Back

INJURY TO ATHLETE

• Medical Aspects and Safety

Responsibilities

Injuries to athletes will occur in interscholastic athletics at all levels regardless of the precautions such as safe playing conditions, proper coaching techniques, the best safety equipment and the required warnings of injury.  Realizing this fact, it is recommended that, whenever possible, the Blaine School District provide supervision to cover all varsity football games/practices and will be available until 4:15pm Monday through Friday for other athletic activities with a NATA certified athletic trainer.

• The athletic trainer, when present, will have the responsibility of administering to all injured athletes and making the proper recommendations.
• In the event the athletic trainer is not present, the coach in charge of the activity will assume the responsibility.  He/she must be prepared to recognize and properly administer first aid or refer injured players to the appropriate medical personnel.
• No member of the coaching staff should exceed his/her capability or scope of responsibility and attempt to diagnose or treat an injury.  Because athletes will have injuries, the coach must understand first aid and be ready to administer it.  In addition to knowing what to do, he/she should know what not to do.
• It is the responsibility of the coach in charge of a team to have a complete sanitary first aid kit at every practice and contest.

• Emergency Procedures
• Check for consciousness and vital signs (breathing, bleeding and pulse); look for abnormally displaced or misshaped body parts.  If athlete is unconscious, assume injured athlete may have a spinal injury.
• Take appropriate steps to control excessive bleeding.
• Movement of the injured athlete should be kept to a minimum
• Keep the injured athlete as warm and comfortable as possible, except with heat related illnesses.
• When there is any question as to the extent, seriousness or nature of the injury by the athletic trainer/coach, seek professional medical help immediately.
• Notify the parents of the injured athlete immediately.
• Parents should assume the responsibility of contacting the family physician for any injury.  However, the coach or athletic trainer should recommend this as a routine procedure.
• Less serious injuries – have parents provide transportation for necessary medical attention.
• In more serious injuries and professional medical help is not readily available, the emergency squad should be called.
• If an Emergency Squad is needed call 911.
• The athletes’ home and work phone numbers, other contact person, preferred physician and preferred hospital are listed on the “Emergency Medical Authorization” card that is carried at all time n the teams’ medical kit.
• If the parents are not available, a member of the coaching staff will accompany the athlete to seek the necessary medical attention.  The Emergency Medical Authorization card will be taken to the treatment facility by the coach or athletic trainer.  The coach or athletic trainer should continue to try to contact the parents.
• Notify parents of all noticeable injuries, illnesses, infections, etc.  The parent should always make contact with the family physician.

• Accident/Injury Report Procedures
• Reporting Procedures
• The athletic trainer/coach will complete the “Athletic Injury Report’ form immediately following all athletic injuries or accidents that involve any student under their supervision during a practice, contest or while traveling to or from a contest.
• The form shall be turned into the athletic director’s office the following day.  The coach or athletic trainer should retain one copy. 
• Copies of the report will be immediately given to the principal and sent to the district office.
• Coaches should follow-up on all injures by attempting to make personal contact with the parent(s).
• Return to Participation
• Athletes that have been out of action for a time because of illness or injury, and were under the treatment of the athletic trainer or family physician, must have a written statement allowing return to competition.

• Procedures on Prevention and Care of Injury
• Training Room
• Appropriate policies should be set and opportunities provided for use of the training room vby male and female athletes.
• The athletic trainer shall set the guidelines for use of the training room and post a schedule of the assigned student trainers to individual teams and training room duty.
• The head coach of the in-season sport shall work with the athletic trainer to maintain cleanliness and orderliness in the training room.
• Coaches will instruct athletes concerning rules and regulations for the use of the training room.

• Special Precautions for Temperature Extremes (heat exhaustion and heat stroke).  Practice and competitions are frequently conducted in very warm and humid weather.  Under such conditions, special precautions must be observed to avoid cramps and heat fatigue, heat exhaustion and /or heat stroke.

Heat fatigue dulls the athlete’s skills and alertness and makes him/her susceptible to leg cramps and injury.  The other two heat conditions can result in serious harm and even death.  All are preventable.

As coaches and athletic trainers, we need to be aware of how ot prevent heat-related sickness during preseason football practice.

Dehydration is the main problem associated with exercising in hot weather.  Football players who do not replace their fluid loss may lose 15-20 pounds during the course of a double-day practice session.  Thus, continuous fluid replacement is essential to maintain normal physiological funtion.

Below are listed a number of items that you, as a coach or athletic trainier, can do to prevent heat stress problems.

• Practice during the cooler part of the day – if possible, early morning or late afternoon.  Consider temperature and relative humidity.
• Allow athletes to remove as much clothing as possible to expose more surface area.  For example, raise jerseys and remove helmets when not involved in play and during rest sessions.
• Limit practice sessions to two hours or less.
• Know the physical condition of your athletes before you start your training program.  Test them if possible.
• The human being, unlike other animals, will drink enough to satisfy thirst, but not enough to replace all fluid loss.  Stress the importance of heavy fluid intake before and between practice sessions to ensure that your athletes will report to the next session well-hydrated.
• Drink cold water using the following strategy:
• Two hours before practice – 34 ounces
• Fifteen minutes before practice – 13 – 17 ounces
• Every 30 minutes during practice on hot and/or humid heavy practice days – 13 – 17 ounces.
• After practice – 5-6 glasses of fluid.  Electrolyte drinks are best used before and after practice, when gastric emptying is less important.  Also, it’s sometimes difficult to get athletes to drink adequate amounts of plain water – electrolyte drinks are a better-tasting alternative.
• Carefully monitor overweight and light-complexion athletes, as they are more susceptible to heat stress.
• Do not deny any athlete water

• Head Injuries

In the event that a head injury occurs, the following procedure should be used:

• Assess for other injuries before moving athlete
• Lay athlete down preferable on their side with the face slightly downward.
• Secure an adequate air passage by allowing the tongue to fall forward.
• Call 911
• Call the parents.  Information regarding the parent’s phone numbers, physician, etc. should always be in the coach’s notebook at practice, on the field, and at games.

When a head injury occurs, the coach should follow these general principles:

• If the athlete is temporarily dazed or shaken, keep them out of the game or practice until assured that they are rested and clear; continue to observe their behavior for the remainder of the game or practice.
• If concussion has occurred and there has been a period of unconsciousness, even though brief, remove the athlete from the game or practice and do not permit him/her to return.  Do not allow participation in further practices or games until written clearance has been secured room the athlete’s physician.
• Notify the parent by phone.
• Complete the Accident Report Form.

SPORTSMANSHIP

Sportsmanship plays an integral part of Interscholastic Athletics.  It is the expectation of Blaine High School, and more specifically the Athletic Department, that everyone in the Blaine community will conform to and demonstrate good sportsmanship and fair play during all athletic contests.  We feel it is important that our athletes, coaches and fans behave in a positive manner in the arena of competition.  We believe it is important to conduct ourselves in an honest, straightforward manner, respecting our teammates, respecting our opponents, and respecting the officials.

The onus of sportsmanship within an athletic program falls on the head coach.  He/she must lead by example and stress the importance of sportsmanship to his/her players.  It is inappropriate for a player to taunt an opponent, trash talk, use obscene jesters, etc. in the course of an athletic event.  If any unsportsmanlike behavior is preformed by an athlete, the head coach is responsible for any discipline and the Athletic Director needs to be notified of the situation.

PARENT’S ROLE IN SPORTSMANSHIP

Since the concept of athletics should be educational in nature, it is important that all parents demonstrate good sportsmanship and serve as role models for our students and athletes.  Sportsmanship involves a commitment to fair play, ethical behavior, and integrity.  This means that:

• Vulgar and inappropriate language from fans is not tolerated nor permitted.
• Taunting or trash talking with opponents or with their fans is not tolerated.
• Spectators will not leave the bleachers or step onto the court or field of play during a game or contest.
• Fans should be supportive and positive.  Cheering will be done for our team, not against our opponent.
• Fans will not interfere with the opponent’s cheerleaders preventing them from leading their cheers.
• Fans will let officials officiate the game and coaches coach the game