Sprained Ankle Grades of Severity for Sprained Ankles:... 17

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1 Table of Contents Disclaimer... 2 Safety Basics in the Gym Class... 3 General Principles of Injury Prevention & Treatment... 3 Injury Prevention... 4 Facility and Equipment Safety:... 5 Participant Safety Preparation:... 5 Coach Safety Injury Management and Treatment STOP Injury Management Protocol Incident Report Form RICE Treatment Protocol First Aid Box Common Injuries in the Gym Class Finger Sprains Treatment Sprained Ankle Grades of Severity for Sprained Ankles: Treatment First Aid and Continued Treatment Scrapes, Cuts, Bumps, and Bruises Before You Put the Band-Aid On Cut and Scrape First Aid Bruise or Bump First Aid Safety Checklist for Coaches- Check the Following... 21

2 Disclaimer The information contained within these video(s) and manual(s) is intended solely for use by certified instructors and has been provided by Tania Williams of G-Wiz business Academy for instructional use only. Tania Williams has over 27 years of experience of teaching, researching and instructing the sport of gymnastics. The information contained herein is not intended to, nor should it replace any other educational source. G-Wiz Business Academy strongly recommends that all instructors using its material be Safety Certified through your own National Gymnastics Federation.[E.g. USAG in the USA, SAGF in the RSA etc.] Watching these videos and/or studying these manuals do not in any way certify you as an instructor in the teachings contained herein. An instructor's technique should be continually evaluated by other coaches and training professionals. Gymnastics education should be an on-going process utilizing such tools as in-service training and education, books and educational conferences. G-Wiz Business Academy, as the producer of these videos and instructor guides [manuals], and the distributors of this program, including all the instructors and participants, disclaim any liability or loss associated in any way with these videos and manuals. The contents of these videos and manuals are the exclusive property of G-Wiz Business Academy and may not be reprinted, reproduced or redistributed in whole or in part without the express written permission of G-Wiz Business Academy. 2

3 Safety Basics in the Gym Class Safety in the gym class is very important, because a safe class not only prevents injury to your gymnasts but also to yourself. If your class is well disciplined, the chance of a child doing a skill in the wrong way or doing the wrong skill is limited, limiting the chance of injury. Coaches, gymnasts and parents form part of the Safety Team, and all should be educated on the Safety Principles. We educate our Parents in the Parent Handbook they receive upon joining our gymnastics school. Safety is much broader than what happens in the gymnasium- it includes all of the following: Proper gymnastics Instruction Progressions and Spotting Using and maintaining apparatus and equipment properly Planning for injuries and Using First Aid Facility Inspections and Maintenance Appropriate Supervision Planning and organising classes and practices Coach and gymnast Education Injury Prevention Gymnast Preparation Record Keeping Child welfare Insurance and Legal Considerations SAFETY FIRST The primary goal of the gymnastics professional is to provide a safe environment for gymnasts. Teachers should consider the following safety considerations when planning and implementing gymnastics lessons. General Principles of Injury Prevention & Treatment 3

4 Injury Prevention Prevention is better than cure Injuries can be prevented by following basic rules: Improve Fitness: Injury can occur at any time during the class, but it is more likely to occur at the end of the lesson, when the stabilising muscles are fatigued, causing poor posture and technique. Physical preparation is perhaps the single most practical means of injury prevention. Technique: A skill performed with the correct technique is less likely to cause injury that one performed with incorrect technique. If you see a gymnast performing a skill with the wrong technique correct them and have them do it again with the right technique. Facilities and Playing area: Level area free of obstructions; Mats neat, no gaps & enough safety mats, always spot Equipment: Equipment must be in good condition Illness/ Injury: Gymnasts should not be allowed to return if an injury has not recovered/ they have the flu. Rules & Supervision: Participants must be aware of rules, and should always be supervised. Rules are designed to create a safe environment and to protect the athletes. Weather conditions: When it s cold make sure the gymnast are adequately warmed up, and keep moving so they don t injure themselves. Provide adequate warm up: Warm up prepares the mind, heart, muscles and joints. 5 Min of Pulse raising activity followed by stretching, and specific warm up & conditioning is sufficient. Stretching: o Stretch after warm up & in Cool down, o Hold all stretches for 10s or more, o Stretch alternate muscle groups (hamstrings and quads, biceps and triceps), o Stretch gently and slowly Fluid Replacement: Fluid replacement is very important; gymnast should be allowed to drink water when they need to. Mental Preparation: Make sure the gymnast is adequately mentally prepared for the activities to follow. Teach them to visualise the skills before performing them. Call attention to those not concentrating/listening during the activity. No horseplay. Cool down: Incorporate a cool down routine at the completion of activity, to slow gymnasts down, & stretch out their muscles to prevent blood pooling and soreness the next day. 4

5 Facility and Equipment Safety: 1. Equipment well maintained: Get into the habit of checking that the equipment you'll be using is in good working order & select the appropriate equipment for each task. Constantly check matting for gaps, tighten all spin locks, remove hazards from the gym area, fluff up the loose foam in the pit [if you have one]. If you find problems, stop the use of the apparatus and notify your manager or other staff/remedy the situation. 2. Mats must not be slippery. 3. Sufficient space for movement: Equipment should be spaced well apart and set up in such a way that gymnasts can't collide with other gymnasts, spectators, or equipment. 4. Area should be free of obstacles. 5. No spectators allowed in the gym, except for parent watching days/special events. They can stay in the viewing area [if you have one!] 6. No activities without appropriate supervision. Educate the kids about safe conduct in the gym. Teach them: To check apparatus and equipment- if they see a problem- e.g. gap in the mats, they must tell you. To Check their own personal equipment [hand-guards, clothing, shoes etc.] To Communicate clearly. They must listen attentively to instructions, follow them accurately and ask questions if it s not clear to them. Especially important for spotting- both gymnasts and coach must know what s going on, and be on the same page. To come to gym prepared to participate. Arrive 5 minutes before start time, wait in the designated waiting area, be physically, mentally and socially prepared, warm up properly, report illness, fatigue, injury or emotional unease. Use verbal reminders, have them repeat back to you the safety rules. Enforce. If rules are broken, educate on WHY the rules are there. Practice safety rolls and landings. Participant Safety Preparation: 1. Make sure the area is ready for gymnastics participation. 2. Make sure the gymnasts understand the skill- by watching others do it, or on video, or practicing the drills and progression steps to the skill. Teach your gymnasts to ask for help if they do not understand it. 3. Ensure correct lead ups have been done and prerequisites checked before moving on to the next skill. Keep a book with all these checked off. Make sure the gymnast understands the need for correct basics before moving on to more advanced skills. 4. Adequate physical preparation for skills: Skill specific conditioning should be done along with the correct lead ups before introducing a skill. Once again, educate WHY this needs to be done. 5. No Chickening out. Teach your gymnasts to ALWAYS follow through on the skill once they start it. No matter what happens, stopping the skill in the middle of it can cause a worse injury than if they followed through- even if mistakes were made. Avoid landing on neck or head- or with straight legs. 5

6 6. Progress should be made on individual readiness, don t push to keep up with group. NB. Especially when a new child joins. Teach gymnasts to know their personal limitations. They should not try skills that exceed their current abilities. 7. Gymnast must wear the correct attire, no dresses, jeans or too loose and baggy clothes, no socks [bare feet is best to prevent slipping], hair tied up, no gum, no jewellery. 8. Teach students to be aware of others when moving about a space. 9. Do not allow young children under the age of 7 years, to move equipment at all. Children older than 7 may move light mats under supervision. No children move other equipment other than light mats. No horseplay allowed. No children may get underneath a mat to lift it. 10. No Children may jump on the trampoline without a spotter. 11. Children may only do movements for which they have been trained, and under supervision of a coach. 12. No one may start doing gymnastics before the class starts or after the class ends as coaches are busy with other tasks and cannot watch kids. 13. Teach Landings at every session and on every apparatus. Back and Spine Straight- no arch in lower back, do not bend forward at the waist Arms extended to the front - in line with the heart. [Keeps chest up on landing] Keep knees slightly bent, never land on straight legs, don t bend into too deep a squat- bad for knees. Progressions for Landings 1. Practice Safe Landing Position on Floor First. 2. Progress to jumping with various shapes [on floor]- with proper landing [I make my gymnasts hold it for 3 counts] 3. Practice jumps from a height- box top, trapezoid, stage. 4. Then move to the individual apparatus and practice landings from there. 5. Incorporate it into your skills. 6

7 14. Learning How To Fall Falls are common in gymnastics- especially when they learn new skills. Teach your gymnasts to fall properly by demonstrating and practicing safety rolls. Safety Roll A safety roll should be performed if a gymnast is off-balance or falling it allows them to absorb the impact of a fall over a larger surface of their body. A gymnast should perform a safety roll instead of trying to stop their momentum immediately. Rolls can be performed forwards, sideways or backwards especially backwards (a gymnast should never stick out an arm behind them to stop a fall). Make a fist with the hands Pull the arms in across the body, and roll in a tucked position. Rolls can also be done with the arms overhead. 15. Intra Task Variation Firstly, put kids in the correct group according to their abilities. Teach skills that match the group s abilities. Use progressions to move from easy to more difficult moves. Use intra task variation. This is when you establish different levels of difficulty [easier and more difficult drills] relative to a target skill. Kids at different levels can therefore all work on the same target skill [e.g. back walkover] - but do different drills relative to their ability. 7

8 Example for Target Skill- Backward Walkover Drill One- Backbend 1. Backbend Feet Raised [Easier] 2. Backbend on Floor [More Difficult] Drill Two- Rocking Bridge 3. Rocking Bridge [Easier] 8

9 4. Jumping Bridge- More Difficult Drill Three- Bridge with 1 leg up 5. Bridge with 1 leg up- easier 6. Hopping Bridge with one leg up [more difficult] 9

10 Drill 4- Backbend with feet on height and kick over Drill 5- Lower Backwards To Backbend 7. Against wall -from knees- easier 10

11 8.Lower Backwards from height- [easier] - and then onto floor [more difficult] Target Move- Backward Walkover Coach Safety 1. Sufficient class control & discipline. Proper supervision and instruction is the backbone of the coach/instructor s duties. Proper progressions, skill techniques, landing and falling properly and spotting are essential. 2. Good organization & planning: Failure to plan is planning to fail. 3. Position yourself in the best place to see all activities and be able to assist 4. Ensure you know how the skill should be performed, how to spot, what the lead ups are, and what the physical requirements are for the skill. 5. Select appropriate skills. Gymnasts need to be properly matched to the appropriate skill level. To do this, coaches must evaluate, monitor and understand the ability, experience and limitations of the gymnast. Other considerations include age appropriate skills and physical, mental and social development. Only teach skills appropriate for the gymnast s current skill level. Use proper progressions to advance to the next level of skills. 11

12 6. Have a clear, predetermined signal to stop and start all students moving. This may be a whistle, a verbal cue or a visual cue such as the teacher raising an arm above their head. 7. Continue your education and professional development- this is important for career advancement, injury prevention and providing a safe and successful environment for gymnasts. 8. Constantly educate and remind parents and gymnasts as to the safe conduct of gymnastics participation. Dealing with an Injury Injuries may occur at any time during class, so be sure you know how to treat them. Have an Emergency Action Plan This is a written plan of action defining responsibilities, areas of coverage and step by step procedures that should be taken in case of an emergency. Emergencies can encompass severe injuries, lie-threatening illnesses and other medical conditions, natural disasters, fires and civil disturbances. Your Emergency Action plan should be communicated to, practiced and followed by all staff members. Your club s Emergency Action Plan should include: Definition of roles- who should call for emergency aid, give First Aid to the injured person, supervise other non- injured gymnasts, and contact the parents. Co-operation with local emergency service personnel [we use CMR] Step-by-step actions to be taken in the emergency Communications protocols- including when and how to notify club owners/directors, parents and other gymnasts Emergency Phone Numbers Appropriate forms and documentation Practice your Emergency Action Plan! Each coach and instructor must know how to deal with an emergency. Your role as a coach is to activate this plan in an emergency. Recognize an emergency exists, decide to act, call the local emergency number, give care until help arrives. Stay calm! If it s a non -emergency situation, simply give first aid. If pain continues, get the child s parent to take them to a doctor. Rather err on the side of caution: If in doubt, rather get a medical opinion. 12

13 Injury Management and Treatment STOP Injury Management Protocol STOP: stop activity TALK: Ask questions, what, where, move? OBSERVE: Observe the individual and injured site PREVENT: Prevent further injury Here is our procedure for serious injuries [e.g. broken limb] or a fall on the head or neck: Immediately call the parent. If parent not available, use the emergency number on file. If both not available, CMR is called. [This has been previously signed for in our acceptance and indemnity form]. Parents are advised verbally AND IN WRITING to take the child to a specialist THE SAME DAY if a head/neck injury or broken limb. Coach has to report the incident to management within 24 hours in writing. We use the below incident report form to keep record of any incidents that occur. 13

14 Incident Report Form Employee Name: Class in which incident occurred: Name if child/children concerned: Date which incident occurred: Details of incident: Did you contact the parents?: What was the outcome?: Employee Signature Date: Manager Signature Date: 14

15 First Aid is the help given to an injured or sick person in need of medical treatment. This can be severe [for example a heart attack] or minor [like a cut or bruise]. RICE Treatment Protocol This protocol should be used for all minor injuries, such as a sprain or a strain, bumps and bruises. REST: Rest injured part. It is important to rest the injury to reduce pain and prevent further damage. Use crutches if necessary. Many therapists advocate partial weight bearing as soon as pain will allow. This is thought to accelerate rehabilitation. ICE: Apply ice to injured part, no more than 20min continuous, never apply directly to skin. Ice is applied to reduce inflammation, pain, muscle spasm and bleeding. Apply an ice pack or similar immediately following injury for 15 minutes. Repeat this every 2 hours. COMPRESSION: Apply firm wide compression over injured part, to reduce bleeding and provide support to area. This reduces bleeding and helps reduce swelling. ELEVATION: Raise injured area above the heart, to reduce bleeding and swelling. If the gymnast has a cut, simply rinse it off in clean running water, and apply a band aid, to prevent further bleeding or infection. In the instance of something serious like a broken arm, simply stabilise to prevent further movement or injury, and call an ambulance and the gymnast s parents. First Aid Box A well-stocked first-aid kit, kept within easy reach, is a necessity in every gym. Having supplies gathered ahead of time will help you handle an emergency at a moment's notice. What You'll Need Include the following in each of your first-aid kits: sterile gauze pads of different sizes adhesive tape adhesive bandages in several sizes elastic bandage a splint antibiotic ointment tweezers sharp scissors safety pins disposable instant cold packs anti-septic solution plastic non-latex gloves (at least 2 pairs) 15

16 Common Injuries in the Gym Class Please note: These are just examples. You MUST become Safety Certified via a reputable Company [we use St Johns] before attempting any form of coaching. Finger Sprains Finger sprains are injuries that cause a stretching and tearing of the ligaments of the fingers or thumb. The most common cause of finger sprains is falling onto the hands. Often, the finger bends unusually, causing the ligament injury and subsequent pain. Symptoms Pain, Treatment Swelling Tenderness of the finger. Follow the RICE principle with all injuries except an open wound. Minor sprains should be iced, and held still for some time to reduce swelling. If the child has no pain on movement of the finger they can be allowed to do gym again. Major sprains that shows immediate signs of swelling and severe pain should be splinted or buddytaped (taped to an adjacent finger) for about 5 min to reduce swelling. So long as there was no fracture or dislocation, most finger sprains should be allowed to move within about a week. Splinting the sprained finger during sports can help protect the injury, but unnecessarily splinting the finger cause it to stiffen up. Medical care must be immediately sought if any of the below sign retains: Finger appears blue Paleness and numbness in finger Poor circulation to the finger Redness of the skin Pain and tenderness in the finger getting worsened Spreading of tenderness over to the finger bones Pain getting worsened after using a splint 16

17 Sprained Ankle A sprained ankle or twisted ankle as it is sometimes known, is a stretching and/or tearing of the ligaments. The most common is an inversion sprain (or outside ligament sprain) where the ankle turns over so the sole of the foot faces inwards, damaging the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. The most common damage sustained in a sprained ankle is to the front of the ankle, the ligament to the back is only injured in severe cases. Grades of Severity for Sprained Ankles: Sprained ankles, as with all ligaments sprains, are divided into grades 1-3, depending on their severity: Grade 1 sprain: Some stretching or perhaps minor tearing of the lateral ankle ligaments. Little or no joint instability. Mild pain. There may be mild swelling around the bone on the outside of the ankle. Some joint stiffness or difficulty walking or running. Grade 2 sprain: Moderate tearing of the ligament fibres. Some instability of the joint. Moderate to severe pain and difficulty walking. Swelling and stiffness in the ankle joint. Minor bruising may be evident. Grade 3 sprain: Total rupture of a ligament. Gross instability of the joint. Severe pain initially followed later by no pain. Severe swelling. Usually extensive bruising. Treatment Immediate First Aid for a sprained ankle: RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) as soon as possible. First Aid and Continued Treatment 1. Elevate the ankle to the level of your chest and rest the injury as much as possible. 17

18 2. Apply an ice pack or a cold compress to the ankle, 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off, for the first 48 to 72 hours. Ice causes blood vessels to constrict. When vessels are constricted, less swelling and bruising will occur. 3. See your doctor or go to the emergency room if pain and/or swelling is moderate to severe. 4. Apply warm compresses or a heating pad, 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off, after the first 2 to 3 days, or as recommended by your doctor. Step 1 As with full ankle strapping, the starting point is the forefoot. Step 2 The bandage is then taken diagonally upwards, steeply enough to go well above the heel. Step 3 Then around the lower calf... Step 4 around the lower calf... Step 5 to form an anchor. Step 6 Then diagonally down across the mid foot. Step 7 Go around the forefoot again... Step 8 and diagonally up to finish off around the lower calf, leaving the heel open. Scrapes, Cuts, Bumps, and Bruises Ouch! If the injury swells too much, the bump could signal a bone or joint injury. And, if the bruises keep coming too fast and furious, it could signal a more complicated medical condition. Bumps and bruises are damage that occurs in the soft tissue under the skin. Under the following conditions, there is no need to call for medical assistance when a person suffers a cut, scrape, bump, or bruise: The injury is small (less than 1/2 inch around). 18

19 There is no bleeding, or only slight bleeding. Make sure you follow the universal guidelines, such as wearing protective gloves, to prevent the spread of HIV or any other dangerous infections. The child is not in excessive pain. The child does not feel numbness or tingling. The child is not suffering any paralysis. The child does not seem to have any broken bones or dislocation at the joints. (If the child is in a great amount of pain and the shoulder, leg, arm, or ankle appears to be lying or hanging at an awkward ankle, there is a good chance he or she has a broken bone or a dislocation.) Before You Put the Band-Aid On Bruises on the hands, fingers, feet, and toes can cause more problems than those that occur on knees, shins, or arms. Your hands and feet are a complicated network of motor functions, nerve endings, and flexibility. Any problems in these areas can cause a disability. For example, stubbing a toe might make walking difficult, or a damaged finger might keep you away from the computer. If you or someone around you experiences more than minor swelling or bruising after bumping into something or falling down, call your physician. Cut and Scrape First Aid Here are simple first aid procedures for treating minor scrapes and cuts: 1. If the injured area has a skin scrape, wash it with mild soap and lukewarm water. 2. Apply antibacterial cream or spray to prevent infection. 3. Cover the wound with a sterile gauze pad and tape or a simple Band-Aid. Bruise or Bump First Aid Bruises and cuts that (and their potential partner, swelling) don't break through the skin, there is a difference in first aid treatment. Follow these steps for treating bruises. 1. Immediately apply an ice pack to the bruise to reduce swelling. (If an ice pack isn't available, use ice wrapped in a cloth or as cold a compress as you can make.) 2. If possible, elevate the bruised area so that it is higher than the heart. This keeps blood from pooling in the affected area (and thus creating more internal bleeding and swelling). 3. Keep the bruise elevated for approximately 15 minutes if the wound is minor. If the bruise is severe and it covers a large portion of the body, call for help. Keep a severe bruise elevated for at least an hour or until a trained emergency care team arrives. 4. If the bruise doesn't appear to be getting any better and more than 24 hours have passed, see your physician. 19

20 5. Seek prompt medical help if there is any swelling around the bruise, especially if it occurs at a joint. This can signal danger to nerves, muscles, and bones, all of which require a trained physician's attention. A Special Note About Head, Neck and Broken Bones NOTE: Never move a gymnast if you suspect a cervical spine [neck] injury- except if CPR is required. Immobilization is essential, because movement after the initial injury can cause further damage. You can assume they have a cervical spine injury if they are unconscious, have multiple injuries, a head injury and/or a facial injury. The gymnast MUST be evaluated by a trained medical practitioner before coming back to gymnastics practice again. After stabilising/immobilizing the child or in the case of a broken limb- applying ice/sling or whatever is appropriate to the injury, do the following. 1. Phone the parent/guardian IMMEDIATELY after the incident. [Within 5 minutes]. If the primary contact person [usually mother] is not available, phone a second emergency contact person. Have both phone numbers with you in a file you carry to training sessions at all times. Calmly tell the parent/nominated contact person exactly what happened, and get them to fetch the child immediately. If neither are available, call and have the ambulance take the child to the nearest private ER. [Your membership form should grant you this permission]. 2. Heads and Neck Injuries often seem insignificant. The child can fall on their neck/head and seem ok a few minutes later. DO NOT ASSUME THEY ARE OK. The last thing you want is bleeding on the brain later that night while the child is asleep. [Head injury]. Or something to shift in the neck later on, causing paralysis. Tell the parent to have the child checked THE SAME DAY, by a doctor or at the ER. Not only must you tell them, but also put this in writing as soon as you get back from the training session, or better yet, do it immediately from your Blackberry on site. You must cc your gym management in. 3. Make sure you have the necessary emergency ambulance numbers [In South Africa we use CMR] in your cell phone as well as on file. 4. Accompany the child in the ambulance to the hospital, if the parents are not contactable. Keep on trying to get hold of them. Make sure the other kids at the training session are adequately supervised before you leave the session. 5. Inform the School as well as Gym Management about the incident. [See incident report form]. 20

21 Safety Checklist for Coaches- Check the Following the hall is clean and the floor surface is not slippery, especially in those areas where children are encouraged to work in bare feet there are no protruding objects, sharp corners or edges (piano, tables, etc.) there is enough space, where classrooms are used, for the class or part of the class to move freely that you have a telephone or cell phone in working order (check battery)- together with clear instructions on how to dial out for emergency services. A list of RELEVANT numbers (incl. the nearest casualty department) A FIRST AID KIT, with recommended materials should be readily available That you have with you, your UPDATED and MAINTAINED list/register of all participants together with a contact number with their next of kin, parent or guardian- as well as a second emergency number Apparatus all apparatus is in a good state of repair apparatus is of suitable size and design for children using it apparatus that is broken or damaged is clearly marked 'Damaged - do not use' and reported to head teacher/pe co-ordinator you regularly (once a year) check all apparatus and produce a written report on it apparatus is stored neatly and safely around the hall children are taught how to lift and carry each piece of apparatus there are sufficient numbers of children to carry each piece of apparatus children bend at the knees and not at the back when they are carrying apparatus children always look in the direction they are going children never drag apparatus, including mats, along the floor children do not lift apparatus above head height children lower apparatus gently you always check apparatus first before any child uses it [e.g. trampoline] 21

22 apparatus should be placed ready for use with sufficient space between pieces/combinations for children to move safely between them mats are treated as pieces of apparatus and not only as landing areas- and you constantly need to check for gaps. Teach the children to look for gaps and report to you/close them. you think about where to place mats when planning lessons mats are well away from walls or other apparatus, especially when they are being used for landing from apparatus mats may not be used if they slip on the floor surface nothing is placed in front of doors that open into the PE/training area you place sufficient mats around apparatus in case a child travels too far or sideways [e.g. trampoline] Clothing children are suitably dressed children work in bare feet - you should not allow children to work in socks children with long hair tie it securely children remove all jewellery and other personal effects such as watches, unless they are worn for religious or cultural reasons children do not wear loose or baggy clothes which may catch on apparatus Conduct of the lesson you always start the lesson with a warm up you are always in a position to view all children working you set tasks on apparatus that are suitable for the age and ability of children you set tasks, and layout the apparatus, in such a way as to allow for maximum space and time efficiency and safety you ALWAYS spot on trampoline Role of the teacher you always conclude the lesson with a cool down 22

23 you are always in control of the physical environment your own clothing, footwear and jewellery conform to safety standards you plan lessons with an eye to safety you are aware of children with medical conditions that may affect them during the lesson (asthma, epilepsy, etc.) you give clear and concise instructions at all times you establish basic safety rules and ensure these are obeyed [e.g. following distance with cartwheels] you establish good discipline applied equally to all participants you teach correct landing techniques and methods of falling safely you are aware of what to do in the event of an accident (see below) you never teach movements for which you have not been trained you never allow kids to do movements for which they have not been trained. Stop them immediately if you see this. you use recommended safe methods for spotting children. You must be a trained and competent spotter. you never allow children on the trampoline if there is no spotter. This applies to before, during and after the lesson. you or your head coach MUST BE CERTIFIED in FIRST AID to teach gymnastics with In the Event of an Accident Instruct the rest of the class to sit quietly and calmly, while you attend to the victim. You may ask the class to leave the PE/gymnasium area under supervision of a colleague. Do not move the child (children) if there is any cause for doubt concerning the child's injuries Follow the school/gym club s policy for dealing with accidents Be sure to report any accident to the head coach/owner/director as well as the parent. The accident also needs to be recorded in your accident log book. Treat any knock to the head with special care and report it to the parent or carer of the child concerned. Advise in writing to immediately have it seen to by a medical practitioner. 23