Coaches and Others Must Complete Safety Training Program
By Cliff Odenwald | Wednesday, January 21, 2009 11:17 AM
In the November edition of the UIL Leaguer, Dr. Mark Cousins submitted a list of “things to do.” One of the items on his list was a reminder to complete the safety training required by Senate Bill 82.
The Senate enacted this bill to ensure that coaches, trainers, sponsors, band directors and students were prepared to recognize and handle emergency situations. It requires that students be taught to recognize the symptoms of catastrophic injuries. Another requirement of the bill is that students are educated about the risks of using certain dietary supplements designed to enhance athletic performance. This is not a complete list of the mandates. Please refer to the complete list described under “Safety Training Program” on the UIL Web site’s home page.
With the beginning of the second semester, it is imperative that all coaches, sponsors or athletic trainers for athletic activities and band directors complete the safety training program. We realize that the spring is an extremely busy time for school personnel, and we want to encourage everyone affected by this mandate to complete the safety training program as soon as possible. Coaches, sponsors, athletic trainers and band directors need to visit the UIL Gateway at http://utdirect.utexas.edu/uilgate/index.WBX and complete the safety training program online. Once the training is completed you will be able to print a certificate for your records and for your campus or district records.
Dr. Cousins has prepared a PowerPoint presentation which provides valuable information to help you educate your students on the issues mandated by Senate Bill 82. This presentation is available for you to download under the “Safety Training Program” section of the UIL Web site’s home page. The PowerPoint presentation is divided into six sections. The sections cover the following topics: sudden cardiac death; head and neck injuries; heat, hydration and asthma; anabolic steroids and nutritional supplements; lightning safety; and communicable diseases.
It is critical that you review the complete list of mandates described under “Safety Training Program” on the UIL Web site. We know your time is at a premium, and we have tried to make the training process convenient for coaches, sponsors, trainers and band directors to implement. We appreciate the time and effort you put into serving the students on your campuses. We know student safety is always a priority for you and for all school district personnel.