COACHES
As a coach, you are responsible for many aspects of your athletic program. Depending on your sport, district, club, or program you may or may not have access to an athletic trainer. We are constantly working with sport clubs, secondary schools, and sport teams in employing an athletic trainer during practice and games. Your medical direction may come from an athletic trainer or may come from your cell phone by dialing 911.
Athletic Trainers and coaching staff share some common interests. They care about the team's health and safety. Together, we are entrusted with the health and safety of all participants. Especially when working with secondary school athletes, we take on much responsibility.
First and foremost, review your institution's policies and procedures manual when it comes to injuries. Some may ask you to perform a "risk assessment." Secondly, please use the attached documents for reference. They range from topics on lightning conditions, heat illness, and weight standards. We also centralized some important links to Virginia Law that pertain to coaches, student athletes, and their health.
Coach Education Courses from NFHS Learn
Click the link to take the free course from NFHS and learn more about other courses offered.
Concussion in Sports
The NFHS has teamed up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to educate coaches, officials, parents and students on the importance of proper concussion recognition and management in high school sports. This course highlights the impact of sports-related concussion on athletes, teaches how to recognize a suspected concussion, and provides protocols to manage a suspected concussion with steps to help players return to play safely after a concussion. Each state's requirements for concussion management are included as part of the course.
Heat Illness Prevention
Exertional heat stroke is the leading cause of preventable death in high school athletics. Exertional heat stroke also results in thousands of emergency room visits and hospitalizations throughout the nation each year. This free course, brought to you by EAS Sports Nutrition, a division of Abbott Labs, is designed to give you the critical information you need to minimize the risk of exertional heat stroke among your athletes. The course presents seven fundamentals, which when followed, will minimize heat related illnesses of the students who participate.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the number one cause of death in the United States for student athletes during exercise. Caused by a structural or electrical problem associated with the heart, Sudden Cardiac Arrest happens when the heart unexpectedly stops beating and pumping blood. With content developed by Simon’s Fund, this course will help you learn and recognize the warning signs and symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Also included are tips for what to do in the critical moments after an individual suddenly collapses in order to save their life.
Nutrition
Proper nutrition can optimize athletic performance. This course hosted by sports medicine specialist Dr. Mick Koester, can help your students be performing at their peak. As a coach, this course contains practical tips on how you can model and teach proper nutrition to your athletes.
Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment
Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment defines and provides recommendations for coaches in three specific areas; inappropriate relationships and behaviors, hazing, and bullying (including cyberbullying). This course educates coaches about their legal responsibility to provide a safe and respectful environment for the students in their care.