Preventing Injuries on the Field: 5 Ways to Improve Safety

When coaching a team, safety takes precedent over everything else. You want your players to have a good time and win the match, of course, but not at the expense of their physical wellbeing.

So how can you prevent injuries on the field this year? Here are five recommended safety improvements to implement and continually evaluate throughout the season. 

1. Require Preseason Physicals 

Most states require high school students to pass a preparticipation physical examination (PPE). However, the legal requirements for such tests vary from state to state, which means scores of players take the fields with health conditions that may prove problematic. Plus, if you coach a recreational league, these rules may not apply. 

You might not have the authority to mandate the type of preseason physical your players undergo. However, you can suggest to parents that they have their child’s physician apply rigorous testing. Even seemingly innocuous-sounding sports can harbor trouble. At least one youth baseball player has died from an underlying heart condition after a ball struck him. 

2. Set Age-Appropriate Rules 

Young children still need to develop physically before tackling the techniques of adult players. For instance, if you coach soccer, you shouldn’t let young players head the ball — they may collide with another or damage their neck or spine. 

Take extra precautions in the weight room. According to Gregory Myer, Ph.D., director of research at the Human Performance Laboratory for the Division of Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, you shouldn’t believe the myth that kids shouldn’t lift weights. 

However, that doesn’t mean you want a 7-year-old trying to bench press 200 pounds. While light weights aid in gaining strength and coordination, going too heavy can lead to unnecessary injury. 

Remember, though, youth are inexperienced by nature and may take unnecessary risks, especially when friends encourage them to bite off more than they can chew. Don’t lose yourself in your social media feed when weight room time rolls around — pay attention to your players and their techniques. 

3. Inspect All Equipment 

The most expensive helmet in the world won’t protect a young player’s head if it has an existing crack. Please get in the habit of inspecting all equipment before the season starts and checking it after games or collisions during practice. 

Pay attention to the equipment in your training facility as well. While blooper videos are amusing to watch, some athletes have died from slipping on a treadmill lacking a functional emergency button. Broken clamps can lead to falling weight plates — and shattered bones. 

Due to COVID-19, many players may opt to invest in pads and helmets even if you typically provide such supplies. Design and distribute an information guide that coaches parents on how to inspect these items for safety. Doing so doesn’t only keep youth players safer, but could also protect you from liability. 

4. Don’t Encourage Players to “Push Through” Pain

If you had a drill sergeant of a coach growing up, don’t strive so hard to emulate their style that you end up with players on the disabled list. Yes, you want to toughen up your team, but not at the expense of their long-term athletic careers. Take all sports injuries seriously and follow medical professional’s advice regarding recovery times for strains and sprains. 

Exercise empathy when it comes to potential invisible disorders. Remember, not all parents have access to health care providers. Kids join your team because they want to play — if they say they feel dizzy or too weak to perform, please listen and give them a rest day. 

5. Take a Zero-Tolerance Bullying Stance

You don’t want to encourage bullying behavior among teammates or toward others outside the circle. Learn how to identify malicious behavior, such as when teasing goes too far and targets an individual. 

Take a zero-tolerance stance. If a player harasses their teammate or someone from the opposing side, bench them for the rest of the game. It doesn’t matter if they are superstars — even the best need to learn that respect for others supersedes their innate talent. 

Author Bio:

Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.