Frame Football – Safety Considerations

Safety Considerations

An awareness of safety is paramount in all Frame Football coaching sessions and competitions, irrespective of whether there are players with a disability or not. Similarly all coaches need to be aware of any personal conditions, which may influence what is included in the session or how it is managed.

• Knowledge of players with conditions such as epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, anaemia, hay fever and how they manage their conditions.
• Factors relating to new or old injuries and fatigue, so you can recognise their effect when a player is taking part in Frame Football.
• Number of players involved in a session and ages.
• The weather and temperature, the need for fluid replacement.
• Location of first aid equipment.
• Specific hazards and safety precautions associated with football. For example dangerous tackles, incorrect heading of the ball.
• Evacuation procedures due to emergencies (e.g. fire).
• Type of equipment – possibly use a brighter coloured football or one which is lighter/softer when introducing new players or those with less power in kicking.
• Important to have a contrast between the colour of the playing surface and pitch markings – a lot of lines in a sports hall may cause some confusion – use dark lines on a light coloured surface and dark coloured markers or cones.
• If using training bibs be aware of the need for the right colour contrast. Check with players prior to commencing practice.
• Eliminate noise distractions (e.g. when sharing a sports hall with another group of players in an adjoining area).
• Do not leave equipment on the floor where it can be a hazard.
• Ensure players know where the boundary ropes or cones are situated by allowing time for orientation.
• Ensure players are familiar with other parts of the facility (e.g. toilets).
• Need extra safety considerations for emergency evacuation as well as for access (e.g. there should be visual warnings as well as auditory ones for fire or other evacuations).

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