Risk Mangement of Athletes

Risk Management of Athletes

Risk Mangement of Athletes

The nature of sports often requires that participants engage in activities that result in physical contact.

However, some injuries sustained by players may not necessarily only be the result of an accidental or unintentional act of the opposing player.

Risk Mangement of Athletes

Sport officials (coaches and team or club managers) by their act or omissions may also contribute directly or indirectly to injuries sustained by athletes.

Sport officials have a duty of care to athletes

duty of care owed by sports officials to athletes requires that officials "…must take reasonable care to avoid acts and omissions which (he or she) can reasonably foresee would injure" the athlete.

Risk Mangement of Athletes

Sport officials have a duty of care to athletes

The Sunday Times, 12 Jan ‘97

Risk Mangement of Athletes

Duty of Care

The expected standard of care is one of aprudent official.

- reasonably foresee potential harm to athletes.

Risk Mangement of Athletes

Duty of Care

♦Duty to enforce rules

A referee or umpire is expected to ensure compliance with the rules of the game.

Risk Mangement of Athletes

Duty of Care♦Duty to enforce rules

Player injured when scrum collapsed - neck dislocatedLaws persistently contravened and ignoredTouch judge had warned referee that unless he does something, someone in front row will be hurt

Risk Mangement of Athletes

Duty of Care

•Duty to protect participants

duty to protect athletes from any external factors that may could compromise their safety. These include:a) Adverse weather conditionsb) Poor conditioned or inferior equipmentc) Spectators invasion of pitch and violence

Risk Mangement of Athletes

Duty of Care

•Duty to protect participants

2 Malaysians players hospitalised. % injured

Attacked by ~ 100 Nepalese fans who invaded the pitch

Malaysian players attacked fan after he picked up ball after Nepal’s equaliser.

Risk Mangement of Athletes

Duty of Care

♦Duty to anticipate reasonably foreseeable dangers

Officials are responsible to present a safe playing condition for the game. Pre-game inspection of the pitch, court or arena is essential to detect deficiencies in the play area.

Risk Mangement of Athletes

The Three Elements of Negligence

Three elements must be present before negligence can be established :

i) the existence of a duty of care, ii) a breach of the duty of care,iii) damage suffered by the breach of that duty of care.

Risk Mangement of Athletes

Risk Management

Risk management is the reduction of loss by identifying risk levels, assessing the likelihood of loss and formulating mechanisms to reduce or eliminate such loss. Some of the potential risk factors in relation to athletes are:

Injuries from playHarm from poor physical conditionHarm from hazardous environmental conditionsHarm travelling from and to the competition venueAssault from opponentsAssault from spectators