has been a renewed focus
on teaching proper tackling technique to young participants. The USA Football
Heads Up Tackling program focuses on training for coaches and
helping kids use proper technique on the field.
Baseball Pitch Counts:
Pitch
counts were first instituted in Little League baseball in 2007 after research
showed that the number of pitches thrown was a primary factor in elbow and
shoulder injuries in participants. Since
that time, coaches and teams have been expected to follow pitch count
guidelines. The USA Baseball Medical and
Safety Advisory Committee published pitch count guidelines in 2006 that can be
accessed by clicking HERE. If you would like a brief summary of the
guidelines used by Little League Baseball, click HERE. A full rule book can be purchased from Little
League Baseball/Softball.
I
place particular emphasis on pitch counts because a recent study by Fazarale, Magnussen, Pedroza
and Kaeding (2012) in Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach demonstrated
that coaches were deficient in their understanding and application of pitch
counts for their players. The 95 coaches
(of 228 asked) who completed the survey were only able to answer 43% of the
questions regarding pitch counts and rest periods correctly, while 73% reported
that they followed the recommendations.
While many coaches feel they are following the guidelines, they may not
be. Parents should always follow up and
be sure key guidelines are being followed.
As
parents, you always want your child to participate in sports as safely as
possible. A big part of that is
following up with coaches and asking the right questions about their training,
coaching philosophy and technique. Coaches
set the culture for the entire team and have the best opportunity, outside of
individual parents, to create an environment of respect and safety first. Understanding a coach’s philosophy on
checking equipment regularly, concussion programs, and following specific sport
safety guidelines will go a long way toward ensuring the safety the entire team
and league.
To review questions 1 - 4 of 5 questions parents should ask:
Submitted by Heather L. Clemons, MS, MBA, ATC
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