A Young Teacher's Guide to School Sport, Part 3 - Preparing Students to Play

There is much more than turning up and playing a game of sport. There is much for the teacher coach to organise to ensure the game goes ahead successfully on the day. Members of the team must be involved in this preparation as well as the teacher coach. In fact, without their contribution the teacher coach would not be able to get the game underway satisfactorily. As you read the points I make below, you will understand this.

On a more serious note, the teacher must ensure that everything is done in a way that keeps the students safe from unnecessary injury in the game. This comes from correct skills training and a full warm up before the game. Poor organisation can lead to claims of negligence and the possibility of litigation.

Insist on correct care of equipment by team members.

Have a roster of team members to collect the team's equipment and bring it to the game venue either at your school or to take it to the bus.

These rostered team members would also return equipment to the sports store after the game. They may need to be under your direction especially for younger students.

Have a list of equipment and insist on a stock take after each practice and game supervised by you.

Keep all consumable items with you, e g. the match ball/s.

If you issue uniforms, note the number of the uniform on a team list and have the student sign to acknowledge that he/she has received the uniform. Also date the signature.

It is best to collect the uniforms directly after the last game. Warn the players to bring a change of clothes. Organising the washing of the uniforms yourself, takes a lot less time than chasing up players who take home their uniforms to wash after the last game. It also prevents losses due to early departures of the players from your school.

If your team changes from week to week, collect the uniforms after each game and organise to have them washed or do it yourself. It is less hassle and cheaper than 'lost' uniforms. Where the players need to keep their uniforms, then you will need extras for those players who come in and out of the team. These obviously need to be collected after each game.

Always organise a warm-up before each game to reduce the chance of injury even if it means less time in your game. Always finish on time to allow the next game to start on time or to allow the players to return to school or home at the correct time.

Insist on sportsmanlike behaviour at all times. Respect must be shown to the game officials, your opponents, team mates and the game. There should be no exceptions to this rule.

Have safety rules that you enforce rigidly and without exception.

Expect all players, irrespective of the game situation, to be totally involved and seated in their designated bench. This includes all bench players or reserves. They should encourage their team mates throughout the game.

Insist that players have sun protection and feet protection at all games.

Organise a scorer in sports that require accurate results to determine the winners. Having a person who scores for every match is ideal.