Playing field safety checks are just one element of lowering sport inuries. Photo by Cpl Ashley Roach, 1JPAU

Be sensible, sport

By Capt Ross Railton
The previous injury prevention article discussed the enormous effect injuries in sport were having on the operational capability of the ADF.

In order to address this situation, the reader’s attention was drawn to DI(G) Pers 14-2 ADF Policy on Sport and Sport Safety Management Plans (SSMP).

The Sports Policy is quite explicit in its directions to sports officers and officials.

Appendix 1 to annex B states that the “Sports officer is to ensure that the competition is supported with appropriately qualified officials, including: referees, coaches, managers, trainers and medic/first aid assistant(s),” and, “Coaches and referees play a central role in injury prevention and management.”

Sports officers and officials are assisted in the implementation of their responsibilities by referring to the SSMP available at http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/adfsc

Touch football will be used as an example to demonstrate some of the requirements necessary for the safe implementation of sport in general.

Touch football caused 172 casualties in FY 97/98 and was responsible for 3341 working days lost (page 1-25, Health Status Report, 2000).

This is approximately equivalent to a company of soldiers being unavailable for operational or normal work duties for one month. Collectively, soccer and rugby league/union contributed 3681 working days lost.

The injury surveillance component of the Defence Injury Prevention Program (DIPP) will provide precise data regarding the exact causes of sporting injuries including those resulting from playing touch football.

However, in order to prevent injuries in the meantime, it is necessary to instigate preventive measures based on the currently available data.

This data indicates that touch injuries are sustained during both formal and informal matches. There is some evidence that indicates it is the unsupervised scratch matches that contribute significantly to the total number of sporting injuries.

Mechanisms of injury included falls, trips or slips, body contact with another person or object, wet/uneven ground and inappropriate footwear.

Counter measures to injuries in touch are provided in the SSMP and include:

Supervision

• Formal and informal matches have appropriately trained managers, coaches, referees and officials who are responsible for ensuring the safe and proper conduct of the activity.
• The number of officials will depend on the nature of the competition, however, a qualified coach and/or referee is the minimum requirement for all games.
• Qualified first aid members and appropriate stores are present at the venue.

Team Manager/coach

• Provide pre-event fitness screening of participants including presence of pre-existing injuries and suitable fitness levels.
• Equipment is appropriate and checked for safety.
• Modify rules to match skill and fitness levels of participants.

Pre-screening

Formal pre-season fitness and health check conducted with assistance from local medical facility.

Pre-season preparation

• Incorporate specific touch skills for various team positions into training program.
• Incorporate “prehabilitation” exercises including proprioception, strengthening and agility principles into the training program.
• Ensure players have the required degree of anaerobic/aerobic fitness to play.
• Ensure players have a good understanding of the rules of the game including dangerous play.
• Players should be fit to play and not play to get fit.
• During the game, players not to be under influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Spectacles, hairclips, rings, jewelry, etc, to be removed.
• Long fingernails to be taped or trimmed.

Protective sports equipment

• Mouthguards to be fitted and worn.
• Appropriate touch footwear incorporating studs are to be worn.
• Tape ankles.

Post injury/illness

• Importance of rest, treatment and rehabilitation.
• Players to inform coach/team captain of injury or illness.
• Players must provide officials with certificate of clearance before resuming training or playing following injury/illness.

Environment

• Players should be observed closely for heat illness during hot/humid conditions.
• Fluids should be consumed regularly before, during and after match.
• Players should have regular rest breaks during matches and training times shortened in hot/humid conditions.
• All players should use sunscreen and soft brimmed caps.
• Clothing should be light, loose, incorporate long sleeves and be made of natural fibre.

Playing area

• Check playing surface for hazards, e.g. sprinklers, holes, glass, stones, grass dampness.
• Check that perimeter of playing area is free of metal/wood stakes and spectators.
• Cricket pitches should be covered with soil or sand.
• Water down playing area prior to match if surface is hard due to poor grass coverage.

The plan outlined above has been presented only superficially as an example of the detail required to safely conduct sport.

More detail is contained within the SSMP. However, it illustrates the need for careful planning, education and training of appropriate personnel so that injury in sport is kept to a minimum.

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