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In the first of a new series of articles on coaching, Chris Siddell, CDO at Malahide CC gives some advice on some of the safety points you should consider when running indoor sessions.
It’s difficult to write an article about safety without sounding a little condescending, and it is impossible to cover everything, as every venue and every group of participants is different. This is an overview explaining some of the things that I always look out for when running a session.

First of all the venue is very important. As a coach you should always know the venue that you will be using, and importantly, make sure it is safe every time you use it – not just on your first visit.

Arrive early and make sure you are the first person in the hall to check everything is in order. Every venue is different and you need to make sure you are aware of anything in your venue that may be a hazard.

The floor should be clean and dry, non-cricket equipment should be stored safely and you should have a defined area for your own, and participants equipment to make sure it does not become a hazard during you session – this could mean leaving equipment outside. I always use a few cones to mark out an area where equipment should be stored.

Don’t assume that because something was safe and secure on your previous visit that it will be again, make sure everything is checked before every session. A great example of this would be moveable goalposts – items such as this should be checked every session, not just the first time you use the hall.

Often parents will want to watch the session, but if there is not a safe and designated area for them to do this, you should ask them to wait outside the hall.

Always be thinking of safety during your session, and even if parents are just arriving for the last few minutes, if you feel it effects anyone’s safety, ask them to wait outside. They should be aware that it is not just for their own safety, but that they are affecting the session and the safety of participants.

Before the session starts you need to make sure all the equipment you have, and any equipment you may use is in good working order and not damaged in any way. While you may be the only coach using your own equipment and you will have a good understanding of it, club equipment or venue specific equipment is used by others and you need to check it yourself. Broken or faulty equipment can be very dangerous, and although something like a cracked plastic bat may seem like nothing, younger people with smaller hands and fingers may hurt themselves.

When using nets, either for practice or to divide the hall, be aware of any damage meaning balls may not be stopped by the net, and of course, people standing too close as balls are being hit into the net from the opposite side. In the coming weeks we will have an article specific to net safety that will provide more details on things to look out for when using nets.

One area often overlooked is ensuring that all the participants are appropriately dressed for the session. You don’t need to fully inspect every item of clothing, but a visual check for any jewellery and inappropriate footwear as people arrive always helps. It is also good practice to ask participants before the start to make sure themselves they are appropriately dressed.

Now we are on to the participants, you should also have information about those taking part before they take part. You should have a register of some kind that has emergency contact details for each participant, and you should be aware of any medical conditions in your group. It goes without saying that there should always be a first aider, and a first aid kit available at every session.

Remember, safety is important for the whole session, not just at the start. You should be constantly evaluating the safety of the session and ensuring the environment is completely safe for everyone, yourself included.

This is not meant as an exhaustive list, but as a basic overview for coaches. It is always your responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone involved in your sessions.

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Connaught