Fourteen Legal Duties of Athletic Personnel – Duties #5 and #6 [NIAAA]

By: John Evers, CMAA | NIAAA

DUTY TO PROVIDE PROPER EQUIPMENT

Coaches must ensure that athletes are properly equipped with clean, durable and safe equipment.

• Athletic equipment should be monitored for wear on a daily basis.
• History of issues and subsequent repair should be documented.
• Quality of equipment should never be sacrificed in the name of cost.

Protective equipment must carry a NOCSAE (National Operating Commission on Safety in Athletic Equipment) certification and must be checked for proper fit and wearing.

• Athletic Department must seek and employ reputable equipment conditioning company.
• Athletic equipment must be re-conditioned at a minimum of every two years
• Accurate records must be keep of all purchases and replacement of equipment
• History of equipment should be part of the athletic department files

Athletes must wear protective equipment any time they are exposed to the full rigors of contact in practice or competition.

• Coaching staff should inspect equipment for all athletes before every practice.
• Coaching staff should inspect equipment for all athletes before every game.

A coach, administrator or designee should be assigned the duty of monitoring equipment.

• All inventory should be housed in one place and under the supervision of one individual.
• All inventory paperwork should indicate date is issue and date of return.
• All inventory paperwork should indicate condition of equipment at issue and return.
• Record should be kept of purchase and disposal of all athletic equipment.

Use of Non-School Equipment

• In some cases, schools may allow the use of non-school issued equipment.
• Any use of non-school equipment MUST be approved by the athletic director or designee.
• ALL equipment used by athletes (school or otherwise) must meet industry standards.

DUTY TO INSTRUCT PROPERLY

Coaches must exhibit and employ best practices in all coaching and skill development of athletes. Athletic Directors must hire, supervise and mentor quality coaches.

Hiring Quality Coaches

• Develop and employ consistent system of coach recruitment and hiring.
• Due all due diligence in checking of past performance of coaches.
• Emphasize use of educational athletics as the standard for the athletic department.

Observation of Coaches

• Develop and execute a consistent plan of observation of all coaches.
• Observe coaching in practice and off-season work with athletes.
• Observe coaches in game situations.
• Document and share all observations in the evaluation process.

Monitoring Coaching Plans

• Coaches should develop and maintain practice plans for all work with athletes.
• Coaches should share practice plans with athletic director as part of evaluation process.

Promote and provide in-service and continuing education for all staff members

• Seek funds and release time for coaches to complete in-service training.
• Seek and share on-line education opportunities for all coaches.
• Develop and maintain a professional library of books, videos, etc. for coaches.

Accept input from players and parents on coaching practices

• Receive and honor input from all stakeholders on coaching practices.
• Document concerns and compliments of coaching practices.
• Share concerns and praise from all stakeholders with coaches during evaluation process.

Instruction Process

• Instruction must follow a logical sequence of fundamentals that lead to enhanced progression.
• Player knowledge, skill and capability must be cultivated at all times.
• Instruction must always demonstrate safe technique.
• Instruction must include warnings about unsafe technique and prohibited practices.