RFU: Community Rugby Shop

Conduct safe coaching sessions and be proactive on health and safety in sport

Every sport contains an element of risk.

One of your most important responsibilities as a sports coach is to ensure that coaching sessions are conducted in a safe and responsible manner. This resource focuses on safe practice in sport outlining all the safety issues associated with sports coaching.

This latest edition contains new and updated sections, including:

• creating the coaching environment
• insurance
• risk management and assessment
• new emergency procedures
• first aid.

Plus

• regular practical tips that allow you to easily apply your knowledge in coaching sessions
• references throughout the text pointing you in the right direction for further reading.

Follow the guidelines this book offers and you can be confident you are conducting your sessions in a safe manner and being proactive towards health and safety issues.

Suitable for anyone who leads or delivers sports programmes, eg coaches, leaders, teachers, instructors, development officers, officials, administrators, volunteers, parents/carers AND those with responsibility for the organisation of sport, eg national governing bodies, local authorities, centre managers, sports clubs.

Introduction

Planning for safe coaching

• Know your sport
• Safe practice
• Insurance

Responsibilities in the coaching environment

• Facilities
• Playing surfaces
• Venue size and space
• Equipment and apparatus
• Participants' clothing and equipment
• Managing risk
• Safety checks
• Assessing risk
• Being proactive

General care of the sports participant

• Getting ready
• Preparing your participants
• Concluding coaching sessions
• Handling equipment
• Hygiene
• Nutrition
• Ergogenic aids

Dealing with injury

• Injury in sport
• Communication with emergency services
• First aid provision
• Immediate treatment of minor injuries
• Reporting injuries
• Infectious disease

Monitoring the health of the participant

• Health control and medical monitoring
• Fatigue and Stress
• Rehabilitation

Where next?

• Workshops
• Resources
• Useful contacts

Appendices

• Appendix A - Insurance
• Appendix B - Health and safety checklist
• Appendix C - General risk assessment system
• Appendix D - Manual handling
• Appendix E - Accident report form
• Appendix F - Accident reporting - legal requirements

sports coach UK - Formerly known as The National Coaching Foundation, sports coach UK is the leading organisation dedicated to the development of coaching and coaches in the United Kingdom, and has provided educational and development opportunities for coaches of all levels and across all sports. As a registered charity, the organisation has developed a range of titles and workshops to support coaches at all levels. For more information on sport coach UK workshops, please visit www.sportscoachuk.org.