FERNTREE GULLY EAGLES JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB
INJURY POLICY
2018
PURPOSE
To develop a Club Policy in the management of the injured player.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
- The health and safety of the Club’s players, personnel and spectators is the Club’s most important priority and overrides any other consideration including winning games and finals.
- There may be occasions during the season when injuries occur.
- In order to best manage these injuries, and the welfare of our players, this policy has been developed by Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football club
- Acknowledgement of the more conservative injury management of U8-U17 in comparison with Senior club players due to younger ages.
RECOMMENDATIONS
AFL Requirements for matches and training
| Level | Youth U11 – U17 | Auskick/Junior 5-10 | |
| MATCH | Match Recommended | Trainer | Trainer |
| Minimum | Trainer | Current First Aid Training | |
| TRAINING | Match Recommended | Trainer | Trainer |
| Minimum | Trainer | Current First Aid Training |
- Under 8, 9 and Under 10 teams must have one or more Trainers with a minimum Level 2 First Aid qualification.
- Under 11 to 15 teams must have one or more Trainers with a minimum Level 1 Sports Trainer qualification.
- Under 11 to 15 teams competing in finals must have two Trainers one of which must hold a minimum Level 1 Sports Trainer qualification.
- Under 17 and 18 teams must have two Trainers, both of whom must hold a Level 1 Sports Trainer qualification or higher.
Medical Notification:
- At the start of the season each player must submit a club medical form.
- The player (or parents) must advise of any conditions that would place the player at risk or could impede his/her ability to participate.
- The player medical forms are retained by the team trainer and destroyed at the end of the season.
- Any player who is sent to a hospital or GP for treatment, as a result of an incident at a game or training must provide a medical certificate stating that they are fit to play, prior to resuming training / playing.
- All injuries are to be reported to the Trainer in the first instance.
- If the Coach or Trainer is concerned about a player’s medical status they may require the player to provide a medical certificate stating that they are fit to play, prior to resuming training / playing.
Medical Clearances:
The requirement for medical clearances is about ensuring that players seek medical attention for conditions that may cause them further serious health problems in the long term.
For certain injuries and illnesses, a player will not be permitted to return to training or participate in any further games until a medical clearance is made by a Doctor, Physiotherapist, Chiropractor, Osteopath, Dentist or Psychologist (As AHPRA guidelines) and the paperwork has been provided to the Coach and/or Team Manager.
Conditions where a medical clearance is required are:
- Any form of cardiac (heart condition)
- Hypertension (history of high blood pressure)
- Broken bones of any sort
- Significant soft tissue injuries (where a player has not recovered to a playing capacity one-week post injury)
- Any form of concussion
- Any form of unconsciousness, no matter how brief
- Any form of potential cervical (neck) injury
- Repeated episodes of illness of and already diagnosed medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and epilepsy
- Any injury involving the eye itself
- Any player recovering from a significant illness, such as:- Chicken pox, Measles, Whooping cough, Glandular fever, Pneumonia, any form of influenza where it has caused the player to miss games and training greater than one week, any immune depressed conditions.
The medical clearance/certificate should state that “The player is fit to return to Football”.
The above list is not exhaustive, and a common-sense approach will be used when requesting a medical clearance.
Many of the above conditions can be made worse by physical activity and cause the player/s further illness or discomfort.
Some medical conditions can also be contagious and pose a risk to other players and coaching staff.
The medical clearance may also be subject to conditions attached by the doctor/physio for example restricting the player to only light training and no games or player is only permitted to play x amount of minutes etc.
Coaches will be guided by these recommendations.
Return to Play The return to play will be at the discretion of the Coach and Trainers. Once a medical clearance has been provided, the Coach/Club and Trainer may be required to confirm the player’s fitness to resume training or participation in game play.
Injuries :
- All teams must have a qualified Trainer.
- At least one parent or guardian of each child is recommended to remain at training and during the games, to attend to any off site medical attention that their child may need.
- During games, in the event of an injury or injury/health concern, other Club personnel including coaches and assistant coaches are to be guided by the Trainer and the player’s parents/guardian concerning the player’s capacity to return to play the game. Final decision concerning this issue is ultimately be made by the Trainer (taking conservative option) in liaison with parent/guardian.
- Trainers are not expected to provide taping outside of the scope of their qualifications (Sports Level 1 = ankle / thumb taping).
- If taping is required as part of injury rehabilitation, either a parent tapes the player, or clear instruction is provided to the trainer by the medical practitioner. The trainer has the right to decline if not comfortable.
- Except in the case of an emergency (ie: provision of Ventolin in case of known asthma; Epipen in case of anaphylaxis), no medications, medical assistance or substances/sprays etc are to be provided by the Trainer to a player without the consent of the player’s parents/guardian.
- To avoid doubt this does not include minor and routine assistance to a player such as stretching/rub down/ice assistance for a muscle strain, or similar type of injury which may be provided as a matter of course and without the need for consent of the player’s parents/guardian.
- If the Coach or Trainer is concerned about a player’s fitness they may require the player to provide a medical certificate stating that they are fit to play, prior to resuming training / playing.
RISKS
- Return to training / game day before medically advised can increase risk of further injury and/or chronic injury.
- Trainers risk potential litigation should treatments/medication be provided without parent/guardian consent (Note: consent in this instance is included in player medical forms)
RESPONSIBILITIES
Parents/Players:
- Players (or parents) must notify their coach and or trainer of any changes in circumstances (injury / health problem etc) that could place the player at greater risk.
- Before games the responsibility for a player’s capacity to play the relevant game rests with the trainer. Trainers are advised to take a conservative management plan in their decision making. Parents are required to abide by this decision.
- Any decision concerning injury management at training / game day is ultimately be made by the Trainer. Parents are requested to abide by this decision.
- The cost of transportation and/or medical treatment is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
- In event of injury, if medical clearance is requested, it is required to be provided to the trainer/team manager prior to player return to training / match day.
Coach:
- During games, in the event of an injury or injury/health concern, coaches and assistant coaches are to be guided by the Trainer concerning the player’s capacity to play the game.
Trainer :
- Attendance at certified courses as outlined by the EFL, ideally prior to commencement of Round 1 competition.
These currently include
- CPR (yearly)
- Provide First Aid (Must include assessed competencies HLTAID 003 (Provide First Aid) or HLTAID 002 (Provide Basic Emergency Life Support)
- Level 1 Sports Trainer (U11 – U17 only)
- During games the responsibility for the health and safety of players rests with the Trainer in liaison with the player’s parents/guardian.
Team Manager:
- Pre-season notification of trainer name and contact details to Club Secretary
- Serious injuries (i.e. those that may require medical treatment) should be reported to the Team Manager who should then inform the Club Secretary within 24 hours.
Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club:
- Overall responsibility to provide safe training environment
- Provision of EFL insurance details to club members
WHAT IS AND IS NOT IN SCOPE
Concussion management is not within scope of this policy : see FTGJFC Concussion Policy
RESOURCES
http://www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/index.php?id=1833
http://www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/index.php?id=343
POLICY REVIEW
This Policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant, practical and that it reflects community expectations and legal requirements.
The Policy will be reviewed in the first instance by FTG Football Team Executive group, and thereafter biannually as part of the club’s Strategic Plan Review process.
SUMMARY
This document was tabled at the May 2018 Executive Meeting and the above stated Policy was voted upon and endorsed/accepted by majority vote.
Ferntree Gully Eagles Junior Football Club
Executive & General Committee
April 2018