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Table ofContents

About Your NYSCA Membership Effectively Dealing with Parents Building Self-Esteem & Confidence Sportsmanship Coaching TipsStrength & Conditioning Your NYSCA Online Membership First Aid & Injuries Legal Game Plan Code of Ethics Defined Code of Ethics Initial Level Exam What’s Next?

© 2010 National Alliance for Youth Sports

National Youth Sports Coaches Association

2050 Vista ParkwayWest Palm Beach, Florida 33411(561) 684-1141 1-800-729-2057

NAYS.ORGa program of

About Your NYSCA Membership

Initial Level Program requirements:Participation in a two part NYSCA interactive video training clinic (Viewing of the Introduction to Coaching Youth Sports video and sport specific video)Signing of the NYSCA Code of Ethics PledgeCompletion of the Initial Level Exam

Adding an Additional Sport:If you choose to coach in another sport within the same year, you simply need to attend a clinic to view the sports specific video for the additional sport and sign the Coaches Code of Ethics Pledge. If you attend a live additional sport clinic, you do not need to retake the exam nor pay an additional fee. You may add another sport to your membership through the NYSCA Online Clinics website for only $5. Visit www.nays.org/nyscaonlineclinics for information.

NYSCA Initial Level Member Benefits:$1,000,000 liability insurance policyHigh quality membership card with key tagA subscription to SportingKid Magazine Monthly E-NewsletterPersonalized NYSCA Coach Member Page

Continuing Membership Program (2nd year and beyond):Prior to your membership’s expiration date, you will receive a membership renewal notice sent from the NAYS national office. To continue your membership, you simply resign the Coaches Code of Ethics Pledge and remit the annual $20 membership fee. You may renew your membership by mail, online at www.nays.org or by contacting NYSCA Member Services at (800) 729-2057 to renew by phone.

Continuing Member Benefits:Excess liability insurance increased to $2,000,000$250,000 excess accident/medical insurance High quality membership card with key tagA subscription to SportingKid Magazine E-NewsletterPersonalized NYSCA Coach Member Page

Access to your NYSCA Coach Member Page is available after your clinic’s paperwork has been received and processed by the NAYS National Office.

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What it means to be an NYSCA member coach...Becoming an NYSCA member does not indicate that you are qualified in the sense of a paid coach on the high school, college or professional level. By virtue of you attending the NYSCA Training Program conducted by a qualified Clinician, NYSCA Headquarters certifies that you have been trained in your responsibilities to children in sports. Specifically:

Responsibility for being aware of the psychological and emotional needs of children while participating in sports.Responsibility for knowing that safety and first-aid care are the most important factors in the well-being of children and that at all times a person of authority (physician, paramedic, etc.) should be called to treat any kind of injury.Responsibility for being aware that conditioning, nutrition, flexibility and strength development are important factors in children playing sports.Responsibility that to the best of your ability you will teach the proper sports techniques that are age-appropriate to the children you are coaching.Finally, by signing the NYSCA Coaches’ Code of Ethics Pledge, you are reminded that in youth sports the consideration of the children should be placed above all and that as an NYSCA volunteer coach you are held accountable through the NYSCA Accountability and Enforcement Policies.

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E f f e c t i v e l y D e a l i n g W i t h P a r e n t s

Open communication is the key when it comes to successfully dealing with parents. That’s why it’s helpful to conduct a preseason meeting where you can introduce yourself, put to ease parental fears, discuss the goals of the program and explain what you expect of the parents.

INTrOduCe YOur ASSISTANT COACheS It’s important to parents to know who the coaches are and to know a little about each of them. This helps make the parents more comfortable with who is supervising their children.

explAIN YOur COAChINg phIlOSOphYLet parents know your coaching philosophy revolves around equal playing time for every child. Stress that helping kids learn and develop skills while having fun is far more important than how many games the team wins.

revIew The prACTICe ANd gAme SCheduleParents need to plan for this and other family events. A review of the practice and game schedule is very much appreciated by the parents, but the appreciation is easily lost if you don’t make every effort to stick as close to the schedule as possible.

dISCuSS equIpmeNT NeedSParents need your advice on the kind of equipment they should purchase for their child, along with recommendations on size and fit. Common sense doesn’t always work in this area which is evident when a parent buys a huge glove or bat that the child may “grow into.” The same thing occurs with shoes, pads, and even balls. The parent will look to you as the expert in the area of equipment needs for their child.

eSTAblISh A rAINY dAY pOlICYIf it rains before, during or after practice, you can eliminate tremendous confusion and establish an understood procedure that will provide a safe situation for all the players. Parents need to know exactly what to do in the event of rain – email, phone call?

pICk A TeAm pAreNTA team parent is someone who will assist the team with duties that can be relieved from the coach’s responsibilities. For example, helping with phone calls, arranging for water, ice, after game treats, post season picnic or pizza party, etc. This individual can be of tremendous help and allow the coaches more time to work with the kids.

COACh evAluATIONS Inform the parents of the online NYSCA Coaching Rating System and request to be evaluated. Send them to the NAYS website at www.nays.org and ask them to click on the Rate Your Coach link. You will need to give the parents your NYSCA member number to be evaluated. Let them know you will only see overall results and not have access to individual names or evaluations. You will be amazed by how much their honest evaluation will help you be the best coach you can be.

Finish your meeting by letting them know you have an open door policy, and if at anytime during the season they have a question or concern, you’ll be happy to discuss it with them.

Self-Esteem & ConfidenceAs an NYSCA coach you are in a unique position to influence the children on your team in so many important ways beyond their athletic development. A healthy and positive self-concept is necessary to achieve success in both sport and life. Consequently, it is imperative to have positive self-esteem and confidence. Self-esteem refers to a person’s critical self-evaluations while confi-dence concerns a belief that one possesses the necessary skills to succeed at a specific task. The words you choose – and how you choose to deliver them – can pack quite a punch in boosting confidence and self-esteem, or smothering it. Rely on the following tips to make sure that your impact on your players’ confidence and self-esteem is a positive and uplifting one:

~ Greet the children individually by name upon their arrival at practice or a game. Tell them that you are glad to see them. This will make the child feel both welcomed and special.

~ Children must know that they will be accepted as people with no conditions attached. The coach must separate the child’s athletic success from his or her value as a person. The coach should talk to the children and be a good listener.

~ Emphasize to the children that they should expect only their (relaxed) best - not what others expect of themselves. It is important for children to learn to expect of themselves only the best they can give.

~ Teach the children to use statements that make them feel good about themselves and to think positively (referred to as positive self-talk). Set aside some practice time during which the children say things to themselves like “I feel good,” “I like myself” or “I’m a good person.” It is important to have the children develop their own self-statements because children will not take ownership of scripted phrases developed by others, leaving these statements less effective. Child-developed positive affirmations, once internalized, will likely increase a child’s self-image.

~ For many reasons, some children feel awkward or self-conscious, lack body coordination, or are shy. Every child is different and all need and deserve that extra little bit of consideration. The supportive attitudes of coaches, other children, and parents will help such children feel important and valued. Give participants with lesser talent leadership roles as these roles may help these players develop additional confidence in their abilities.

~ Never chastise a child either privately or publicly. If discipline is necessary, be firm yet positive. Also, be aware of your body language. Gestures and/or facial expressions convey messages. Make a point to be positive before negative whenever criticizing a child’s performance.

Developing SELF-ESTEEM:~ A child may say “I can’t do this” or they may be afraid to try particular skills or activities. In such cases, it may be necessary to devise some drills that the child succeeds at and, thus, gives the child the confidence to take new risks. It is important to place children in positions where they can succeed. For instance, asking a first-year baseball player to pitch the first game may set this child up for failure which may have a long-term negative effect .

~ Children do not need a sport system based on the “all or-nothing” principle. They require a progressive system that gives them the opportunity to participate and to learn and grow through sport. There is a great deal of variety that can be used in designing such a system. It requires only the will of our sport leaders to design it and the patience of our coaches to implement it.

~ Teach in progressive steps. For instance, when teaching children to pass in soccer, make sure that they can pass successfully before making it more difficult with a defender. When the defender is in position, he or she should offer only passive resistance before progressing to active resistance or trying to steal the ball.

~ Cite examples of successful athletes who had problems in sports when they were children. If there is a successful athlete in the area, have him or her come and talk to the children. For example, if a child is awkward because of being tall, you might mention a successful athlete who had the same experiences as a child.

~ Help children remember their previous successful experiences. Instead of dwelling on the negative, get them to think about the positive. This can be a difficult task because negative life experiences develop powerful memories. Help the children develop and recall positive experiences as well.

~ Make certain that the children are prepared. Many young athletes feel a lack of confidence because they feel unprepared for the task at hand. Thus, it is important to provide the children with the opportunity to adequately practice their sport prior to engaging in competitions.

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Developing CONFIDENCE:

Sportsmanship

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TeachingYou want your entire team – and its parents – to model good sportsmanship at all times, regardless of the score of the game or what type of call an official made. NYSCA coaches understand the importance of being a team that others in the league strive to emulate each time out. The following are some tips on teaching sportsmanship:

hold parent meetings to reinforce the importance of players having fun, displaying good sportsmanship and cooperating with others.

Take the time to point out examples of both good and poor sportsmanship by professional or college athletes and discuss their behavior with the team.

recognize ethical behavior and good sportsmanship. Following games point out displays of good sportsmanship by your players to help continually reinforce its importance.

Teach athletes to be responsible for their own behavior.

Support officials and field directors in their efforts to control the games and stop any game that is out of control.

educate your players about the rules and the “spirit” of the rules.

Stress fair play, civility and common decency toward opponents and officials.

Control problems early and let fans and players know that there are consequences for unacceptable behavior.

let your athletes know that mistakes are an important part of learning and that losing, as well as winning, is a part of the game.

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define winning as doing your best at all times.

Teach your team the importance of being gracious in both victory and defeat.

Never allow yourself, or anyone else, to discriminate against or make fun of athletes based on their race, gender, body type, ability, disability, nationality, religion, accent, appearance or economic level.

permit and encourage co-ed play when competencies are similar, but insist on separate but equal treatment for girls when opportunities for play are unequal.

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As an NYSCA CoACh you have a responsibility of making sure that all of your players benefit from their time with you at every practice – because that is where the bulk of the learning and skill development takes place. Children will continue to play a sport if it is fun for them. And the best way to make it fun is by teaching them the skills that they need to be successful.

You can help ensure that your practices are fun and engaging by taking time each week to devise sessions in advance that are aimed at meeting your players’ ever-changing needs. The following are some tips to help you map out quality practices each time out with your team:

Limit practice sessions to no more than one hour a day and three days a week through the age of 12 and not more than 1½ hours and four days a week through the age of 16.Take the time to plan every practice well in advance. Valuable practice time should not be wasted figuring out your next moves while the players are standing around waiting on you.It is always better to plan for too much rather than not enough activities to fill your practices. Have several drills ready to go as back-ups in case any of the drills you have planned don’t work out as well as you had hoped. This way you can change a drill quickly without surrendering any practice time. Inform your assistants of their duties before the practice is scheduled to begin. Taking time to teach them a drill or explain what you want them to do during a practice takes time away from the players and creates the perception that the assistants are really not part of the coaching staff.Begin practice with the arrival of the first player. This often means that you will be working one-on-one with that youngster, but you will be surprised how many players will begin arriving early to receive your one-on-one attention.Use the same sequence for your warm-up at every practice. This helps the team organize themselves for the warm-up exercises and the late arrivals will know exactly what they missed and easily pick up where you are in the sequence.The purpose of warm-up is to prepare the body for more intense activity so choose warm-up drills that reflect the sport and the skills required. Keep your best players from always pairing up during warm-up drills. Besides limiting the growth of the less-skilled players it also creates opportunities for cliques to form that can be negative for the team.Provide as many repetitions of the basic skills as possible and make up games using those skills. Relays and other low-key competitions work well for skill development while keeping it fun and interesting.Stop the activity at the peak of the excitement. Ending on a high note will have players looking forward to performing the activity again at a future practice.Teach basic fundamentals in a three-step progression. Learn the top three key components comprising a particular skill and teach each of those in the proper progressionMinimize lecture and listening time - your players will progress quicker by performing skills over and over.Discipline problems are minimized if players are kept active. When discipline is required, do so by removing them from the activity and sitting them down for a period of time. Once the discipline is over have them return to play and welcome them back. Use lots of positive reinforcement. When athletes don’t see improvement immediately, they often become frustrated. If you show a negative reaction they will sense you are disappointed as well, adding to their feelings of failure. Always find something positive and encouraging to say to spur their development.Be patient, encouraging and maintain a sense of humor. Remember, it’s just a game.

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Tips for Organizing QUALITY Practices:

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Co A C h I N g T I P S !

For More Tips and Access to Lots of Great Practice Information Log in to Your Member Page at www.nays.org!

One of the most important elements of being a good coach is being able to teach. Good teaching means presenting information clearly and correctly, giving children time to practice, and giving them feedback on how well they performed. In youth sports, this should all be done with a positive and calm demeanor.

Once children are proficient at a skill incorporate competitive games into the session to further challenge them. Plus, this is a good way to add more fun to your practice.

If children are playing games that involve both offensive and defensive maneuvers, use the following progression when they are learning skills:

practice the skill at a set position.practice the skill while moving.practice the skill with no opposition.practice the skill with opposition.

While children are practicing, analyze their execution and give verbal feedback. Whenever necessary, stop practice to clarify the execution of the skill in a positive manner.

When giving feedback, first point out what was done correctly, then point out specific errors and ways to correct them, and then conclude with a positive comment.

Always be positive! Being harsh or critical isn’t necessary for learning and it’s not fun for children.

If possible, use a video camera on occasion. This is an excellent way of letting children see themselves performing a skill, and works great for giving them feedback. Plus, it also adds a fun element to the practice.

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Teaching Skills Developing Skills, Tactics and Strategies

As a youth coach it’s important that you develop the ability to identify both efficient and inefficient performances of the basic skills of the sport and be able to analyze and correct errors. This assists your players in the basic skill development necessary so that they’ll be able to perform these skills in a competitive setting.

breAk The TASk dOwN One way to help you develop this skill is to break every fundamental down to three basic components: Breaking the task down, analyzing it and making corrective suggestions to assist the player in developing the skill. Every sport is comprised of essential fundamental skills that must be honed and practiced continually. Coaches should stay focused on teaching the basics and building players’ knowledge and skill level by increasing the difficulty of drills only after each step of the skill is mastered in logical progression.

kNOw The ruleS Coaches must become students of the game and learn all the rules, as well as become familiar with the rule book the league uses. Teaching the rules to your players is essential in the skill development process. Also, never assume that players know all the rules because when they don’t understand them and how they’re applied it will be a frustrating experience for everyone involved.

ASk YOurSelF – dO The kIdS uNderSTANd YOu? All sports have a unique vocabulary all their own and as the coach it requires that you make sure every child understands what you’re saying. For example, ask the team, “What do I mean when I say to keep your eye on the ball?” Have those who understand answer out loud since that will provide adequate explanation for those who didn’t understand.

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Children With Disabilities Deserve Equal Opportunities

Children with disabilities can be included on any team and experience the joy of playing. The Americans with Disabilities Act says that we are not only obligated to include all kids but that we have the right and responsibility to provide individual accommodations, support and/or adaptations for the child to help them experience success.

A coach’s responsibility includes helping children accept the differences of children with disabilities and to be supportive and answer questions.A coach must demonstrate to the team that accommodations for athletes with disabilities aren’t an advantage.With some creative thought any child should be able to participate in a meaningful way - ask for your players’ help, kids can offer some great suggestions.If a cruel remark is made, react immediately and handle it in a non-embarrassing way for both the child who has the disability and the person who made the remark. Make sure the team rallies around the child with the disability who heard a cruel remark directed at them to immediately reinforce that no one agrees with the remark.

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Co A C h I N g T I P S !

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Strength, Conditioning & Flexibilit yIt’s no secret that kids hate conditioning drills. They can be tedious, boring, and quickly drain the fun out of any practice session. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The secret is to incorporate conditioning into your regular practice plan so that it’s going on but it’s disguised in the drills and activities you are doing to develop skills in your athletes. If you think of your entire practice as a conditioning period, it will become much more game-like in nature. For example, instead of making your basketball team run laps at the end of practice simply divide the team up into groups and have them run a relay race while dribbling a ball through a series of cones. All of a sudden your practice has become much more productive because you have conditioning taking place along with skill development, teamwork, fun and excitement.

Stress the importance of aerobic activity over anaerobic activity to your athletes. Aerobic activity is endurance training which is low to moderate in intensity over a longer period of time; anaerobic training is high intensity, short-term training. For example, cross country runners require aerobic training while sprinters require anaerobic training.

Athletes should not lose more than 2-3 pounds in a week.Remember that different positions of a sport have varying aerobic and anaerobic demands.Athletes need 3-5 days to adjust to their environment during the preseason.If the sport (like football) requires wearing a lot of equipment you should gradually add it during a 3-5 day period. Also, equipment should be removed as the conditions (like heat) dictate.Coaches must be able to select the conditioning program and drills that will prepare the athlete for the stress of competition, keeping in mind that they are dealing with children whose bodies are still developing.The two systems likely to be stressed the most by participation are the cardiovascular and muscular systems.Strenuous activity or exercises that cause pain or are used as punishment (like running laps) has no place in youth sports.

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Conditioning

Children gain more benefits from strength exercises that require them to overcome and control their own body weight than they do from special weights or weight training equipment.Children should do exercises for both upper and lower body strength and do them in moderation.Use games that promote fitness and movement that mimic the sport you are coaching and go through a full range of motion.

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Strength

Developing flexibility in youngsters is important for two reasons: it will make them less likely to be injured and more likely to improve their skills. Also, children who are taught to warm-up and stretch before physical activity will establish good habits that they’ll be likely to follow throughout adulthood. Passive stretching is most beneficial for the child and it’s where the individual slowly moves to the desired position, just slightly beyond discomfort, holds that position for a short period of time, and then relaxes. For example, slowly bending down and touching your toes, counting to eight, then relaxing and returning to an upright position.Avoid any stretching movements that place too much stress or strain on joints.Don’t bend the joint beyond 90 degrees.Avoid deep knee bends, straight leg sit-ups, double straight leg lifts and toe heel raises.Ballistic stretching, which is rapid movement to a desired position, should be avoided because it can cause injury.Flexibility is enhanced through a warm-up period consisting of two phases:

Light imitative aerobic activity to warm muscles – like short range throwing for a baseball player or slow jog for a basketball player.Moderate range of motion movement or stretching to prepare the warmed muscles for activity – like hamstring stretches.

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Flexibility

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Strength, Conditioning & Flexibilit y

Cardiovascular endurance – the cornerstone of fitness and gives children an increased capacity to play and perform.Strength - children benefit more from strength exercises that require them to overcome and control their own body weight than from using weight-training equipment.Flexibility - increased flexibility will increase a child’s range of motion and help prevent injuries caused by overstretching.Agility - required in order to make quick movements at various speeds while maintaining balance.Balance and coordination - demands both the natural development of the neuromuscular system and the ongoing practice of specific movement patterns.

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Nutrition TipsA child’s nutrition may not be controllable by coaches, but you can educate your players about good eating habits and how it can help them perform better.

Kids need to know that poor nutrition habits will compromise their performance.Candy bars are high in fat and are not a good source of immediate energy.Children need to consume carbohydrates (breads, pastas, starchy vegetables, hot cereals) 3-4 hours before participation.Children should avoid greasy hamburgers, french fries, and carbonated colas before practices and games.Good snacks for children are pretzels, unbuttered popcorn, and low-fat crackers.

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The Five Components of Fitness

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Coaches:It’s a whole

NEW ballgame!The National Alliance for Youth Sports, as part of its ongoing efforts to best serve its highly valued members and chapters around the world, is pleased to introduce a comprehensive new Web site. The new site - still found at www.nays.org - provides coaches with instant access to everything they need to ensure a fun-filled and rewarding season for their players.

Visit NAYS.ORG to find out more! It’s free for members!!

NYSCA members get FREE access to a

personalized web page - you just have to log in!

The official member publication of

the National Alliance for Youth Sports

Get your child

Get your child

rready for the

eady for the

season ahead

season ahead

A Healthy Athlete’s Game Plan from

MARCH/APRIL 2007

www.nays.org

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ONCe YOu reCeIve YOur memberShIp INFOrmATION, lOg IN AT www.NAYS.Org

SkIllS ANd drIllS - Before your next practice be sure to visit the NYSCA training zone to access more than 100 animated drills. The section also features a variety of drills from the Coaching For Dummies books that you can print out and take to your practices to use as a handy reference while working with your players.

COAChINg FOrum - Are you having problems with over-involved parents? Are you struggling to help a youngster learn a specific skill? As a coach, you’ll deal with countless issues, and now you can tap into the expertise of more than 100,000 volunteer coaches around the world through the NYSCA Coaching Forum.

COACh rATINg TOOl - Want to know what your players and parents really think of your coaching skills? Check in here to get your scores on everything from how well you teach skills to how important good sportsmanship is to you.

SpOrTINgkId mAgAZINe - View the magazine online and join NAYS by going green and avoiding more paper clutter in your home. You can also access past issues of the magazine to review feature stories on topics of interest, or take a look at that issue’s featured tips for running practices and overseeing game days, among many other areas.

New – ShApe STuFF - ShapeStuff is an easy-to-use tool that enables youth sports coaches to create skill-building exercises for their players to use between practices. Coaches quickly create short, customized skill-building programs on their PCs. Programs can contain any combination of video clips and interactive exercises supplied by NYSCA, as well as anything on their own computer – even personalized audio or video messages. A push of a button then sends the skill-building exercise to players’ personal computer and even cellular phone.

Once your receive your membership information, log in to your NYSCA online membership to try out all of these great member benefits that are all included as part of your annual NYSCA membership!

Visit NAYS.ORG to find out more! It’s free for members!!

This is what the new NAYS.ORG means to you...

First AidIdentifying Injuriesand

TreATINg COmmON INjurIeS – remember The ACrONYm p.r.I.C.e. FOr TreATINg A COmmON SpOrTS INjurY…

p - prOTeCTION The injured area must be wrapped, splinted and protected.r - reST The injured area must be immobilized and rested.I - ICe The use of ice has two basic purposes. The cooling effect is anesthetic and provides some relief from discomfort. It also provides a constriction of the blood vessels and reduces swelling to the injured area. Ice should be applied for 20 to 30 minutes and then removed for 1-2 hours before it is reapplied.C - COmpreSSION Compression should be applied to the area that’s injured to minimize the swelling and to provide comfort along with rest and immobilization.e - elevATION The injured area should be elevated higher than the heart level to minimize the addition of swelling to that area.

uSe C.O.A.C.h. wheN deAlINg wITh A SeverelY INjured ChIld…

Assessing sports injuries is an integral role of coaching youth sports. Coaches must be prepared for ANY type of injury, including when a child goes down and may have lost consciousness. The acronym C.O.A.C.h. is a handy reminder of how to respond.

C - are they CONSCIOuS?O - are they OxYgeNATINg (breathing)?If the answer is yes to these two questions, move on…A - ASk where does it hurt?C - CONTrOL the area that is painfulh – Do they need a hOSpITAl? Make the decision if you need to call for immediate medical assistance and have the child taken to the hospital.

INjurY TermS...First degree injury - stretching in a ligament or muscle tightness - able to move muscle with some discomfort, minimal swellingSecond degree injury – more extensive tearing of fibers – pressure or weight increases pain, sudden twinges during movement, may notice swellingThird degree injury – over 90% rupture of a muscle, tendon or ligament – movement severely affected, noticeable swelling, usually bruising

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NYSCA coaches know that injuries are a part of sports and that they will occur during the course of the season. They also know that being prepared to handle these injuries – whether it’s a strained muscle, broken bone or something even more serious – falls squarely on their shoulders. Keep these points in mind when dealing with injuries to your players to help ensure their well being:

IdeNTIFYINg The SeverITY OF AN INjurY…

When you’re approaching an injured child, be sure to keep the following sequence in mind. Look at their lip color, feel the chest or put your cheek next to their nose to see if they are breathing. If they are not breathing and there is no palpable pulse in their neck or wrist, you must immediately initiate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and have someone call for immediate medical assistance. This is why it is strongly recommended that anyone working with children in sports is CPR certified. If the injury sustained is to the head or neck, the athlete must be calmed and restrained in the position found while emergency medical assistance is responding.

SOme SYmpTOmS OF COmmON INjurIeS

heat cramps - sudden, painful muscle contractions often caused by loss of body fluids and mineral depletion through sweating or as the result of an acute blowWhat to do: gently stretch and massage the affected muscle area and have the athlete drink lots of fluids.heat exhaustion - weakness, dizziness, profuse sweating or rapid pulseWhat to do: call for emergency medical assistance, have the youngster rest in the shade with their legs elevated and replenish fluids.heat stroke - high body temperature, red hot but dry skin; also a rapid pulse, difficulty in breathing, convulsions, collapsing.What to do: this is a medical emergency and can be fatal; immediately call for medical assistance; place the youngster in the shade and cool the body by removing layers of clothing; while waiting for help to arrive massage the lower body with ice.Strains/sprains - localized pain, limited range of motion, swelling, and possible skin discoloration.What to do: carefully compress ice to the injured area and elevate it above the level of the heart to help reduce swelling and provide an anesthetic effect.dislocation/fractures - pain, deformity, and loss of function.What to do: call for emergency medical assistance to transport the athlete. Do not move the athlete.

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dO YOu hAve A FIrST AId kIT - ANd IS IT prOperlY STOCked?

A properly stocked first aid kit is vital for every youth coach to have, and here’s what it should contain:

OTher helpFul ITemS:Cell PhoneScissorsTweezersNail clippersPen flashlight

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SuN prOTeCTION

Exposure to the sun is an often overlooked health risk when it comes to youth sports. The Skin Cancer Foundation (www.skincancer.org) points out that our skin is an excellent record keeper. Every moment we spend in the sun adds up, accumulating like money in the bank. Unfortunately, the payoff is often skin damage and skin cancer. One in six people will develop skin cancer at some point during their life and at least 90 percent of these are the result of long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The best defense to protect yourself and your athletes when outdoors is to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

Cpr TrAININg

You may never know when you will need to perform CPR. In the event of an on the field emergency, CPR training is a very valuable skill to possess. NAYS highly recommends that any youth coach be certified in CPR. Certified CPR training courses are offered at every local American Red Cross. During one of our recent polls, 89% of parents would like CPR training to be a requirement for coaches. Check with your local NAYS chapter to see if CPR training is a mandatory requirement.

For more Cpr information, contact your local American red Cross or visit their website at:

rEDCrOSS.OrG

Non-sterile gloves - keep several pairs in the kit in the event that you’re dealing with blood. This also protects the athlete from possible infection from your unwashed hands.Small bottle of water and soap to clean a cut or abrasion.Band Aids/gauze pads - to assist in stopping any bleeding, to clean the area and to protect the area.Ace bandages - used to hold ice in place over the injured area and to provide compression to aid in reducing swelling.Flexible splint - used to help control injured areas like a finger or wrist.Athletic tape - used to hold a flexible splint or ace bandages in placeSling - immobilizes injuries to the shoulder and armCPR mouth protectorSmall bottle of water and an eye cup - to safely and effectively remove debris from a child’s eyeIce or cold packs - used to reduce swelling and pain. You can also freeze water in small paper cups and then tear off the top of the cup when needed to massage the injured area.

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keep A lOgRecord keeping is a valuable tool to help protect yourself while performing your coaching duties. It should include your daily practice routines, what you did when an injury occurred, when you last checked the facilities and equipment, when and who you reported a safety hazard to, etc. This information should be inclusive enough to remind you of what might have happened two or three years ago in the event that a liability situation arises after the fact and you need to refer to your records.ObTAIN pAreNTAl CONSeNT FOrmSIt’s important that these forms are signed because it shows the parent consented to the child participating in the sport. The form should state that injuries are a part of the game and that you are not responsible for these occurring that are a natural part of participating in the sport. It should also have a statement signed by a physician that states the athlete is fit to participate in the sport you are coaching. The form should also contain a statement of all the vital health-related information of the athlete, including items like allergies.ObTAIN emergeNCY medICAl TreATmeNT CONSeNT FOrmThis allows the coach to obtain emergency medical treatment when necessary when the parents are unavailable.INSpeCT FACIlITIeS & equIpmeNT prIOr TO eACh uSeThroughout the season check all of your equipment for defects and if you find any discard the piece and replace it with a functional piece. Coaches in outdoor sports should check fencing and backstops to make sure they’re in good condition and make sure the bleachers are also in good shape and a safe distance from the playing area and report facility hazards in writing to appropriate authorities. prOperlY FIT equIpmeNTIt’s vital to know how to properly fit the equipment so that it functions the way that it was designed.TrAIN ASSISTANT COACheSFinding qualified assistant coaches is an area that, if overlooked, could increase your personal exposure to liability. When you have players under the supervision of other adults it is equally important that they are also trained and certified.prOvIde AdequATe SupervISION Be sure to have enough adult supervision to assist you during all activities. When delegating supervisory responsibilities, make sure that they only teach proper techniques and never violate a safety rule.

AlSO...Coaches transporting players in their own vehicle can be personally liable for passenger injuries and should carry a personal auto policy with liability limits of at least $500,000. When a child is injured make it your responsibility to fully inform the parents what happened and the actions you took and make a note of your conversation in your log.Never give an athlete any internal agents.Don’t move an injured athlete.Never leave the children unattended before, during or immediately following a practice or game.Plan for an injury so if one does take place someone has already been designated to call for emergency help.

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Legal Liability Game Plan

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As a youth coach the health and safety of your players must be your number one concern. To help fulfill this obligation the following information should be a part of your practice plan and reviewed often.

Surface inspection. Check the playing area prior to games and practices for debris, holes, slippery spots, or anything else that could harm a child.Adequate supervision and properly fitting equipment.First aid care. know how to handle injuries properly.Emergency plan. All coaches must know their responsibilities.Teach proper skill techniques.You the coach are responsible for the safety and well-being of all your players.

Think S.A.F.E.T.Y First

COACHES CODE OF ETHICSThe NYSCA Coaches Code of Ethics is the foundation of the NYSCA Membership. It is important for you, as a coach, to understand each of the expected behaviors in the Code before signing off on them on the following page.

NYSCA Chapters hold their coaches to a higher standard and have evaluation systems in place to ensure that members adhere to each of these examples of a model coach. If you do not uphold this Code of Ethics you will be held accountable in accordance with the NYSCA Coach Accountability and Enforcement Policy.

expeCTed behAvIOr:Using appropriate language in appropriate tones when interacting with players, league officials, game officials, parents and spectators.Treating all players, league officials, game officials, parents and spectators with dignity and respect. Playing all players, regardless of skill level or experience, according to the equal participation rules established by the league and abiding by the spirit of those rules, regardless of the score or game situation.

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I wIll prOmISe TO revIew ANd prACTICe The bASIC FIrST AId prINCIpleS Needed TO TreAT INjurIeS OF mY plAYerS.

expeCTed behAvIOr:Keeping basic first aid supplies available in all practice and game situations.Recognizing and administering proper basic first aid to an injured player and not returning players to activity if they are compromised by injury.Demonstrating concern for an injured player, recognizing emergencies and notifying parents and medical authorities immediately for severely injured athletes.

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I wIll dO mY beST TO prOvIde A SAFe plAYINg SITuATION FOr mY plAYerS.

expeCTed behAvIOr:Maintaining a high level of awareness of potentially unsafe conditions including, but not limited to, dangerous weather, inadequate field maintenance and faulty equipment.Protecting players from sexual molestation, assault, physical or emotional abuse and understanding appropriate means to report such instances when suspected.Seeing that all players are provided with adequate adult supervision while under the coach’s care.

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I wIll TreAT eACh plAYer AS AN INdIvIduAl, rememberINg The lArge rANge OF emOTIONAl ANd phYSICAl develOpmeNT FOr The SAme Age grOup.

expeCTed behAvIOr:Recognizing the differences of each child and treating each player as an individual while demonstrating concern for their individual needs and well being.Encouraging all players, regardless of skill level, to be

included as a member of the team and to remain involved in sports.

Recognizing that some physical tasks, drills and demands are not appropriate for all youth, regardless if they are close in age.

Recognizing that youth may vary greatly in physical, social and emotional

maturation and considering these factors when setting up

competitions and when interacting with them as a group.

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I wIll plACe The emOTIONAl ANd phYSICAl well-beINg OF mY plAYerS AheAd OF A perSONAl deSIre TO wIN.

and expecTed behaviors

Continued on the next page...

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I wIll dO mY beST TO OrgANIZe prACTICeS ThAT Are FuN ANd ChAlleNgINg FOr All mY plAYerS.

expeCTed behAvIOr:Establishing practice plans that are interesting, varied, productive, safe and aimed at improving all players’ skills and individual abilities.Devoting appropriate time to the individual improvement of each player.Conducting practices of reasonable length and intensity that are appropriate for the age and conditioning of the players.

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I wIll be kNOwledgeAble IN The ruleS OF eACh SpOrT ThAT I COACh, ANd I wIll TeACh TheSe ruleS TO mY plAYerS.

expeCTed behAvIOr:Becoming knowledgeable, understanding and supportive of all applicable game rules, league rules, regulations and policies.Teaching and requiring compliance of these rules among players.

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I wIll prOvIde A SpOrTS eNvIrONmeNT FOr mY TeAm ThAT IS Free OF drugS, TObACCO ANd AlCOhOl, ANd I wIll reFrAIN FrOm TheIr uSe AT All YOuTh SpOrTS relATed eveNTS.

expeCTed behAvIOr:Being alcohol and drug free at all team activities or in the presence of players.Refraining from the use of any type of tobacco products at all team activities or in the presence of your playersRefraining from providing any type of alcohol, drug or tobacco products to any of your players.Encouraging parents to refrain from the public use of tobacco products or alcohol at team activities.

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I wIll leAd bY exAmple IN demONSTrATINg FAIr plAY ANd SpOrTSmANShIp TO All mY plAYerS.

expeCTed behAvIOr:Adopting the position, teaching and demonstrating that it is our basic moral code to treat others as we would like to be treated.Exhibiting gracious acceptance of victory or defeatAbiding by and supporting the rules of the game and league, as well as the spirit of the rules.Using the influential position of youth coach as an opportunity to demonstrate, promote, teach and expect sportsmanship and fair play.

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••• I wIll remember ThAT I Am A YOuTh

SpOrTS COACh, ANd ThAT The gAme IS FOr ChIldreN ANd NOT AdulTS.

expeCTed behAvIOr:Maintaining a positive, helpful and supportive attitudeExercising your authority and influence as a coach to control the behavior of the fans and spectators.Accepting and adhering to all league rules and policies related to the participation of adults and youth.Placing the emphasis on fun and participation while encouraging children to do their best.

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I wIll uSe COAChINg TeChNIqueS ThAT Are ApprOprIATe FOr eACh OF The SkIllS ThAT I TeACh.

expeCTed behAvIOr:Teaching techniques that do not enhance a risk of injury to players and opponents.Discouraging illegal contact or intentional dangerous play and administering swift and equitable discipline to players involved in such activity

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COACHES CODE OF ETHICSand expecTed behaviors

...continued from the previous page

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By signing the Code of Ethics on the next page, you are agreeing to abide by the Code and be accountable for your actions. Procedures are outlined in the NYSCA Accountability and Enforcement Policies which is managed by your local NYSCA chapter.

Coaches Code of ethicsI hereby pledge to live up to my certification as an NYSCA member

coach by following the NYSCA Coaches’ Code of ethics.

I will place the emotional and physical well-being of my players ahead of a personal desire to win.

I will treat each player as an individual, remembering the large range of emotional and physical develop-ment for the same age group.

I will do my best to provide a safe playing situation for my players.

I will promise to review and practice the basic first aid principles needed to treat injuries of my players.

I will do my best to organize practices that are fun and challenging for all my players.

I will lead by example in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship to all my players.

I will provide a sports environment for my team that is free of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, and I will re-frain from their use at all youth sports events.

I will be knowledgeable in the rules of each sport that I coach, and I will teach these rules to my players.

I will use those coaching techniques appropriate for each of the skills that I teach.

I will remember that I am a youth sports coach, and that the game is for children and not adults.

I hereby pledge to adhere to the NYSCA Coaches Code of Ethics and fully understand if I do not uphold them I will be held accountable for my behavior, leading up to revocation of my membership, as outlined in the Accountability and Enforcement Policies enforced by the local chapter of the National Alliance for Youth Sports.

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________________________________ ___________________ Coach Signature Date

© 1981 National Alliance for Youth Sports

1) kids participate in sports to:a. Have funb. Meet new friends and maintain existing friendshipsc. Learn the fundamentals of the gamed. All of the above

D – and let’s hope that nobody misses this one!

2) Soon after completing my NYSCA clinic, I will receive my membership packet which will include:

a. NYSCA membership card b. Details on benefits and discounts for being an NYSCA memberc. Details on the insurance benefit provided to NYSCA Initial Level membersd. All of the above

D - it will arrive within two weeks of our office receiving the roster from your clinic.

3) when planning a practice, the coach should prepare a program that:

a. Focuses on the advanced athletesb. Separates conditioning from skill developmentc. Combines conditioning and skill developmentd. None of the above

C – one of the most important factors of an efficient practice plan.

4) which of these is NOT considered child abuse?a. Slapping a childb. Using exercise as a punishmentc. Calling children “dumb” when they make mistakesd. High-fives for good plays

D – just don’t high-five too hard!

5) An athlete should drink the right types of fluids before, during and after practices and games.

True False

True!

6) To prevent accidents at a practice or game the coach should:

a. Closely supervise the playersb. Assume fields, equipment and facilities are safe and have been inspectedc. Inspect fields, equipment and facilities for potential hazards every time usedd. Both A and C

D – just showing up to coach is not enough!

7) To help prevent injuries:a. Match the biggest kids against the smallestb. Ignore the weatherc. Limit supervisiond. Limit water intakee. None of the above

E – none of these are a good idea.

8) As an NYSCA member who is coaching more than one sport I can:

a. Not be an effective coachb. Be applauded for my dedication to coaching and making youth sports a positive experiencec. Add an additional sport at anytime by attending the additional sport clinic or accessing the NYSCA Online Clinic website.d. Answers b & c

D - adding a sport is only an additional $5 and you must complete the specific sport training for the additional sport.

9) A good coach will always help everY player to:a. Feel neededb. Feel part of the teamc. Feel importantd. All of the above D – a good youth sports coach is concerned about every child on his team.

10) In working with children, which of the following is the most important to remember?

a. Adding stress improves performanceb. The wide difference of physical and emotional development for the same chronological age groupc. Exercise for punishment/disciplined. Raising your voice to get your point across

B – children vary greatly in emotional and physical maturity, especially at younger ages.

11) A coach who openly argues with an official sends a message to the athletes, parents and other coaches that this is appropriate behavior in a youth sports setting.

TrueFalse

True – as a volunteer coach, what you do andsay will be the model for others to follow.

12) Sportingkid magazine is the official publication of the National Alliance for Youth Sports and is available to all NYSCA members by:

a. Going to my customized NYSCA Coach page at www.nays.org for access to the current and all past issues of SportingKidb. Requesting a printed copy for home deliveryc. By purchasing it at my local newsstand.d. Answers a & b

D – SportingKid magazine is only available to current NYSCA members

13) when a coach suspects that a player is the victim of any form of child abuse, (emotional, physical or sexual) he/she is obligated to report their suspicion.

TrueFalse

True – you are expected to report any suspected issues to authorities.

14) Opening lines of communication and developing relationships early on can result in parents becoming partners rather than problems.

TrueFalse

True – parents can be your greatest asset or your biggest challenge – communicate early and often.

15) As an NYSCA member I will be able to log in at www.nays.org using my membership number and access my personalized web page giving me access to:

a. A customized Coach Ratings page that I can send to my players’ parents to evaluate my coaching performanceb. A print and animated Skills & Drills libraryc. The NYSCA Coaching Forum where I can interact with thousands of other coachesd. Access to all my NYSCA membership information and benefits. e. All of the above E - and much, much, more - log in as soon as you receive your membership information!

Name: ___________________________ Sport: _____________________ date: _____________

Initial level Coaches exam

Now that you have completed your Initial Level NYSCA training, there are just a couple steps to make sure you get the

most out of your NYSCA membership…

What’s Nextso ?#1 After completing the Initial Level Coaches Exam and signing the NYSCA Coaches Code of Ethics on the previous pages turn them in to your NYSCA Clinician.

#2 Look for your membership card in the mail. Your membership card will include your member ID# which is required to access your online member account.

#3 Your NYSCA membership entitles you to free instant access to your NYSCA online member account (see pages 9 & 10 for details) and access to the official NYSCA member publication SportingKid magazine which you can receive online or via the mail by visiting your membership page and select that option or by calling NYSCA membership services at 800-688-KIDS.

#4 Your Initial Level Membership is valid for one year. A renewal notice will be sent prior to your membership expiration. You may renew early at www.nays.org.

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