Safety Guidelines
Coaches Requirements to Ensure Player Safety
To ensure player safety, Coaches are required to abide by the following rules during training and games:
- never leave a player alone after training or games
- be certain that players depart with their parents or a designated individual
- avoid being left alone with players who are not your children
Coaches also must follow the safety measures below:
- proper use of equipment (proper fitting shoes, proper type of shoe for playing surface, wearing of shin guards, no jewelry, etc.)
- upkeep and monitoring of playing surface (check for glass, sharp objects, holes, etc.)
- make sure another adult is present
- where applicable, make sure goals and other field equipment is secure
- provide frequent water breaks
- have a first aid kit and ice available
- schedule training during cool periods of the day
- carry a phone and emergency info
- training should not put children in danger or prone to injuries
Please review the following guidelines to help prevent player injury:
Concussion Protocol
It is required that all Babylon Soccer Club Coaches complete a concussion awareness course prior to the start of the season.
Babylon Soccer Club recommends all parents and requires all coaches to review and be familiar with the information on the ENY Soccer Concussion Pocket Card.
If a concussion is suspected by a Coach at any point during play, the player must be removed from play (if they are able to be moved) immediately. They will not be able to return to play until medically cleared by a Doctor. In addition, to prevent injury to players, ENYYSA has adopted a “no heading” rule for U11 and under. Details below:
ENYYSA Concussion Protocol
The following will be effective Jan 1, 2016:
US Soccer Player Safety Campaign – Tournaments – Concussions
If you run a tournament that is 2 days or more, in length, with more than 64 teams older than Under 10, it is recommended that your tournament have a MD, DO, or Athletic Trainer, who is certified in concussions, available for diagnosis of the player.
Substitution Rules for Players Suspected of having a concussion in a League or Club based tournament
If a player is suspected of having a concussion, by the referees, team official, or league officials, the player will be withdrawn from the game immediately.
That player’s card will be retained by the referee with a notation made on the lineup card. A notification of possible concussion form will be completed. The player’s card will be sent by the tournament director to the league office where the player is registered, along with the notification of possible concussion form, immediately after the tournament.
Once the league office receives a medical clearance from a Health Care Professional (MD, DO, or athletic trainer who is certified in concussions) the player pass should be mailed back to the coach via express mail, within 24 hours, with a copy of the correspondence to the parents.
Substitution Rules for Players Suspected of having a concussion in a League Match
If a player is suspected of having a concussion, by the referees, team officials, or league officials, the player will be withdrawn from the game immediately.
That player’s card will be retained by the referee. A notation made on the lineup card, and that card and player pass sent to the League office, along with the notification of possible concussion form, immediately after the game.
Once the league received a medical clearance from a Health Care Professional (MD, DO, or athletic trainer who is certified in concussions) the player pass should be mailed back to the coach via express mail, on the next business day, with a copy of the correspondence to the parents.
ENYYSA Heading Guidelines
As of March 16, 2016, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) issued the following implementation guidelines for U.S. Soccer’s Recognize to Recover Player Safety Campaign, specifically as it relates to concussion initiatives and heading for youth players.
US Soccer is recommending, and Eastern New York is immediately requiring, new rules as it relates to heading, as follows:
- Players in Under-11 programs and younger shall not engage in heading, either in practices or in games. Referees have been instructed by US Soccer of the following rule addition in the Under-11 age group and younger:
When a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. If a player does not deliberately head the ball, then play should continue.
- Limited heading in practice for players in Under-12 and Under-13 programs. More specifically, these players shall be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes of heading training per week, with no more than 15-20 headers per player, per week.
- Clubs should be aware of circumstances in which individual consideration is needed. For example:
–– A 10-year-old playing at Under-12 should not head the ball at all
–– A 11- or 12-year-old playing at Under-14 should abide by the heading restrictions in practice
- Referees should enforce these restrictions by age group according to the specified rules. Referees will not be assessing the age of individual players on the field; they will enforce the rules for the age group.
- Leagues and organizations are free to set their own standards, as long as the minimum requirements outlined above are met.
Full details on this policy are located on the ENY Soccer website.
Heat Stress Guidelines
United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Youth heat stress guidelines provide suggestions for preventing the potentially dangerous and sometimes deadly effects of playing in hot or humid conditions.
The U.S. Soccer Federation has developed the acronym – G.O.A.L. – which stands for:
- Get acclimated – bodies need time to gradually adapt to increased exposure to high temperatures and humidity (especially young athletes)
- On schedule drinking- Youth athletes should be encouraged to drink on a schedule before they become thirsty, and should drink before, during and after practice and games
- Always bring a sports drink- replacing electrolytes and providing energy is crucial to keeping kids safe and performing at their best
- Learn the signs – if someone becomes unusually fatigued, dizzy, and nauseous or has a headache during exercise in the heat, have them stop, rest and drink fluids
As one of the best means to preventing heat illness, The U.S. Soccer Federation recommends parents and coaches ensure children are well hydrated before practice and games. During activity, young athletes should drink on a schedule; because thirst is not an accurate indicator of fluid needs, athletes should drink before they become thirsty. The Federation plans to incorporate the Heat Illness and Hydration Guidelines into its already existing coaches’ curriculum, reaching thousands of youth soccer coaches across the country.
Cold Weather Guidelines
Cold Weather Recommendations for Clubs from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA)
