First Aid Resources

It is a moment we all dread.  Something has happened and there is a player down.  A thought shoots through our heads...  Do I know enough first aid to safely deal with what has happened?

In an ideal world, every coach is also an EMT or Emergency Room Physician - So, no problem.  Reality is a little different.  None of us can be completely prepared for everything that may happen on the field, but there are some resources out there that can help us feel more prepared than we are right now.  Below you will find some on-line resources that may be helpful.  

This is nothing like a complete list, perhaps you know of some resources that should be included.  Please link to your favorites in the comments.  If you find a dead link, please let me know.

A good basic resource on a wide range of possible problems you may see …  

First aid advice for soccer coaches  When you accept the role of coach, you accept a major responsibility for the care and safety of your players.  The information here is not meant as a substitute for a first aid course. If you don’t already have first aid certification, I encourage you to enrol in both CPR and first aid classes so that you can handle any accidents that may happen while you are coaching. More Advice...

Common Problems 

Heat:
Hydration Tips For Summer Sports
Recognizing Heat Illness In Young Athletes  

Heat and exercise: Keeping cool in hot weather
Heatstroke: First aid

A FREE COURSE from NFHS! 

      A Guide to Heat Acclimatization and Heat Illness Prevention   You do need to register with them to access it, but it is a good organization and may have a lot of content that interests you.

Concussions:
Free Resources (MP3 & PDF)
Introduction: More Info
Assessment: More Info

A FREE COURSE from NFHS! 

       Concussion in Sports - What You Need To Know You do need to register with them to access it, but it is a good organization and may have a lot of content that interests you.

Soccer injuries and how to treat them
    Sports Injuries:

Prevention:
General Information about Sports Medicine:

An On the Field (with a Smart Phone) Resource

1st Aid Phone App (free)

Demo 1st Aid Courses - Better than nothing, but not a real substitute for First Aid training.
CPR overview  
General (not soccer specific) First Aid

Teaching Me

Coping with Cuts

From Soccer America's Blog

Tryouts: Coping with Cuts

By Tony DiCicco

The most difficult part of coaching isn't dealing with losses, it's cutting or rejecting people from the team. It's not just a simple matter of reducing numbers, it's a matter of making decisions that in essence short-circuit the dreams of players. I don't think there's any coach, either at the professional level or the youth recreational league in a small town, who doesn't feel the pain of not choosing someone or cutting someone from the team.

Sometimes young athletes put themselves in situations where they say, “If I don’t make it today, I have no chance of ever reaching my goals.” That’s not true and it’s up to parents and coaches to deliver that message strongly and consistently.

Getting cut and having to rebound from disappointment is part of what some great athletes have had to deal with.

When I was cutting players from the national teams, it wasn’t because they were bad players. In fact, they were often very good players. I frequently had to make choices because I felt there were two or three players who were better for a particular position or role on the team. Coaches have to make decisions and players and parents have to understand that putting together a team is a game of numbers, of roles, of needs and responsibilities.

When someone doesn’t make the squad, initially they feel hurt or even angry. It’s regrettable, but understandable. Some players who are cut will use it as a source of motivation for continued practice to get good enough to eventually be on that team. Others will shy away from further evaluation and tryouts because it was such a belittling and scary experience for them.

What I’d like to stress is that being cut from a team is not the end of the world, and it’s not, although it may seem like it at the time, a personal attack. If parents can somehow make their children understand this fact, then it will allow them to move forward – and maybe next time they will make the team.

* * *

As tough as it may be for a coach to cut a player from the team, it’s a lot tougher on that player and her parents. There’s no getting around the embarrassment, the emptiness, the rejection.

The best thing I can suggest to parents is to offer unwavering love and unconditional support. It may seem like it to your child, but the world hasn’t ended and it’s up to the parents to keep the sport experience in proper perspective.

If parents get upset, it will be projected onto the child, only making matters worse.

What isn’t constructive is making excuses for your child by saying it was a political decision or that the coach made a poor decision (which might even be the case). If you make excuses, you’re only teaching your child to deflect responsibility and discount the value of merit.

What you have to remember is that for the most part, coaches really do try to get it right. If there are 20 players on a team, odds are that practically every coach will agree on the first 10 players for the team. And most coaches will agree that the next five should be on the team. But probably more coaches will disagree on the last five players chosen.

Coaches have an image of what they want their team to be, and they’re looking for players who can help them attain that image.

As a parent, you must show love and support for your child, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into judging and criticizing the coach’s decision. If you do, everyone’s a loser.

(Tony DiCicco has coached all ages but is best known for guiding the U.S. women to the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal, the 1999 Women's World Cup title and the 2008 U-20 World Cup crown. DiCicco, the founder and director of SoccerPlus Camps, coached the WPS’s Boston Breakers in 2009-11.)

(Excerpted from "Catch Them Being Good: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Coach Girls" by Tony DiCicco,Colleen Hacker & Charles Salzberg courtesy of Penguin Books.)

Player's Responsibilities

Players are expected to come to practices and games and participate in all drills and activities as instructed by the coach. Players are to be respectful of coaches, officials, opponents and teammates. A player’s direct defiance of an official or coach, use of abusive language, or intentional striking of an official, coach, or another player is not allowed. Striking an official or coach will lead to an automatic suspension from the team, probable loss of Mustang membership and possible criminal charges.

Excessive talking and other disruptive behavior during instruction is not acceptable. A coach has the right to remove a player from a practice session or game if behavior problems become serious. The coach should then contact the parents and try to work out a solution.

If a player’s behavior problems continue to where the team functioning is seriously disrupted, the coach should discuss the problem with the Head of Coaches and may request a hearing to have the player removed from the team.

Mustang Soccer League expects two things from each of its players: a positive attitude and a commitment to the game. Although the level of involvement varies among the Division 1, Division 3 & Division 4 teams, the level of commitment should not. Every Mustang player is expected to attend all practices and games as specified for the Division in which he or she plays. Both Division 3 and Division 4 teams have struggled with a diminishing commitment from players in the past few years. To this end, the League has adopted the following policy regarding attendance: 

PLAYER ATTENDANCE POLICY

• Attendance and participation at all games and practices is expected by all players. Excluding Division 1, every coach is required to play each child at least one half of every game. See separate guidelines specific to Division 1 on the Mustang website under “Division 1.” 
• Unexcused absences from practices may result in a reduction of playing time at games. The following guidelines apply: 
• Every player in Division 3 with 100% attendance at practices (2 practices) during the week prior to a game is to play at least 50% of that game. Every Player with 50% attendance at practices (1 unexcused absence) during the week prior to a game is to play at least 25% of that game. Any Division 3 Player with 2 unexcused absences from practice, during the week prior to a game, is not guaranteed playing time during that game. 
• Every player in Division 4 with 50% attendance at practices (1 practice) during the week prior to a game is to play at least 50% of that game. Players with less than 50% attendance during the week prior to a game may have their playing time limited to less than 50% of the game, but only in extreme circumstances. Every attempt should be made to give a minimum of 50% playing time to that player. This is recreational soccer, and each player should be instilled with the love of the game and not discouraged for events that are typically out of their control! 
• Absences at games and practices will be excused for the following reasons: Player injury, illness, family emergency, or conflict with religious activity. All other absences are considered unexcused. 
• Coaches are to notify parents and the player of reduced playing time prior to game day. Try to allow all players to play at least ½ of the game, unless a persistent pattern of unexcused absences develops. Player missing practices as an exception should not be overly penalized. All players should always play in a game they attend. 
• Continued unexcused absences from practices and games may be cause for a review of the player’s commitment to soccer by the Division Directors, with the coach, player, and parents.

Player's Code

• Play soccer for the fun of it. 
• Play by the Rules. 
• Never argue with or complain about the referees calls or decisions and never question their honesty. 
• Control your temper and most of all; resist the temptation to retaliate when you feel you have been wronged. 
• Concentrate on playing soccer and on affecting the outcome of the game with your best effort. Work equally hard for your team as for yourself. 
• Be a good sport by cheering all good plays, whether it is your teams or your opponent’s. 
• Treat all players as you would like to be treated. 
• Remember that the goals of the game are to have fun, improve skills and feel good. Don’t be a showoff and a ball-hog. 

Remember to conduct yourself in a manner befitting someone representing themselves, their family, and the Mustang Soccer League.

See the Player's Responsibilities

See the Parent's Code

See the Coach's Code

Coach's Responsibilities

First and Foremost,  BE A DOUBLE GOAL COACH! 

• MODEL GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
• MODEL APPROPRIATE CONDUCT TOWARDS REFEREES 
• MANAGE PARENTS & SPECTATORS
• MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE EVER HARASSES THE REFEREE
• PROMOTE “POSITIVE” BEHAVIOR FOR COACHES & PARENTS
• DISCOURAGE “NEGATIVE” BEHAVIOR OF COACHES & PARENTS
• SHOW ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ABUSE

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP is a must for all Mustang Soccer participants. Mustang Soccer monitors and recognizes good sportsmanship. Disciplinary action may be brought against coaches whose teams consistently rate poor in sportsmanship.

MODEL APPROPRIATE CONDUCT TOWARDS REFEREES

Providing a core of well-trained, certified referees for over 160 (U10 through U19) Division 1, Division 3, and Division 4 teams is a tremendous task. The referee organization in Mustang represents over 400 dedicated youths and adults who are on the field during games to provide safety and fairness for our teams. Referee coordinators work diligently all season long to provide coverage for the high volume of games that are played.

We parents and coaches need to keep in mind how difficult it is to be a referee, especially if you are young. We continue to lose many referees every year because of the harassment they receive from coaches and parents.

The role of referee must be recognized and respected by the coach, the team and the parents. Youth referees must be given the same respect as the adult referees. New referees must LEARN positioning, signals, timing of calls, flow of the game, command of the sidelines, and administrative issues. If you are patient and positive, that referee will become experienced and confident. That referee could be YOUR child! The referee in a soccer match has complete authority over players and coaches from the moment the referee enters the grounds to the time the referee leaves.

Coaches, players, parents, and spectators shall never argue or dispute the decision of the referee or parent official, make negative or derogatory remarks or gestures towards a referee or parent official, or otherwise behave irresponsibly, or bring the game into disrepute.

If the above should occur, the referee or parent official may do the following:

• Report the incident to the League for further action. 
• Dismiss the coach from the game. 
• Terminate the match and leave. 

In addition to the action by the referee or parent official, the League may take further action including:

• Warning or probation. 
• Suspension from one or more games. 
• Suspension for one or more seasons. 

Like all of us, referees will make mistakes. You are entitled to be disappointed when you think the referee is doing a poor job, but don’t express these feelings at the game. It is the coach’s responsibility to contact the Director of Referees if he or she feels a referee needs to improve on skills.

MANAGE PARENTS & SPECTATORS

Coaches are responsible for the behavior of your parents, players, and other spectators at the games. MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE EVER HARASSES THE REFEREE, or walks onto the field during a game. All spectators should remain on the sidelines (about five (5) feet back) in the designated spectator area (between the 18 yard lines), and never behind the goal lines or nets. The game is supposed to be for the players. When the parents put pressure on the players and/or the referees, it takes the fun of the game away from the kids. For further information, see the Parents Handbook at www.mustangsoccer.com under Parents Corner.

Parents, coaches, and players are entitled to a difference of opinion; but they are not permitted to display their dissent through word or action. Additionally, coaches are expected to be role a model and teacher of proper behavior to both the players and parents.

PROMOTE “POSITIVE” BEHAVIOR FOR COACHES & PARENTS

The stated goals for coaches are many, and NONE include arguing with the referees. Every one of these goals deals with the coach’s responsibility to teach players about soccer using skill, reason, fitness, and logic. Some specific goals request coaches to:

• Inspire a love for the game and the desire to compete fairly. 
• Realize that you are a teacher (and role model) and that the soccer field is a classroom. 
• Develop respect for the opponents, opposing coaches, and of the officials. 

DISCOURAGE “NEGATIVE” BEHAVIOR OF COACHES & PARENTS

As a role model and teacher, it is expected that all coaches, as well as the parents, will not exhibit any negative behavior by shouting and arguing with the officials on their games. The CYSA Rules of Play (3:08:03) specifically prohibit this behavior and a coach sent off can be awarded a minimum of a three game suspension and a three game probation by the proper authorities. Since the coach is responsible for the behavior of the parents, it will be the coach who is sent off when it is a parent who has violated the rule.

It appears that many verbal confrontations revolve around coaches and the official’s difference in opinions. Referees are trained to make calls based on FIFA Instruction of the Application of the Laws of the Game. FIFA and CYSA specifically recognize the decisions of the Referee regarding facts connected with play are final.

SHOW ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ABUSE

Many parents and coaches believe that commenting negatively, yelling at, or arguing with the decisions of the game officials, whether they are parents or licensed referees, is proper behavior and a normal part of youth sports. This is absolutely not true and is in violation of the CYSA Codes of Conduct. Everyone should realize that just like the players, the referees are a part of the game. A negative comment during a game to a referee reduces the pleasure and heightens the tension for officials, players, spectators, and other coaches. These comments accomplish nothing except to diminish the Good of the Game.

Mustang Soccer has adopted a ZERO TOLERANCE response toward any coach or parent verbally abusing a referee before, during, or after a game. Specifically, all of our referees have been instructed to take the following action:

• If possible, first warn the coach. 
• Next caution the coach & record on the game card. 
• Dismiss the coach from the game. Coaches will be disciplined per CYSA guidelines as mentioned above. 
• If the problem is larger than one or two people, especially if the problem involves both teams, then the referee is to terminate the match and leave. 

It is vital that all coaches understand that they are the focal point for their team and their actions, positive and negative, greatly influence the enjoyment of the youth players and parents

It must also be noted that a coach’s abusive language on the sidelines, spills onto the playing field and increases the chance of youth players being Cautioned or Sent Off for Dissent or worse – use of foul and abusive language. Section 4:08:02, of the CYSA Team Manual, assigns a minimum for a send off of one game for dissent or two games for the use of foul and abusive language. Help your players stay in the game by setting the appropriate example.

Coach's Code

Coaches are expected to be role models who project the spirit of the sport on and off the field. They are responsible for fairly applying the League’s policies.

No coach shall use profanity or make derogatory remarks or gestures to a referee, parent official, player, parent, or spectator. A coach may never strike, shake, push, or otherwise physically assault a player. A coach has the responsibility to ensure that all players receive at least their minimum earned playing time during games.


Follow the Coaches Code:

• Enthusiastically support and practice “everyone plays” and positive coaching philosophies.
• Be reasonable in your demands on the young players’ time, energy, enthusiasm and their performance on the soccer field.
• Impress on your players that they must abide by the rules of the game at all times.
• Develop team respect for the ability of opponents, and for the judgment of referees and opposing coaches.
• Ensure that your players’ soccer experience is one of fun and enjoyment (winning is only part of it). Players should never be yelled at or ridiculed for any reason.
• Set a good example and be generous with your praise when it is deserved. Children need a coach they can respect.
• Do not publicly question referees judgment and never their honesty.
• Keep in formed about “sound principles of coaching”; and “growth and development” principles relating to children.
• Enlist the support of your team’s parents in your efforts to instill the proper attitudes and values in the players. MUSTANG SOCCER coaches are responsible for the conduct of their sideline.
• Check equipment that you use. It should meet safety standards and be appropriate for the age and ability of your players. Bring all safety issues concerning facilities to the attention of the appropriate authority.
• Follow the advice of a physician when determining when an injured child is ready to play again.
• Abide by the rules of all leagues and tournaments in which your team participates.  
• Be a positive role-model whenever you are around any players. If you feel a situation is getting out of control find a field marshal or other official to observe or assess the game/situation.  Do not “take it into your own hands”.  Defuse, rather than inflate problems.

On the same day of any occurrence where a non-Mustang coach, player, or parent breaks the rules or acts in an unsportsmanlike manner which needs corrective action, the complainant should contact by email the appropriate Mustang AGC and the appropriate Mustang Head of House.

See the Coach's Responsibilities

See the Player's Code

See the Parent's Code