Basic Risk Management Guidelines

Soccer is an enjoyable sport for players, family members, coaches and club officers. All are well meaning and work hard to ensure that the players have good experiences in matches and practices. The safety of everyone involved in this great sport is of high importance to the NSYSA Board of Directors and WSYSA. The following are just a few common sense guidelines on how to limit our risk and to protect individuals from accusations of inappropriate behavior while still providing the best protection for our youth players.

WSYSA Risk Management Clearance

You are required to obtain and maintain a valid, up to date Risk Management Clearance through WSYSA.
To apply for either an initial or renewal of an existing Risk Management clearance, we recommend that you do so via your Club/Association Affinity website if they have one.
If not, then please follow the instructions provided by WSYSA here->

Coaches

1. A coach should strive never to be alone with a player that is not his/her own child.

• Always try to have another adult present at any team activity (practices, matches, meetings, etc.).
• Conduct a meeting with all the team parents before conducting the first team practice to inform the parents of this requirement and see if they will assist by ensuring that one of them will always be present at any of the team’s activities.
• A team manager would be a great asset to help ensure this is set up with the other parents on the team.

2. Never leave a player or players unattended while they are under your supervision.

3. Players should be educated not to go to restroom facilities alone, but in a group or at least in pairs.

4. Players should be educated not to play on / climb on nets or goals or use corner flags as javelins or swords.

5. Players shall inform the coach before leaving practice or matches. Parents should inform the coach if their child will be provided transportation by another parent or individual.

6. Coaches need to avoid excessive physical contact with their players. They should also be aware of their player’s space.

7. All individuals that will be interacting with the players on a regular basis must have an RM Clearance (includes youth referees, youth and adult assistants and team managers). Contact your Club RM Coordinator on procedures.

8. Risk Management Applications need to be handled carefully due to the personal information they contain.

9. Information contained on team rosters needs to be protected, controlled or destroyed at the end of each season.

10. With Small Sided matches being refereed by older children, coaches and parents need to be aware of their safety as well.

11. If you see suspicious behavior, report it to the appropriate authority (coach, parent, club officer, police).

12. Goals need to be staked or weighted down whenever they are being used.

Parents

1. Always ensure that another adult is present with the coach at practices and matches.

• A coach should never be placed in a situation to be alone with a player or players. Help protect both the players and the coach.
• Participate in a meeting with the coach and all the team parents before the first team practice to discuss this requirement and see if someone will ensure that another adult will always be present at any of the team’s activities.
• A team manager would be a great asset to help ensure this is set up with the other parents on the team.

2. All individuals that will be interacting with the players on a regular basis must have an RM Clearance (includes youth referees, youth and adult assistants and team managers). Contact your Club RM Coordinator on procedures.

3. Parents need to pick up their children on time after practices and matches.

4. Parents should inform the coach if their child will be provided transportation by another parent or individual.

5. Parents should not leave their children at practices or matches until the coach has arrived.

6. Parents should keep track of younger siblings at practices and matches.

7. With Small Sided matches being refereed by older children, coaches and parents need to be aware of their safety as well.

8. Players should be educated not to go to restroom facilities alone, but in a group or at least in pairs.

9. Players and siblings should be educated not to play on / climb on nets or goals or use corner flags as javelins or swords.

10. Players shall inform the coach before leaving practice or matches.

11. If you see suspicious behavior, report it to the appropriate authority (coach, parent, club officer, police).

Players

1. Players shall inform the coach before leaving practice or matches.

2. Players should not go to restroom facilities alone, but in a group or at least in pairs.

3. Players should not play on / climb on nets or goals or use corner flags as javelins or swords.

4. If you see suspicious behavior, report it to the appropriate authority (coach, parent, club officer, police).

Again, these are some common sense guidelines to help protect all. Help us keep everyone safe and able to enjoy this wonderful sport. Please support your coaches and clubs by adhering to these very basic requests.

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