Safety

         

Safety is the league's number one priority. All volunteers are trained for safety -- via Safe Haven courses (required for all coaches, assistant coaches and referees). Other safety policies -- weather policies, field and equipment inspections and updates, community engagement and requiring proper gear -- all contribute to the safety of our players, our volunteers and our families.

Four key league level volunteers -- the Regional Commissioner, the Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA), the Safety Director and the Equipment Director -- are dedicated to ensuring the safety of everyone participating in WSSL. Every division head is also responsible for making sure their division is safe by serving as a point of contact and engaging a divisional safety committee to investigate any issue that arises. Further, every referee considers safety first before allowing players to play.

Any safety issue should be reported immediately to the appropriate division head and/or one or all of the officials listed above. Our Safety Director (safety@wssl.org) and CVPA (cvpa@wssl.org) are dedicated to helping you resolve any issues. Please contact them with any questions.

Safety at the Field

All players must wear the proper equipment. Referees will not permit a game to start on a field where there is any hazard to the players. Players must wear shin guards, and the shin guards must be completely covered by socks; no player may wear jewelry (including watches, rings, bracelets, and earrings of any kind), plaster casts or baseball/football cleats. Only goalkeepers may wear hats. No helmets of any kind may be worn by any player. A player who is bleeding must leave the field and is considered injured; the bleeding must be stopped and the wound/cut bandaged before the player may return.

We also invest in new goals and nets for each field periodically to ensure that we have the safest, most up-to-date equipment that is in the best working order. Any issues with the equipment should be immediately reported to the Equipment Director.

All WSSL volunteers - board members, division heads, chief referees, coaches, referees, team managers, and other administrators - must be registered with AYSO national and undergo safe haven training and certification classes. Background checks on coaches, referees and other volunteers that have supervision over the players are conducted through AYSO to ensure the safety of our children.  

Concussion Protocol

AYSO has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to use the “Heads Up” Concussion training tools in support of the following guidelines to ensure the safety of all our participants:

  1. Use of the AYSO/CDC Concussion Information Sheet and review of the CDC's Brain Injury Basics to inform all parents, coaches, referees and players about the signs and symptoms of concussion and the associated risks.  
  2. ALL coaches, referees, and Section, Area and Region Board Members must take AYSO's Concussion Awareness Course.
  3. The AYSO/CDC Coach/Referee Action Plan provides coaches/referees with the signs and symptoms of concussion and the recommended steps to take whenever a player exhibits any sign or symptom.
  4. Any player suspected by the coach, referee or parent to have a concussion must be removed from further participation for at least the remainder of the day, and parents should be encouraged to seek professional medical treatment at the time of injury and secure medical clearance before being allowed to return to play. 
  5. For any player suspected of having a concussion, an AYSO Participation Release Form, signed by a parent/guardian, acknowledging that the player has been given clearance before the player can return to play.

Incident Reports

For any incident or accident on the field during a West Side Soccer League game or practice, related parties need to fill out an Incident Form. The form should be filled out by a Coach, Referee or other WSSL volunteer (like the Safety Director or Division Head) for any of the following:

  1. Injuries
  2. Incidents -- threats
  3. Incidents -- fighting -- any type
  4. Property damage
  5. Law enforcement summoned

Upon completion, the form should be emailed to the WSSL Safety Director. 

Insurance

Through AYSO, we also provide insurance support. All registered players are covered through the registration process. Medical release forms are electronically signed and each coach will have access to your player's medical release form in the event of an emergency. WSSL has supplemental insurance for accidents that take place during WSSL practices, games, meetings, etc. Please contact the WSSL Safety Director for more information.

Resources

Resource Guides for parents, coaches and referees coming soon!