Protecting Your Kids

Risk Management & Team Administration

Your team includes more than just the players. The real "Team" includes the players, coaches and families. Your role as a coach is to organize and involve the parents as much as possible in team activities. This will benefit not only the players and the team but also will help make coaching much easier.

• Would you let one of your U5 players go to the restroom unescorted?
• What would you do to supervise the other 7 players on your team when a player is injured and needs medical attention?
• Should you leave a player waiting at the field for their ride home?
• Should you wait by yourself with a player who is waiting on a ride?

These questions show the need to have parental involvement in the running of your team. A parent should always be present at practice to assist with tasks that require supervision. Children should not go to the restroom unescorted. Someone needs to care for the rest of the team when medical attention is required by one of your players. Players should be supervised up till the time they are picked up by their family. A coach should also be aware of which family members are allowed to pickup a player.

A team meeting prior to the start of the season is a good time to organize a schedule for parents to volunteer to be at practice. We always have a schedule for snacks and drinks, why not a schedule to assist with team supervision. The team meeting is also a when you might ask the parents to speak with you privately if their child has a medical condition in the event the child has a problem and the parents are not present. Always carry a roster with contact phone numbers for notification.

Explain to your parents that at the younger ages the parents should walk the player to the field and pick them up at the field. Younger players should not be wandering around the parking lot trying to find their ride. Also explain to the parents that you are volunteering as a coach but baby-sitting after practice is over is very expensive. Ask them to be present when practice is over if they are unable to stay for the practice.

Remember, "Protect your Kids", because when you're the coach they're all your kids!