Purpose: The purpose of this Game Day Policy is to outline the procedures and responsibilities of sports trainers with minimum requirements of Level 1 Sports Trainers Course, current first aid and CPR during Australian Rules Football matches to ensure the safety and well-being of players.
1. Pre-Game Preparation:
- Ensure all supplies are properly stocked and easy to find.
- Verify the availability of emergency medical services and be aware of where the nearest medical facilities.
- Check location of defibrillator & spinal board
- Conduct pre-game duties including:
- taping
- massage
- ensure ice available
- ensuring any required player medical clearances have been received
2. On-Field Responsibilities:
- Be present on the sidelines at all times (whilst a game is in progress) and be in a position to respond quickly should an injury / illness occur during the game. Mobile phones prohibited for personal use-football related ONLY use
- Provide immediate basic medical first aid attention to injured players as needed, assess, and manage on-field injuries within the scope of their first aid, CPR and Level 1 (or Level 2) Sports Training
- Liaise with Mandy Carter, relevant coaches, regarding player injuries at an appropriate time.
- Communicate effectively with referees to ensure the safety of players and compliance with game rules.
- Supply first aid treatment and support – DO NOT diagnose
3. Injury Management:
- Follow established concussion protocols (or substitute use of CCMI app to conduct game day suspected concussion assessments) for assessing and managing head injuries (see attached Concussion Handbook), calling emergency services or referring to medical services when necessary.
- Emergency planning—including ensuring access to a telephone, venue access for emergency vehicles and access to appropriate and adequate first aid equipment and supplies.
- On-field assessment of injured participants—including the STOP (Stop, Talk, Observe, Prevent) and TOTAPS (Talk, Observe, Touch, Active movement, Passive movement & Skills test – some of which will be completed off field). This includes the immediate management of severe injuries and life-threatening medical emergencies including spinal & neck injuries; concussion & intracranial (brain) injuries; unconscious casualties; airway/respiratory distress such as choking, airway obstructions & asthma.
- Understanding emergency response priorities and applying emergency procedures — including the (DRSABCD) Danger, Response, Send for help, Airways, Breathing, and CPR and Defibrillation procedure. Implement basic immobilisation and transport procedures for more serious injuries, awaiting medical assistance
- Calling an ambulance -This transport is at players cost – Not covered by players insurance.
- Transporting injured participants—including lifts, carries and use of an appropriate stretcher
- Record all injuries that the trainer has assessed / attended to during the game using the SMA Incident Report Form Injury-Reporting-Form_General.pdf (sma.org.au) ** with the exception of all concussions that are assessed and recorded using the CCMI app (if the club is going to use it)
4. Post-Game Procedures:
- Conduct post-game injury review to identify any new injuries or worsening conditions, referring for further assessment and treatment as needed.
- Provide appropriate post-game care and treatment for players, including ice packs, compression bandages etc
- Ensure all injuries and treatments provided during the game are completed and copy of injury report given to the player (insert name of committee member that trainers report to).
- Ensure any player that sustained a concussion during the game is aware that a copy of their medical clearance is required for clearance to return to play no earlier than 21 days post incident.
5. Professional Conduct:
- Conduct oneself in a professional manner at all times, maintaining confidentiality and respecting the privacy of players.
- Collaborate with other sports trainers, coaching staff and club officials to ensure a coordinated approach to player health and safety
- Ensure all required certificates of competency are current – Not expired
- Notify club contact of unavailability ASAP to allow for replacement trainer
8. Review and Updates:
- Periodically review this Game Day Policy to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and best practices in basic sports medicine.
- Communicate any updates or revisions to the policy promptly to all relevant stakeholders.
Document Disclaimer
This article has been adapted from official source documentation and reformatted for easier reading. It may not include every detail from the original. Please refer to the full downloadable document above before making any decisions or taking action.