3. PLAYING-TIME POLICY
1. EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN WHERE YOUR CHILD PRACTICES
Tha league’s EAP should be made clear to you during the preseason parents’ meeting. (Does your team even have a preseason meeting for parents to discuss and review policies and procedures?) “We’ve always had an emergency plan, but the challenge was getting the info effectively communicated to our new coaches and parents,” said Jim Arthur, executive director of the Hereford (Md.) Youth Lacrosse Association, currently working toward Gold Stick certification. “By using email, the website and the team parent, we are now doing a better job of communication.”
2. DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP POLICY
If you are running late, will your son or daughter be waiting for you alone at the practice field? Even if the coach is there, are you comfortable with them taking shelter in a car together if bad weather emerges? Did this coach pass the NCSI background check that is part of the US Lacrosse coaches’ certification process? Arthur suggests adoption of the Positive Coaching Alliance policy. “There are always two adult individuals remaining on-site until the last child is picked up,” he said.
Will all kids receive equal playing time, or is playing time determined by attendance at practice or skill level? This should be clearly established for all players and parents to understand from the outset, said Tamara Boots, president of the 100-team St. Louis Youth Lacrosse Association. “We have a clearly stated equal playing time policy written into our bylaws,” Boots said. “That makes it easier to keep everybody doing the right thing.”
5. USL-CERTIFIED COACHES AND OFFICIALS , SAFETY MEASURES
US Lacrosse’s Coaching Education Program and Officials Education Program best equip coaches and officials to handle matters pertaining not only to the integrity of the game on the field, but also to player safety. Is an AED unit on hand for games and practices? (CEP includes credits for AED, CPR and first-aid training.)
6. WRITTEN CONCUSSION
MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH A RETURN-TO-PLAY POLICY
When a player sustains a head 4. ACTION PLAN TO
ADDRESS OVERZEALOUS PARENTS AND COACHES
You need to know what type of behavior will be condoned. There should be league-mandated consequences for parents who berate officials or coaches who yell in the face of players who make mistakes. “We require all of our coaches, parents and officials to sign a code of conduct, and we also have board members on-site for all games to deal with issues that might arise,” Boots said.
injury, the league should abide by clearly defined protocols on how to respond to the injury and when that player can resume participation. The St. Louis Youth Lacrosse Association has certified athletic trainers present at all games to help evaluate signs and symptoms of a concussion. Players must receive medical clearance before returning. Arthur said the Gold Stick process broadened concussion
awareness in his league. LM
COMMITMENT TO PLAYER SAFETY AND SPORTSMANSHIP
SCREENED, TRAINED AND CERTIFIED US LACROSSE COACHES
TRAINED AND CERTIFIED US LACROSSE OFFICIALS
PLAYERS, COACHES, OFFICIALS AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE CURRENT USL MEMBERS
laxmagazine.com october 2014 » LACROSSE MAGAZINE
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Find more information at US
Lacrosse.org/GoldStick.
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