Players safety is of paramount importance. The following should form the basis of an ongoing Health and Safety checklist before every training session and match:

• Checking the pitch and taking action where necessary, for pot holes, broken glass, dog muck, nails, dangerous foreign objects etc
• Checking the pitch surroundings, roads near the pitch, wire fences, rives, streams or lakes, steep hills etc
• Checking goal strengths, structure and safety
• Ensuring the safety of all coaching equipment and advising players of the use and care of. Make sure balls are the right size and pressure for the age range, cones are the soft variety that collapse when trodden on, poles or used and carried carefully
• Player safety - requiring all players to wear shin guards, no jewellery, correct footwear for the conditions, correct clothing for the weather, re hydration requirements, sun block
• Applying common sense rules in relation to the weather conditions - in hot weather, keep training time down, shorter sharper spells, with lots of water and rest periods, avoiding the hottest part of the day etc.
• Training or match rules - ensuring the players understand what the coach requires of them -"Do not go near the road or climb the fence to retrieve the ball"
• Ensuring there is a well maintained First Aid Kit
• Ensuring there is a trained First Aid person in attendance at all training and matches
• Make sure that at least two adults attend every training session and matches. This helps spread the coaching load. It also enables one to care for the injured party in the event of an accident while the other deals with the other players and provides both parties with an independent, adult version of events if anything goes wrong.
• Knowing the nearest location and number of a telephone land line and ensuring that a charged, mobile telephone is accessible.
• Know the address and location of the training venue and if there are any problems with vehicle access
• Keep a confidential register of contact details of all the players and parents, which should include references to any medical issues relating to the players ability to train or play.