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Risk Management takes many forms. Most frequently we think of legal issues in conjunction with risk management. In this issue, information is provided about various risk situations including injuries, the legal duties of coaches, and even handling the college recruiting process.
Richard Stratton
Coaching & Sports Section Editor
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Psychology of Sport Injury:
In this article, Tracie Garrison describes the emotional reactions athletes often experience when they are injured and as they proceed through the
rehabilitation process. While all athletes react differently, the emotional stages they go through are fairly predictable. Understanding what the
injured athlete is feeling is crucial to helping the athlete through the process of getting back into competition.
The Gatorade Sports Science Centre contains articles on a variety of sports medicine topics authored by experts in exercise science and sports medicine. The articles summarize recent
findings, and provide practical guidelines for applying the information.
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Source:
SAFE KIDS, and NATA Research & Education Foundation Survey
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More than half of parents (53%) express little concern about the possibility of their child getting hurt playing team sports. |
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4 out of 5 parents whose child suffered a sports injury believe it was part of the game. |
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A third of the parents say they do not often take the same safety precautions during their child's practice as in a game, although most sports injuries occur during practice. |
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Only one in four organized sports activities always has a Certified Athletic Trainer on site. Additionally, 41% of the parents report that their child's coach is not CPR certified and does not keep a first-aid kit on hand during play.
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Managing Parents
Use a well prepared pre-season meeting with your athletes and their parents to reduce phone calls, questions, and other problems later in the season.
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Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when
a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices, but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.
~ Albert Einstein (1879-1955) ~
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Sports Ballet Online
In an effort to develop an academic information resource for coaches,
athletes, and media commentators, Sportballet Online has undertaken the
development of a new Coaches Information Network called "Dance and Sports
Science Information Network."
Visit: www.sportballet.com and look in the left hand column below the initial introductory paragraph. Links to various disciplines are highlighted.
Stephen M. Apatow, director of development for this initiative, is requesting the submission of online scientific research articles, journals, and information sources from U.S. and international sports governing bodies for inclusion in this network. He can be contacted at cin.submission@sportballet.com
A new, international ethical forum called "F.A.S.T." (Forum for the Analysis
of Sport Technology) is making an appearance into the coaching and
sporting spheres.
F.A.S.T. is a collaboration between universities world-wide, which are renowned for studying sport. The Forum invites governing bodies to embrace its independent advice, which seeks objective decision-making about the appropriateness of new innovations in sport. Where technical committees of governing bodies might be under pressure to base the acceptance of new technologies on the interests of sponsorship and the like, the forum offers a breadth of expertise within sport and technology that is without prejudice save for the practice of any particular sport.
The main aim of the research group is to provide ethical conclusions
upon which to found policy decisions in sport. An articles section is
available here. Titles include "The Computer Coach" and more.
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Please let your colleagues know about PELINKS4U, and remember you can catch up on a year's worth of news in our Archives.
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If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please email one of the following Coaching & Sports Section Editors:
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Help to support quality physical education and health education by contributing to this site.
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Assisting Your College-Bound Student-Athlete
With the reduction in available athletic scholarships at college in the NCAA, there is increasing pressure on high school coaches and athletes. Recent accusations of payoffs to high school coaches, or offers of jobs on college coaching staffs as inducements to influence student athletes to sign with a particular school, are just the tip of the iceberg. Even the comic strip "Gil Thorp" recently had a story line involving a booster offering a high school student athlete gifts as inducements. Coaches must become aware of their responsibilities to their athletes and schools. The NCAA provides an important resource: The Guide for College-Bound Student-Athlete. This comprehensive resource not only discusses eligibility information, but also includes information about recruiting within the various NCAA divisions. High school coaches and athletes should use this resource as their primary source of information.
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Inclement Weather Concerns:
As we approach the spring season, have you made plans for handling the potential for inclement weather during practices or games? Do you have a lightning safety plan written out? Roanoke (VA) trainer, Tim Bame, provides inclement weather tips and resource information, including printable thunderstorm plans forms for coaches and trainers to carry during practices and games.
ISBS Coaching Information Services
This is a global collaboration, an initiative of the International Society
of Biomechanics in Sports, and The University of Edinburgh. You will find
information related to a variety of sports. Each section contains a "Did you
know?" feature, and other information directly related to coaching
practices. Also included is a "Becoming a Better Coach" section.
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Legal Duties of Coaches
In the Winter 1998 edition of their newsletter, CAPS Matters, the Coalition of Americans to Protect Sports identifies the Nine Legal Duties of a Coach. They are:
- Properly plan the activity.
- Provide proper instruction.
- Provide safe physical environment.
- Provide adequate and proper equipment.
- Match your athletes.
- Evaluate athletes for injury or incapacity.
- Supervise the activity closely.
- Warn of inherent risks.
- Provide appropriate emergency assistance.
Further information can be found in an article in the September 1999 issue of Coaching Youth Sports, and also from the CAPS web site.
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