Playing it Safe: Football Risk Assessments Explained
What is a risk assessment in football coaching?
Whether you're the mastermind on the sidelines or the seasoned coach, it's time to put on your risk assessment hat and dive into the fascinating realm of playing it safe – quite literally!
In the world of football there's one tool that should never be left out of your kit: the trusty risk assessment. Think of it as your compass for navigating the potential minefield of hazards, ranging from slippery turf to rogue footballs that seem to have a mind of their own.
Now, we're not trying to sound like the fun police here. In fact, we're all about maintaining that vibrant energy and enthusiasm that make football sessions a blast. But it is crucial to have your sights set on spotting and preventing potential risks. Not only will it keep your whole team safe, but it will also help if you’re ever in a situation where you’ll need to rely on insurance!
So, if you're wondering how to keep the magic of the beautiful game alive while ensuring safety is never sidelined, you're in the right place. In this blog, we're going to break down the world of risk assessment in a way that’ll keep you ahead of the game. Ready to kick off safety with style? Keep reading!
What are some risks in football?
The very first step of any risk assessment is to try and predict what could potentially pose a risk to you, your players or your coaches. This should include everything from trips and falls to broken equipment. So what are some of the most common risks to consider?
[.pink__text]Playing Conditions:[.pink__text]
The playing conditions can often be hard to predict, which is why they can become a major risk. Potholes can become unexpected hurdles, and extreme weather might just turn your session into a slip-and-slide spectacle. And let's not forget pitch flooding – a surprise pool party the players didn't sign up for!
[.green__text]Player Actions:[.green__text]
Dangerous tackles and accidental clashes can quickly turn your coaching paradise into a scene from a wrestling ring. And what about that powerful shot that suddenly transforms into a window-shattering projectile? It’s important to consider any risks players could pose - both to other players but also to equipment or property.
[.blue__text]Safety Gear Shortcomings:[.blue__text]
Shin pads aren't just a fashion statement – they're essential armour against the unexpected blows of the game. Ensure that you’ve encouraged your young players to wear the necessary safety gear.
[.orange__text]Faulty Footwear:[.orange__text]
Those snazzy boots might look impressive, but are they equipped to handle the turf? Inappropriate studs might just have players slipping and sliding like they're on an ice rink, which is why it’s important to consider the risks that faulty footwear can cause.
[.pink__text]Flag Posts & Pitch Boundaries:[.pink__text]
Flags might mark the territory, but what if they're too close to the action? Low-hanging flag posts could turn a header into a head-knock, and those pointed tops might just be aiming for a high-five with players' heads.
[.green__text]Accessorising Wisely:[.green__text]
Jewellery might add flair, but it could also cause unwanted injuries to the wearer or other unsuspecting players caught in its glittery crossfire. It might be best to ask your players to leave the jewellery at home.
Remember that these are just some common risks to consider. Your football club will have your own, unique challenges to consider in your risk assessment that are not included in this list.
What is an example of a football risk assessment?
Now that we’ve covered what a risk assessment for a football club is, and some of the common risks to keep in mind, we will need to start filling out the risk assessment template and conducting the risk assessment itself. Let’s have a look at what you’ll want to include in your risk assessment!
[.blue__text]1. What are your hazards?[.blue__text]
First, plot out the hazards you want to keep an eye on. It’s time to put on your detective hat and write down all of the potential risks associated with playing the beautiful game. Take a walk around the areas you, your coaches and your players will interact with and consider what hazards might be hiding there.
[.orange__text]2. Who’s affected?[.orange__text]
Next, you’ll want to relate each hazard to the person that would be affected if the worst was to happen. Could it just be the players, or are the coaches in the line of fire too? And hey, let's not forget the unsuspecting parents watching on the sidelines and building owners who might find themselves caught in the crossfire of a stray shot.
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[.pink__text]3. What’s the level of risk?[.pink__text]
We can’t promise you that lightning won’t suddenly strike a player on a clear day, but it’s a whole lot less likely than the risk of someone slipping on a wet pitch. This is why you will want to assign each hazard a level of risk based on how bad the injury would be and how likely it is to occur. Here’s a small guide to assigning the level of risk to the football hazards:
[.green__text]1/5 Very Low Risk: The risk is unlikely to occur but could still occur in exceptional situations.[.green__text]
[.green__text]2/5 Low Risk: The risk isn’t likely to occur but we should prepare for the worst case scenario.[.green__text]
[.green__text]3/5 Moderate Risk: The risk could occur and we will need a plan in place.[.green__text]
[.green__text]4/5 High Risk: The risk is quite likely and has possibly occurred before.[.green__text]
[.green__text]5/5 Very High Risk: The risk is highly likely to occur, has occurred before and the conditions would allow for it to happen again.[.green__text]
[.blue__text]4. What preventative measures can you take?[.blue__text]
Now it’s time to be creative and think of solutions to prevent or at least minimise the hazards. For example, if your pitch is flooded, it might be smart to either play on a different pitch, or even cancel the session in order to prevent your players going for an unexpected swim! Or, if you think the balls could cause an injury due to the level of pressure in them, the control measure would be to ensure that the balls are only ever pumped to the correct pressure in the future.
Finally, it’s important to remember that you’ll need to be on the ball when it comes to updating your risk assessment. Just as tactics evolve on the field, so do the risks, so making sure that your assessment is kept up-to-date is the best way to prevent any injuries later on in the game. It’s also important that you have insurance in case anything that wasn’t on your risk assessment was to occur.
And there you have it! From unpredictable playing conditions to unexpected player actions, the landscape of risks can be as diverse as the game itself. But, a well-executed risk assessment is your playbook for preserving your club’s core values while minimising potential pitfalls - and you now know exactly how to fill out a risk assessment for your football club! So go forth and conquer those hazards and let’s keep playing the beautiful game as safely as we can!
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Felicia Bugge
Felicia is our resident Content Specialist. She is the mastermind behind most of our blogs, emails and Tiktoks! When she isn’t planning the next big email campaign or chasing participants for Tiktoks, she can be found travelling to new exotic places, reading the latest booktok book, or converting friends to using iPads for notes and calendars!
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