Sports Safety: Ten things Every Coach/Parent Should Know

1. Sports Safety:Ten things Every Coach/Parent Should Know John Davis, MA, ATC Mike Prybicien, MA, ATC, NREMT Robb Rehberg, PhD, ATC, CSCS, NREMT

3. My Experiences as a Youth Coach? • My 2 goals tonight – • We may not present many new ideas, but we hope to change the way you look at things and plan your practices & games. • This course is risk and safety management for • you and the league – CYA.

4. Sports Safety:Ten Things Every Coach/Parent Should Know ? • 1 in 5 Emergency Room Visits are result of sports, recreation, or exercise – 3.65 million/yr (CDC) • Injuries to children 15 & under, playing 29 most popular sports cost US public $49 billion/yr (The Consumer Products Safety Council) • An athlete’s injury has an effect on his/her parents, coaches, the team, his schooling, health care professional, teammates

5. My Experiences as a Youth Coach? • Everybody playing from same rule book. • Male/female roles • Why get involved? • To give my child a chance to play • Because I was an athlete and love the sport • Because the league needed more coaches • Bonding opportunity with my child • Because my wife/husband told me to

6. Volunteer Coaches Duties • Supervision • General vs. Specific • Selection and Conduct of Activities • Screening • Instruction • Warnings • Mismatches • Protective measures • Equipment • Environment/Facilities

7. Volunteer Coaches Duties • Emergency Action Plan • What do I do when a kid is hurt • Follow Communication with Parent • Documentation!!!!! • Return to Play? • First Aid Kit • League or Personal • Regular Ice vs. Chemical Packs • EMS access • What have I done to prepare? • First aid/CPR training • Coaching clinics

8. Emergency Action Plan • 1. Stay Calm. Can you handle the problem? Do you need help? • a. Determine if the injury is Simple or Serious. • b. If you can handle the situation, proceed with proper First Aid. • c. If the injury is serious be sure to call for others on the field to help! • d. Call 911 to activate the local EMS service. • · · Be sure to have someone meet the ambulance • 2. Reassure and try to calm the injury player. • 3. Provide supervision for the other players. Should practice or the game continue? • 4. If the parents are not at the field, call them ASAP. • 5. If athlete will be going to the hospital be sure to send their parent contact form • a. Players cannot go to a hospital without a coach or parent. • 7. Make an accurate record of the injury. Be sure to note the following: • · Time when injury occurred • · Who, What, When, Where, Why the injury occurred • · Treatment given • 8. Please fax, deliver, or e-mail a report to Safety Officer, within 24-48 hours. • 9. Be sure to follow up with the parents.

9. Pre-season Preparation

10. Dealing With The Athletic Child • Psychological Aspects of Coaching • Sportsmanship • For what purpose? For whose benefit? • Defining success • Establishing your priorities

11. Dealing With The Athletic Child • What is going on in kids life • Remember, they are kids • How much practice can they handle? • Don’t live your athletic life through your child. • Enhancing self-confidence • Using Praise Effectively • Less is More

12. Tips for Parents/Coaches • Encourage regardless of success, skill level, PT • Show respect for coaches and teammates • Highlight teamwork – “No I in Team” • Enjoyment = Continued Involvement – Cherish Participation • Recognize developmental stages • Enhancing self-confidence • Using Praise Effectively • Less is More

14. Sport Specialization • Specialize or Multi-sport • When make the commitment • Over use – “itis” • What will get child athlete a scholarship • Travel teams vs high school teams

16. Preventing Injuries: Is your field safe?

17. Preventing Injuries: Is your field safe? • Field Conditions • Equipment • Weather Conditions • Supervision • Emergency Action Plan

18. Preventing Injuries: Is your field safe? • Field Conditions • Divots, Bare Spots, & Mole Holes • Equipment left on field • Proper lighting • Fencing (padding) • Access • ‘Busy’ fields

19. Preventing Injuries: Is your field safe? • Equipment • Worn out/broken equipment • Is it used properly? • Is it installed properly? • Proper assembly • Safety equipment

21. Preventing Injuries: Is your field safe? • Weather Conditions

22. Preventing Injuries: Is your field safe? • Supervision

23. Emergency Action Plan:P.R.E.P.A.R.E. • Personnel • Rules • Equipment • Planning • Arena • Rehearsal • Evaluate and Educate

24. First Aid Kits: What to Bring to the Game

25. What’s in your first aid kit? First, a word about training

26. What’s in your first aid kit? First Aid Kit Types

27. What’s in your first aid kit? • Some Rules… • Bring it with you! • Check the kit often • Don’t use it as a ‘catch all’ • Have enough supplies • Have the right tools for the right job • Take care of it

28. The Essentials • Bandages -- sheer and flexible • Non-stick pads -- assorted sizes • Soft gauze bandages • Oval eye pads • Triangular bandage • Tape • Elastic bandage • Antiseptic wipes • First aid or antibiotic cream • Cold packs* • Scissors • Tweezers • Flexible Splint • First aid guide • Contents card • Disposable gloves

29. Other Items to Consider • Medication? • Athlete’s Emergency Information • Emergency Contact Information • Medical History • Consent to Treat • Cell Phone

30. Traumatic Brain Injury/ Concussion • A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or another part of the body. Even what seems to be mild bump or blow to the head can be serious. • Concussions can occur in any sport or recreation activity.

31. Concussions Some Observable Signs Appears dazed, confused or stunned Forgets an instruction / assignments Is unsure of game, score, or opponent Moves clumsily Answers questions slowly Loses consciousness (even briefly) Shows mood, behavior, or personality  changes Can’t recall events prior to hit or fall Can’t recall events after hit or fall

32. Concussions Symptoms Reported by Athlete Headache or “pressure” in head Nausea or vomiting Balance problems or dizziness Double or blurry vision Sensitivity to light and/or noise Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy Concentration or memory problems Confusion Does not “feel right” or is “feeling down”

33. Proper technique!!!!! Education Awareness Stress the Importance of reporting the concussions to your athletes What can the Parent or Coach do to help

34. To Help Prevent Injury in Baseball and Softball • Decrease demand on the body • Limit pitching/excessive throwing • Limit/prevent stressful pitches (curves, slider) • Use proper throwing and sliding mechanics • Increase body’s ability to meet demands • Increase strength • Increase endurance • Increase flexibility • Increase balance/body control

35. Proper Conditioning Involves Training the Entire Body • Arm /shoulder • Lower Body • Trunk / mid-section

36. Strength and Endurance Exercises • Don’t train like the pro’s or an adult • No heavy weightlifting prior to puberty • Variety is important • Make it FUNctional • Similar movement/motions • FUN

37. Strength & Endurance Activities • Run, sprint • Explosive Activities • Jumping • Other Sports • Strength Exercises • Lunges • Bodyweight squats • Abdominal/core • Push-ups / pull ups

38. Balance / Body Control/Coordination • Other Sports • Martial arts • Gymnastic • Yoga • Throwing mechanic drills • Jumping jacks • Skipping • Jump Rope • Therapy Ball exercises

39. Arm Care for Youth Baseball & Softball • Don’t overstress the arm • Flexibility and Strengthening exercises • Gradual build up to throwing

40. Flexibility / Stretching Exercises

41. Strength / Endurance Rotator Cuff Shoulder blade muscles Arm/Forearm Each Exercise 30-50 times Controlled smooth motion Muscle burn ok – No pain

42. Basic Rotator Cuff Band Pull IN Band Pull Out

43. Basic Rotator Cuff Front Raise Side Raise

44. Shoulder Blade Squeezes

45. Wrist / Forearem Exercises Wrist Extension Wrist Flexion

46. Wrist/Forearm Exercises Pronation Supination

47. Pre-Participation Physical • Why necessary? • Maintain health & safety of athlete • Detect conditions that may predispose to injury • Medical/Family history • Life Threatening? • Who to contact in case of Emergency? • Prevent injury and illness • Assess general fitness level

48. Pre-Participation Physical • Safety considerations • Allergies – Team Snacks • Adapt slower to exercise • Less efficient body temperature regulation • “Wait to weight-train” • Meet legal & insurance requirements

49. When an athlete is hurt, who should they see? • Sports Medicine Team • Physicians • MD/DO/DC/DPM • Specialties • Pediatrics • Sports Medicine • Orthopedics • Athletic Trainer • Physical Therapist • EMTs/Paramedics • ER vs. Physician’s Office

50. Links • www.atsnj.org • www.littleleague.org/ • http://youthsports.rutgers.edu • http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/ • www.redcross.org • www.peqll.com