Prattville YMCA Safe Sport Volunteer Training

SAFE SPORT TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEER COACHES

It is a requirement by the State of Alabama that all youth sports volunteers complete the Safe Sport Training and Assessment annually.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

CHECKING A RESPONSIVE CHILD

1. Interview the child, parent, or bystanders using SAMPLE.

S=Signs and symptoms

A=Allergies

M=Medications

P=Pertinent medical history

L= Last food or drink

E= Events leading up to the incident

2. Do a head-to-toe check.

         Look and feel for signs of injury, including pain, bleeding, cuts, burns, bruising, swelling or deformities.

3. Provide care for any conditions found,
4. Notify the member services desk or program supervisor. An incident report will have to be completed.
5. If 911 must be called to YMCA property, notify the member services desk, program supervisor, or other designated staff person.

CHECKING A CHILD WHO APPEARS TO BE UNRESPONSIVE

1. Shout, tap and shout again while checking for normal breathing.

• Gasping is not normal breathing
• Check for no more than 5 to 10 seconds.

2. If the child responds but is not fully awake:

• Have someone call 9-1-1 and obtain an AED and first aid kit. (AEDs are located at our Member Services Desks)
• Do a head-to-toe check.
• Please the child on their side if there are no apparent injuries in case of vomiting.

3. If the child does not respond and is not breathing or is only gasping:

• Have someone call 9-1-1 and obtain an AED and first aid kit. (Ask your program supervisors where AEDs are located if available)
• Immediately begin CPR and use an AED as soon as possible.

4. Make sure the program supervisor is notified as soon as possible. If incident occurs on YMCA property, make sure that the member services desk or other designated YMCA staff person is notified immediately to help with EMS, etc.

CARDIAC EMERGENCIES

Cardiac arrest is rare among young people but it is the leading cause of death in young athletes. The causes of sudden cardiac death in youth people vary, but most often it is due to a heart abnormality. Coaches need to watch for the warning signs, which include unexplained fainting, a blunt blow to the chest, or a family history of sudden cardiac death. If cardiac problems are suspected, then a physician should be seen to evaluate if the child should participate in contact sports or what precautions should be taken. If there is an emergency, then time is critical for survival. Follow the steps for CPR, Call 911, and get the child an AED.

CPR (CHILD)

1. Verify that the child is unresponsive and is not breathing or is only gasping.
2. Ensure that the child is face-up on a firm, flat surface.
3. Give 30 chest compressions.

• Push hard and fast in the center of the chest to a depth of about 2 inches and at a rate of 100-200 compressions per minute.

4. Give 2 rescue breaths.

• Open the airway, pinch the nose shut and make a complete seal over the child’s mouth with your mouth. If a CPR mask is available, use the mask for breaths.
• Blow into the child’s mouth for about 1 second, ensuring that the chest rises.
• Take a breath, make a seal and then give the second rescue breath.

5. Continue giving sets of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths.

CONCUSSIONS AND HEAD TRAUMA

THE FACTS

• All concussions are serious.
• Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
• Recognition and proper response to concussions when they first occur can help aid recovery and prevent further injury, or even death.

RECOGNIZING A POSSIBLE CONCUSSION

To help recognize a concussion, watch for or ask others to report the following two things among your athletes:

1. A forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that results in rapid movement of the head.

AND

2. Any change in the athlete’s behavior, thinking, or physical functioning, or any other signs or symptoms of concussions.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OBSERVED BY COACHES

• Appears dazed or stunned (such as glassy eyes)
• Is confused about assignment or position
• Forgets an instruction or play
• Is unsure of score or opponent
• Moves clumsily or poor balance
• 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

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY ATHLETE

• Headache or “pressure” in head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Double or blurry vision
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
• Concentration or memory problems
• Confusion
• Feeling more emotional, nervous, or anxious
• Does not “feel right” or is “feeling down”

Remember, you can’t see a concussion and some athletes may not experience and/or report symptoms until hours or days after the injury. Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. A seemingly “mild” symptom following bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body can be serious. When in doubt, sit them out!

WHEN A CONCUSSION IS SUSPECTED

If you suspect that an athlete has a concussion, implement your 4-step action plan:

1. Remove the athlete from play. Look for signs and symptoms of a concussion if your athlete has experienced a bump or blow to the head or body. When in doubt, sit them out.
2. Ensure that the athlete is evaluated by a health care professional experienced in evaluating for concussion. As a coach, recording the following information can help health care professionals in assessing the athlete after the injury:

• Cause of the injury and force of the hit or blow to the head or body
• Any loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out) and if so, for how long
• Any memory loss immediately following the injury
• Any seizures immediately following the injury
• Number of previous concussions (if any)

3. Inform the athlete’s parents or guardians AND the program supervisor about the possible concussion. Make sure that they know that the athlete should be seen by a health care professional experience in evaluating for concussion.
4. Keep the athlete out of play the day of the injury and until an appropriate health care professional says they are symptom-free and it’s OK to return to play.

CONCUSSION PREVENTION

To help prevent injuries:

1. Practice safe playing techniques and encourage athletes to follow the rules of play.
2. Make sure players wear approved and properly-fitted protective equipment. Protective equipment should be well-maintained and be worn consistently and correctly.
3. If one of your athletes has a concussion, their brain needs time to heal. Keep the athlete out of play the day of the injury and until an appropriate health care professional says they are symptom-free and it’s OK to return to play.

Teach your athletes it’s not smart to play with a concussion. Rest is essential after a concussion. Sometimes athletes, parents, and others wrongly believe that it shows strength and courage to play injured. Discourage others from pressuring injured athletes to play.

HEAT AND COLD RELATED EMERGENCIES

PREVENTING HEAT ILLNESS

Knowing the Danger Zone

An important part of coaching is understanding the conditions that present a greater risk to athletes in your care. As a general guideline, the following temperatures and heat illness risk levels exist:

            65-72 degrees Fahrenheit present a moderate risk

            74-82 degrees Fahrenheit present a high risk

            82 degrees and higher Fahrenheit present an extremely high risk

            In addition, an increase in humidity greatly increases the chance for heat illness.

In high-risk conditions the following precautions should be taken:

• Conduct shorter practice sessions.
• Wear less padding and equipment
• Coaches should continually observe athletes for any heat illness symptoms
• Coaches should be aware of high-risk candidates for heat illness which include athletes who have a history of a heat illness-related event; are overweight/obese; have a history of diabetes; renal or heart difficulties; have had a recent bout of flu or upper respiratory .
• Hydration!!!

HYDRATION

Heat illness can be managed through proper hydration before, during, and after practice. Heat illnesses stem from the loss of fluids and electrolytes during sweating. The following recommendations help in keeping athletes hydrated:

• Stay hydrated through the week, especially on practice and game days.
• Drink 16 ounces of water or sports drink one hour before warming up for play.
• Continue with 4-8 ounces of fluid every 15-20 minutes of play
• Consume food or drink with a moderate amount of sodium (salt) prior to practice or games
• For games and practices lasting longer than one hour or for multiple practices in one day, replacement fluids should contain sodium, potassium, and carbohydrates
• Try to keep urine at a lemonade coloration or clearer
• Discourage athletes from wearing layered or rubberized clothing that prevents the body from cooling down effectively

RECOGNIZING HEAT ILLNESS

Common heat-related illnesses include the following:

1. Heat Cramps: Cramps caused by the depletion of salt and water in the body due to profuse sweating
2. Heat Exhaustion: The result of either water or salt depletion in the body due to profuse sweating during prolonged exercise, commonly causing athletes to feel weak, dizzy, nauseous and confused or to have headaches
3. Heat Syncope: A precursor to heat stroke, caused by prolonged exercise in the heat, which can also occur after physical activity has stopped—usually within the first week of acclimating to exercise in the heat. Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, tunnel vision, and fainting
4. Heat Stroke: The most severe heat illness is caused by the body’s failure to cool itself down. It can occur suddenly with few preceding symptoms, causing unconsciousness, coma, or death

COLD-RELATED ILLNESSES

Cold weather, as well as heat, can lead to dehydration. Recent studies suggest that cold weather decreases the thirst sensation in athletes. Athletes competing in cold weather need to take the same precautions for staying hydrated.

RESPONDING TO HEAT ILLNESS AND DEHYDRATION

Take these recommended steps when assessing an athlete with heat illness and dehydration symptoms.

• Get the athlete to a cool and shaded area
• Have the athlete drink water or a sports drink
• Elevate the athlete’s legs slightly
• Do not return the athlete to any physical activity
• If symptoms are severe or if the child is unconscious, call 9-1-1 and seek immediate medical aid. Keep the child cool using cold water immersion, a cold water spray, cold towels placed over the entire body or ice packs

PHYSCIAL CONDITIONING

WARMING UP FOR PLAY

Dynamic stretches facilitate movements similar to those during play and target muscle groups as they relate to specific sport movements. In addition to raising muscular tissue temperature in the body and increasing blood flow, dynamic stretching activates the nervous system, preparing the body for movements performed during play. Plyometrics is a system of exercise in which the muscles are rapidly and repeatedly stretched and contracted for optimal function.

Common dynamic and plyometric exercises include the following:

• Warm-up: ½ speed job, ¾ speed jog, backwards jog
• Mild jog with high knees, skipping, butt kicks, and reach to toes
• Lunges with twist and walking quad stretch
• Simulating ¾ speed sport-specific activities, such as bounding, hopping, and diagonal cutting

COOLING DOWN

Taking an extra 15 minutes after play to statically stretch will speed the recovery process, lengthen muscles, and improve muscular range of motion. As dynamic stretches are beneficial prior to play, static stretching is effective for cooling down properly.

OVERUSE INJURIES

Overuse injuries are difficult to diagnose because the pains caused by repetitive microtrauma often go unreported or are overlooked by the athlete during the initial progression of the injury. Teaching athletes to recognize and report any small aches or pains is the first step in reversing and preventing the development of an injury. Particularly in young athletes, an undiagnosed injury often leads to a more severe injury down the road.

OVERALL PREVENTION

Focus on training the total athlete gradually with adequate resting time. Competing in several sports throughout the year will prevent sport-specific repetitive stress as long as there is adequate rest between seasons.

COMMON OVERUSE INJURIES

1. Shoulder
2. Elbow
3. Knee/ACL
4. Shins
5. Achilles Tendon
6. Hip/Thigh
7. Lower Abdomen

CLASSIFICATION OF OVERUSE INJURIES

Stage 1: Pain after activity, no functional impairment

Stage 2: Pain during and after activity with minimal functional impairment

Stage 3: Pain during and after activity that persists throughout the day, significant functional impairment

Stage 4: Significant functional impairment with all daily activities

When an athlete, coach or parent suspects injury, have it assessed and diagnosed by a healthcare professional, being sure to follow the recommendations of that person for optimal outcomes. To initially reverse and prevent, overuse injury progression, follow the R-I-C-E method (rest, ice, compression and elevation).

PROPER EQUIPMENT FITTING

1. Equipment should be checked daily for damaged parts, fit and wear and tear.
2. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for fitting equipment.

FOOTBALL

1. Helmet Fitting Check
2. All football helmets should be NOCSAE Approved.
3. Crown check: press down on top of helmet, athlete should feel pressure “on top” or “all over” not in the front or back.
4. Lateral movement: grab sides of helmet and move side to side, cheek pads should not slide and skin on forehead should move with helmet.
5. Vertical movement: grab sides of helmet and move up and down, helmet should not slide down onto nose.
6. Ask the athlete if the helmet is firm yet comfortable.
7. Shoulder Pad Fitting Check
8. Should cover the AC join and extend ½ inch over the deltoid.
9. Check for coverage of chest and back.
10. Collar should be ½ inch from neck and not pinch when arms are raised overhead.
11. Should cover clavicle.
12. Arches should evenly and not overlap in both the front and back.
13. Have athlete perform functional movements: arms overhead, three-point stance, etc.
14. Jersey should be worn properly with sleeves down is an important part of functional shoulder pads.

T-BALL

1. Helmet Fitting Check
2. All helmets should be NOCSAE Approved.
3. Helmet should rest 1 inch above the athlete’s eyebrows and the helmet’s bill should be parallel to the ground.
4. Helmet is snug and does not move around when the athlete shakes his/her head.
5. Helmet should not be altered by the athlete as this could void the NOCSAE Approval.

CHEERLEADING

1. Uniform Check
2. All uniforms should adequately cover an athlete and must be secured to eliminate any possible wardrobe malfunction.
3. Briefs must be worn under the cheer skirts at all times. The skirt should completely cover the hips and should fall at least 1 inch below briefs.
4. When cheer shorts are worn, there should be a minimum inseam of 2 inches.
5. Cheer Shoe Check
6. Minimal weight of 4-8 oz.
7. Finger grips on the bottom of the shoe.
8. Smooth rubber sole.
9. EVA cushioning in the show to absorb shock from all the movements.
10. Breathable fabric to eliminate heat and swelling.

BASKETBALL

1. Ball Size Check
2. Ages 7-8: Size for Boys and Girls= Size 5 (27.5”)
3. Ages 9-11: Size of Boys and Girls= Size 6 (28.5”)
4. Ages 12-14: Girls=Size 6 Boys = Size 7
5. Basketball Shoe Check
6. Basketball Shoes are bulkier than running shoes and designed to act as shock absorbers and provide ankle stability with the flexibility to allow players to move laterally.

SOCCER

1. Shin Guard Check
2. Everyone on the field must wear shin guards.
3. The shin guard should protect at least 2 inches under the knee to just before the ankle bends.
4. The shin guard should cover the entire width of the leg when looking at the athlete from the front.
5. Soccer Ball Check
6. Soccer Ball Size

Size 1: All ages: developing footwork skills/ball control

Size 3: 8 and younger

Size 4: Ages 8-12

Size 5: Ages 13+

VOLLEYBALL

1. Volleyball Size Check
2. Youth Ball: 25-26 inch circumference, 9.2-9.9 oz., 4.3 psi
3. Lite Ball: This is a special “lite” ball for 12 and under kids programming. The lite ball is the same circumference and pressure, but is only 7-8 oz. and has a special “softer” synthetic leather cover that is wonderful for any beginner.
4. Volleyball Shoe Check
5. ASICS and Mizuno are the only manufacturers that offer a youth volleyball shoe.
6. Volleyball shoes consist of a gum rubber sole material designed to give excellent traction on the gym floor and prevent the shoe from sliding on the floor.
7. Volleyball shoes have more padding in the forefront of the shoe to aid in shock absorption from the constant jumping and landing.