Safety and Rehab

Safety & Student Welfare: Keeping Your Program Healthy

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Safety

Safety is an important consideration for any pickleball program. Here are some important safety issues to consider:

1. Court Surfaces: Indoor floors can be slippery and may need to be swept often; outdoor surfaces should be clean of debris with regular checks of fences, nets, windscreens, etc.

2. Equipment: Balls, bags, ball hoppers, paddles, and other such equipment can be hazardous if left on the court or in close vicinity to the side lines or baselines of the court.

3. Environmental Conditions / Facilities: Weather conditions, temperatures variations like moisture and humidity are some of the conditions that can affect practice and play. The coach and the program should have policies and procedures in place to determine when play should be interrupted or suspended.

4. Accidents/Injuries/Medical Situations: There should be contingency plans in place in the event of an accident on court. Posted signage is helpful to empower students to remain safe and help others in the event it is necessary.

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Injury

It is valuable for coaches to be aware of the "typical" types of injuries that can occur with adult students. Accidental injuries, such as a twisted ankle or a fall on the court, are to be expected, but can be prevented. It may be worthwhile to remind students of the danger in going backwards and /or lunging for out-of-reach balls. Obviously, a coach cannot warn students of all risks but covering some of the basics cannot hurt. Coaches should be knowledgeable of first aid protocol (or be able to call someone who is) to quicky help an injured student.

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Most common injuries can be related to improper footwear, it is recommended that all students wear court shoes vs running or training shoes. It is also important that students protect their eyes from ricocheting shots (off one's own paddle or off partner's paddle). Protective eyewear is highly recommended.

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Knee, back and elbow problems can occur with pickleball students. These may result from improper movement putting pressure on the knees, improperly bending over from the back, and/or overusing the elbow and wrist. Coaches are always watching for technical issues that may cause harm to their students.

 

At least one member of the coaching or program team should hold a First Aid Certificate and be able to administer CPR. First aid equipment such as a Defibrillator should be readily available. The facility MUST have an emergency procedure plan that is known to all coaches. This plan should include injury, fire, and security. The club program itself should also have written procedures to be followed in the event of accidents or injuries on court. A reporting and recording process is also necessary.​

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Student Welfare

Coaches ensure that students follow appropriate hydration and nutrition routines. Hydration should be discussed in terms of volume, timing, frequency, and types of fluid. Often, people play much longer than they realize with no breaks and/or without proper hydration (and or nutrition); dehydration is one of the most common issues with adults especially when playing outdoors. Students entering tournaments should prepare several days in advance for the long hours and possible on-going play througout the event.

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Students returning from injury might be invited to remain in the instructional programs, so they can maintain social contact, hear instruction, and possibly participate at a modified pace. Coaches may also want to take note of potential psychological issues (i.e., loss of confidence) as students return to play after injury, time off, etc. as well as students who may be having issues with others in the facility or group. The goal would be to prevent someone leaving a program when he or she may not really desire to do so.

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The coach is responsible for the safety and welfare of students at all times.