Health and safety are two extremely important aspects of the Fort Hunt Rugby program.

USA Rugby Medical and Safety Guide

First of all, no player may participate in Fort Hunt Rugby practices or matches unless they are registered through FHYAA. This is not about money; this is a requirement of the FHYAA liability insurance.

Health

Fitness: The best way to avoid injury, is to be fit to begin with.

Part of the Fort Hunt Rugby player’s, coach’s and parent/spectator’s codes of conduct is the pledge not to use tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs while engaged in Fort Hunt Rugby activities. This includes both practices and matches.

Hydration and prevention of heat injuries is very important during our summer season.

-- Players are the first line of defense, responsible to properly prepare themselves for practicing and playing, and to monitor themselves as they participate.

-- Parents also must monitor all participants for signs of heat injury.

-- Coaches will actively monitor all players, and will adjust workout times/playing periods and breaks to account for heat and the need for hydration and rest.

Safety

Training/Game Conduct: Coaches and referees will work together to ensure safe training and match environments.

Fields: Coaches have the primary responsibility to ensure fields and playing equipment (posts, flags) are suitable and safe for play.

Weather: We practice and play in the rain (field permitting); we’re playing rugby, after all. But, all activities stop in the event of thunder OR lightning. All training and play halts immediately if thunder or lightning is detected. This is non-negotiable. All club members--players, coaches and parents alike--will follow coaches’ directions and take appropriate shelter under grounded structures or in automobiles, and not on the field/under trees. A 20-minute clock begins at the sign of thunder or lightning, and resets to zero for all subsequent events. After 20 minutes of lightning- and thunder-free weather, activities may resume.

Lightning Safety

Injuries

We do our best to keep all players training and playing in control, but it is inevitable that injuries will occur.

-- The most common injuries are bumps, bruises and scrapes. These will be treated on-site, in consultation with the player’s parent(s), and in the best judgment of the coaches. Players may be approved to continue practice/play immediately, but coaches reserve the right to require the player to sit out the rest of the event for rest/recuperation. Return to play will be based on the player’s feedback, parents’ in put, and the judgment of the coaching staff.

-- Less common but possible, and more serious injuries are cuts and gashes, deep bruises. These will be treated first on-site by coaching staff and with parental consultation, and usually will be referred to immediate professional medical treatment. A player with such injuries usually will be done playing for that event (game/tournament). Returning to play will be based on the player’s feedback, parents’ input, and the judgment of the coaching staff.

-- All dental injuries involving loose, chipped, cracked or missing teeth will be referred immediately to emergency professional medical/dental treatment (in consultation with the parents). A player with such an injury will be done for that event (game/tournament). Returning to play will be based on the player’s feedbac, parents’ input, and the judgement of the coaching staff.

-- Major injuries, such as a dislocation or broken bone, will be treated immediately, and in consultation with the player’s parents, and will be referred to immediate professional medical treatment. Emergency medical services may be summoned to the site, depending on the injury. A player with such an injury is done for that event (game/tournament), and will require professional medical clearance in writing to return to play.

-- Head Injuries/Concussion. Any player who loses consciousness or who has discernible (coaching staff determination, per CDC checklist/guidelines) loss of focus or cognitive awareness will be assessed on-site for possible consussion. All such players suffering a head injury or concussion will be immediately pulled from training or a match, and may not resume participation until the coaching staff has been notified that a professional medical examination has cleared that player to play.

-- For medically diagnosed concussions, and for all instances in which a player loses consciousness (whether a concussion is diagnosed or not), that player is banned from all full-contact training and all match play for a period of three weeks (21 days). This is long-established International Rugby Board and USA Rugby policy, and is not negotiable. Even if medically cleared during the three-week period, a player may not return until the three-week period is over.

Returning to Play: After an injury, the sole decision for return to play rests with the coaching staff, ultimately with the head coach and FHYAA rugby commissioner. We will take into account a player’s willingness to return, and parents’ recommendations. A player will never be rushed to return to either training or play, and should feel no pressure to do so, from coaches, parents, or peers.

Check out "When It’s More than a Headache," an excellent New York Times story on the youth head injuries, from September 2009.

Back to Fort Hunt Rugby home.