The Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic

Sports Awareness for Educating Today's Youth

Introduction

On May 12, 1986, New Jersey became the first state in the nation to pass legislation which protects volunteer athletic coaches, managers, and officials from lawsuits. Commonly referred to as the "Little League Law" (2A:62A-6 et. seq.), this legislation extends partial civil immunity to volunteers who have attended a "safety orientation and training skills program."

Since 1986, the Youth Sports Research Council, in cooperation with the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association (NJRPA) has trained more than 140,000 volunteer coaches in New Jersey.

Objectives

In accordance with the stipulations in the Little League Law, the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic:

• helps coaches minimize the risk of injury to young athletes
• provides information about fundamental coaching concepts which enhances volunteer coaches' effectiveness
• protects volunteer coaches from civil lawsuits

Topics

The curriculum for the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic is based upon the Minimum Standards for Volunteer Coaches' Safety Orientation and Training Skills Programs (N.J.A.C. 5:52).

The topics include:

• Legal Aspects of Coaching
• Psychological Aspects of Coaching
• General Coaching Concepts
• Training and Conditioning Athletes
• Medical/First Aid Aspects of Coaching

Highlights

Individuals attending the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic receive:

• Way to Go, Coach! (pp. 200) custom edition text
• The Coaches' Reference Manual (3rd edition)
• The Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic Certification Card
• The Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic Patch
• Permanent registration with YSRC (.3 CEU)

Registration Fee: $25.00/coach

Implementation

Youth sports agencies can choose to have the YSRC provide a Clinician to conduct the Clinic ($150 administrative fee), or they can train their own instructors. Any volunteer can learn to teach the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic by attending a 5-hour Clinician's workshop (.5 CEU). Clinicians are provided with all the instruction and tools necessary for conducting the Clinic "on site" at their convenience.

Following completion of the S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic, the host agency is sent a roster of the volunteer coaches attending the clinic. Thereafter, the YSRC will certify any coach's attendance upon request.