Policy Governing Player Safety for KLM
Coaching and Team Officials
All KLM staff coaches and coaching officials must provide a clean and up to date criminal record check including the vulnerable sector component prior to engaging in any coaching matters.
Program Safety
KLM requires all players, coaching staff and team officials to engage in safe, harmless and respectful play at all times. Due to the nature of the activity, injuries can occur. KLM encourages all players to be mindful and engage in safe play to prevent such situations. By instructing all players from a young age on proper technique and appropriate play, we create a safe and encouraging space for kids to begin and progress through their soccer journeys. KLM coaching staff members are encouraged to participate in the “NCCP Making Headway in Sport” course.
KLM encourages all coaching staff to utilize resources provided by the club to further their understanding of topics including but not limited to, injury prevention, return to play following concussion and respect in sport.
Return to Play Policy After Concussion
Purpose
KLM Soccer Club is committed to providing a safe environment for all players participating in our programs. The health and safety of our players takes priority over training, competition and game participation.
This Return to Play Policy establishes the process that must be followed when a player has sustained, or is suspected of having sustained, a concussion.
This policy applies to all KLM players, coaches, team officials, volunteers and programs.
Recognition and Immediate Removal
Any player who experiences a significant impact to the head, face, neck or body and demonstrates signs or symptoms consistent with a concussion must be immediately removed from training or competition.
When in doubt, the player sits out.
A player suspected of having a concussion:
- Must not return to play or training on the same day;
- Must be removed from soccer activity and monitored;
- Must have a parent or guardian notified as soon as possible when the player is a minor; and
- Should be assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional.
KLM coaches, volunteers and team officials are not responsible for diagnosing a concussion. Their responsibility is to recognize a suspected injury, remove the player from participation and ensure that the appropriate next steps are taken.
Medical Assessment
A player who is suspected of having sustained a concussion should receive an appropriate medical assessment.
Where a concussion has been diagnosed, the player must follow the recovery and return-to-sport recommendations provided by their healthcare professional.
A player’s desire to participate, the importance of a match or tournament, or the absence of symptoms immediately following an incident will not override KLM’s responsibility to protect the player’s health and safety.
Graduated Return to Soccer
Following a concussion, players must return to soccer gradually. Players should not immediately return to full training or competition once they begin feeling better.
The general progression is:
Stage 1 – Symptom-Limited Activity
Normal daily activities that do not significantly worsen symptoms, with an emphasis on recovery.
Stage 2 – Light Exercise
Light aerobic activity such as walking, light jogging or stationary cycling. No soccer activities, heading, contact or strenuous exercise.
Stage 3 – Soccer-Specific Exercise
Running and basic soccer movement may gradually be introduced. Activities involving a risk of head impact, including heading, are not permitted.
Stage 4 – Non-Contact Training
The player may progress to more complex soccer activities such as passing, shooting, changes of direction and other non-contact training. Activities involving intentional or potential head impact remain restricted.
For youth players, return to normal school activities should also be considered as part of the recovery process.
Stage 5 – Full-Contact Training
Following appropriate medical clearance, the player may return to normal training activities, including contact activities and heading.
Stage 6 – Return to Games
The player may return to normal game participation once the graduated return-to-sport process has been successfully completed and the player remains symptom-free.
Players must not skip stages simply to return to competition sooner.
Progression Between Stages
Recovery from concussion is different for every player.
Players should progress through the stages gradually and in accordance with the recommendations of their healthcare professional.
If concussion symptoms return or worsen during activity, the player must stop the activity and return to the previous stage at which they were able to participate without symptoms. Medical advice should be obtained where appropriate.
KLM will never pressure a player to progress through the return-to-play process faster than recommended.
Medical Clearance
A player who has been diagnosed with a concussion must receive appropriate medical clearance before returning to full-contact soccer activities and game competition.
Parents and guardians are responsible for providing KLM with any medical clearance requested by the Club before the player resumes unrestricted participation.
KLM reserves the right to prevent a player from participating if the Club has reasonable concerns regarding the player’s readiness to safely return, even where the player or parent wishes to participate.
Prolonged or Recurring Symptoms
Players experiencing prolonged concussion symptoms, recurring concussions or complications during recovery should receive further assessment from an appropriate healthcare professional with experience in concussion management.
There is no predetermined timeline that applies to every concussion. The player’s health and recovery will determine when they can safely return.
Responsibilities of Coaches and Team Officials
KLM coaches and team officials are expected to:
- Take all suspected concussions seriously;
- Immediately remove a player when a concussion is suspected;
- Never encourage a player to “play through” concussion symptoms;
- Notify the player’s parent or guardian when appropriate;
- Respect medical restrictions and return-to-play instructions;
- Prevent players from participating in restricted activities while recovering; and
- Place player safety ahead of competitive considerations.
Responsibilities of Parents and Players
Players and parents/guardians are responsible for honestly reporting concussion symptoms and providing KLM with relevant information regarding restrictions or medical clearance.
Players must not conceal symptoms in order to participate in training or games.
Parents and guardians should not encourage or permit a player to return to soccer contrary to medical advice or KLM’s concussion protocols.
Emergency Preparedness and First Aid
KLM Soccer Club takes proactive steps to ensure coaches and activity leads are prepared to respond appropriately to injuries and other emergencies that may occur during Club activities.
Prior to the start of each season, KLM holds pre-program meetings with coaches and activity leads. As part of this process:
- Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) are provided to all coaches and activity leads;
- Coaches and activity leads are made aware of the procedures to follow in the event of an injury or emergency;
- First aid kits are made accessible to coaches and activity leads for use during KLM programs and activities; and
- Coaches and activity leads are reminded of their responsibility to prioritize player safety and seek appropriate medical or emergency assistance when required.
These measures are intended to ensure that KLM personnel have access to the basic information and resources necessary to respond promptly and appropriately when a player is injured or a medical emergency occurs.
Emergency Situations
Some head injuries require immediate emergency medical attention.
If a player demonstrates serious or rapidly worsening symptoms following a head injury, emergency medical services should be contacted immediately.
Coaches and volunteers should always prioritize the player’s immediate safety and seek emergency assistance whenever there is uncertainty about the seriousness of an injury.
KLM’s Safety-First Approach
No training session, match, tournament or competition is more important than a player’s health.
KLM Soccer Club will support players throughout their recovery and will not penalize a player for missing practices or games because of a concussion or because they are completing an appropriate return-to-play process.
This policy should be read together with KLM’s Player Safety Policy and the concussion guidance established by BC Soccer and Canada Soccer.
