How can you become more proactive as a youth sports coach in protecting your team and yourself from injury and other risks? As National Youth Sports Week 2025 has come to an end, we want to send our coaches off with seven action items to take and directly apply to their team to create a safer sporting environment.
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Brush up on signs and symptoms of a concussion with a training course.
It is important to be able to identify the signs of a concussion early on to prevent further damage to players. Some of these signs may include confusion, difficulty concentrating, slowed reaction times, unsteadiness, behavior changes, or vomiting. It is critical to review the list of all signs, including signs of life-threating brain injuries that require immediate emergency treatment. And remember, concussions occur both on and off the field of play, but they require the same level of treatment either way.
We recommend taking one of these highly regarded and widely used online training courses:
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Ensure all team members have medical clearance (physicals) ideally before the season starts.
Ensuring all team members have medical clearance through physicals is a critical step in reducing injuries and liability. These evaluations help identify underlying medical conditions that could put athletes at risk during physical activity. Requiring physicals before the season starts is a great way for coaches to demonstrate a proactive commitment to their team’s safety and aligns with many school and league policies and also helps provide protection from a liability perspective. These physicals can also give valuable insight into any necessary accommodation or limitations for individual players, allowing for safer practice planning and more inclusive participation. Ultimately, this step reinforces a culture of responsibility and preparedness that benefits both athletes and coaching staff.
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Set time to properly stretch, warm up and cool down.
A simple way to reduce injury is to set aside time during each practice and game for proper warm up and cool down that stretches the full body, with an emphasis on muscles used during practice. Team warmups with dynamic stretches can prepare the mind and body for work by increasing mobility, flexibility, blood flow, coordination, and reaction time. Team cool downs with static stretches can decrease tightness, flush out lactic acid, and help athletes mentally decompress.
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Promote positive coaching, respect, and teamwork.
Promoting positive coaching, respect, and teamwork helps create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that reduces emotional, behavioral, and reputational risks. By modeling encouragement and fair play, it can foster mutual respect among players, which minimizes conflicts, bullying, and disciplinary issues. Teaching teamwork builds unity and communication skills, leading to better on-field collaboration and off-field camaraderie. These values not only enhance athlete development and enjoyment but also strengthen trust with parents and league officials—protecting a coach’s role and reputation while contributing to a healthier, more successful team culture.
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Consider requiring release of liability waivers.
Many organizations require players and/or their guardians to sign a release of liability waiver to participate in events. Coaches should take time to check their roster and ensure that their organization's policies and procedures regarding release of liability waivers are followed. This proactive step can help mitigate losses to a coach and organization.
If your organization does not currently utilize a release of liability waiver, we recommend reviewing this sample waiver with legal counsel as a starting point.
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Be prepared at practice and at games with proper medical equipment.
Prepare for injury with a first aid kit. Ensure there is always quick access to a kit that includes these essentials at a minimum:
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- Adhesive bandages
- Gauze
- Athletic tape
- Antiseptic cleaner
- Instant cold pack
- Latex or nitrile gloves
- CPR face mask
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Disposal bag
- Emergency contact information for all participants
The kit should be checked for empty or expired supplies regularly and restocked as needed. We recommend that each coach completes first aid and CPR certifications if they do not currently have them up to date, so they know how to properly utilize the supplies in an emergency.
The facility address for each game or practice should be known in case 911 must be called. If a facility is equipped with an AED, a coach should be aware of the location and be able to access the AED if needed.
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Comply with Safe Sport Laws.
Coaches and organizations play a critical role in fostering safe and supportive environments for youth athletes, which is why understanding and adhering to the Safe Sport law is essential. This legislation was designed to prevent abuse and misconduct in youth sports by establishing clear guidelines for appropriate conduct.
One key provision is the avoidance of unsupervised one-on-one interactions between adults and minors, which significantly reduces the risk of inappropriate behavior and false allegations. By implementing policies that require visibility and accountability—such as conducting meetings in open spaces or ensuring another adult is present—coaches and organizations not only protect the youth in their care but also safeguard themselves legally and ethically. Awareness and compliance with Safe Sport standards demonstrate a commitment to athlete well-being and help build trust within the community.
Learn more about the Safe Sport law and find sample policies and procedures here: Our Policies and Procedures | U.S. Center for SafeSport.
These seven items for consideration are recommended for all youth sports coaches to minimize risk for themselves, their teams, and organizations. Even after reviewing these considerations, further measures may be necessary. Each sport has its own risk management best practices that reflect the specific activities and operations involved. For outdoor sports, for instance, coaches should have contingency plans for extreme weather and heat, as well as become proficient in recognizing symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Be diligent this season to keep your youth sports team healthy and at play!
This article was created for educational purposes to share general information. Consult a licensed professional in your state when seeking advice. See your policy or agent to view your specific terms, conditions, coverage, exclusions, products, services, and programs.