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SAFETY & SAFETY POLICIES

AYSO’s highest priority is the safety and well-being of our children. We aim to provide a safe and nurturing environment where they can play and have fun. Safety can be achieved when all parities (Parents, Referees, Coaches, Guest Visitors, Field Monitors…) work responsibly to keep our kids and visitors safe from all danger.

Remember, Safety starts with you!

AYSO PARTICIPATION AND CONCUSSION RELEASE FORMS

Whenever a player or youth volunteer has suffered an injury or illness that required the care of a physician or a visit to an emergency care facility, the AYSO Participation Release Form must be completed in full and signed by the child’s parents or guardians before the player or youth volunteer will be allowed to participate further in the program. In addition, if a player was evaluated by a medical professional, for symptoms of concussion, the AYSO Concussion Release Form must be completed and signed by a medical professional.

These forms protect not only AYSO, but more importantly, the participants. Players should not participate until they are fully healed and ready to play. The AYSO Participation Release Form and/or the AYSO concussion Release Form must be completed and given to the Region 255 Safety Director before the return to participation in any AYSO activity.

Send the completed forms to:

Safety and Risk Management Director
Leanne Pinheiro
P.O. Box 2274
Tulare, CA 93275
Email: [email protected]

AYSO Participation and Concussion Release Forms

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury — or TBI — caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, stretching and damaging the brain cells and creating chemical changes in the brain.

When in Doubt, Pull Them Out!

Concussions Are Serious
Medical providers may describe a concussion as a “mild” brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, the effects of a concussion can be serious.

For more information and some really great resources, go to the CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Heads Up Concussion pages at HeadsUp

To enroll in online training, click the AYSOU button at the top of this screen.

AYSO CDC Concussion handout (English) / AYSO CDC Concussion handout (Spanish)

LIGHTNING POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR REGION 255

The Coach, Referee, Field Monitor, and/or other any other official involved with the game/practice should be aware of the possibility of lightning in the area. If there is thunder or lightning the official will immediately suspend the game and all persons should seek shelter immediately. Activities may resume only when a games/practice official gives the go ahead after there has not been any thunder or lightning for 30 minutes.

Areas considered safe

Inside a fully enclosed vehicle with windows up
Inside a substantial building (roof and four walls)

Unsafe Areas

Small buildings including picnic shelters and the open area of a concession stand
Anywhere near metallic objects like flagpoles, soccer goals, metal bleachers, electric equipment
Open fields, trees and water

Open area without shelter

Avoid standing in groups
Spread out to reduce risk
Crouch on your feet, keep your head low
Avoid being the tallest object
Avoid lying on the ground

If a strike occurs to an individual

Call 911
If you are qualified to do so, apply First Aid or CPR immediately
People struck by lightning do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to touch

SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR

Leanne Pinheiro
Email: [email protected]

USEFUL LINKS & FORMS

SAFE HAVEN CLINIC

A Safe Haven certification is arequirement for every AYSO volunteer and the class only needs to be attended once. No one is allowed to help at AYSO practices or games without this certification. All team coordinators will also need to attend this course.

If you are interested in attending a local clinic in or near our region, please either apply as a volunteer or email [email protected] Sign-up instructions will be sent to you.

DROP OFF POLICY

It is strongly recommended that a player’s parent or guardian be present during all AYSO games and practices. If that is not possible, parents or guardians are required to inform the coach beforehand, preferably by email.

They must inform the coach:

Who will be bringing their child.
Who will be picking up their child.
Who is responsible and should be contacted in case of injury or emergency during the game or practice.
Contact numbers for all responsible persons must be included.

When arriving at practices or games, parents must not drop off players at fields without contacting the coach. The person responsible for the player must walk them to the coach.

PETS ON AYSO FIELDS

AYSO soccer is a family event and because many people consider their pets to be members of the family, they’re inclined to bring them along to our fields for either practices or games.

It’s important to remember that for safety reasons, pets are not allowed on AYSO fields.Our goal is to make the soccer season as safe as possible and that’s why we request that Region 255 participants leave their family pets at home.

In regard to the question of service animals being allowed on AYSO fields: A review of legal opinion and other similar issues confirms that AYSO is obligated to observe and respect existing regulations and laws regarding the presence of service animals, as declared by the animal’s owner, at our fields.

AYSO will not request or inspect paperwork certifying the status of the service animal. Click here for more information from AYSO. We thank you for your support and understanding.