"Coaching Children & Young People"

[Stodgetta]

Another Sports Coach UK workshop last night, and I found it much more fun, and much more relevant to O for Chasers. There was a good mix of sports - everything from table tennis to football to sub-aqua/scuba diving.

Very interesting to hear that in football, one of the interpretations of the child protection guidelines they have is that coaches are allowed to pat their juniors on the back, but if they are injured on the pitch with hundreds of witnesses, they are not allowed to touch the junior (even if they have a broken leg!).

Also gave information on other Sports Coach UK workshops. Some of them look interesting and relevant, too: "Field based fitness testing", "Fitness and training", "Motivation & mental toughness" may give some new ideas...(look out Kylie fan )

[Mrs H.]

, but if they are injured on the pitch with hundreds of witnesses, they are not allowed to touch the junior (even if they have a broken leg!).

So if the child had severed an artery (on a piece of broken glass or something) they would not be allowed to try and stop the bleeding with their hands? It would however be entirely politically correct to let the child bleed to death (or more likely to suffer un-comforted) - you see what i mean about common sense? but then again we're talking footballers here!

So how would you administer any degree of first aid without touching someone anyway?( and in my book comforting would be a significant part of administering first aid to children)

[Stodgetta]

we're talking footballers here

And it was a football coaches interpretation of their guidelines at that

There was a paramedic there who explained what first aid procedures could have been done, and I said my bit as a paediatrician who does child protection medicals on a very regular basis for police and social services

It wasn't just child protection that was discussed. It was an interseting and informative 3 hours that I wouldn't have known about/gone on if it hadn't been for Clubmark ("another tick in the box").

[ifititches]

glad you had much more positive experience Stodgetta. I love being in with a bigger range of sports.

Re the touching thing. If you're following the news you'll know that this is especially difficult area for football. They were publicly berated two weeks ago for not pushing clubs enough to get CRB checks done, and
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 869793.stm
shows something of the scale of their problem (and level of their concern) in this .

Any coach is well advised to get first aid certificate too. Most sports development units have good short courses that would equip a coach to take appropriate measures in situation described by Mrs H. Been fascinated/impressed by care and attention going in to assure parents aren't put off getting their children involved in sport by reducing possibilities of the headlines arising from rare situations when things go wrong.

From outside may seem big fuss, but it's a bit like basic orienteering techniques; just do the training and keep it running in the background whilst you get on with the big adventure/having the time of your life/conquering the world/whatever

[Guest]

coaches are allowed to pat their juniors on the back, but if they are injured on the pitch with hundreds of witnesses, they are not allowed to touch the junior

Absolute, bloody, MADNESS

Yes, we are now all guilty of being paedophiles until proved innocent.

[Mrs H.]

Go on - who was that?

I was just reading Ifit's article and thinking the whole thing doesn't make any sense anyway, because if everyone's been checked out and given ID cards to prove they're bona fide why are they still not allowed to touch the children if the situation requires it - surely they've been proved innocent and are still being treated as if they were know to be guilty.

One of the reasons why i will never ever seek to become a coach (even if I was clever enough) is because as a free standing individual I am at liberty to use my initiative.

If I see a child fall and hurt themselves on a steep run in or out in the forest - I'll be the first to lend them a hand - both physically and metaphorically - you can sue me or send me to prison for it if you like. I also always stop and help children who are lost or unsure. the reason I do this is because it could have been one of my children and i always hope that there will be someone out there who would do the same for them

Anyway i think that's my 1000th post so i'll shut up for a bit

[mharky]

Luckily orienteering isnt is this state aint it.

[Klebe]

Go on - who was that?

Me!
Ooops forgot to login.

(Its easier to forget with the new web layout.)

Just seems natural for an adult to put a protective arm around a kid who is upset or hurt.

[awk]

Go on - who was that?

One of the reasons why i will never ever seek to become a coach (even if I was clever enough) is because as a free standing individual I am at liberty to use my initiative. If I see a child fall and hurt themselves on a steep run in or out in the forest - I'll be the first to lend them a hand - both physically and metaphorically - you can sue me or send me to prison for it if you like. I also always stop and help children who are lost or unsure. the reason I do this is because it could have been one of my children and i always hope that there will be someone out there who would do the same for them

I don't think there's any problem doing any of that as a coach either Mrs H., and in fact I reckon I'm probably better protected from being sued then you are.