Player and Coach Safety Information

Canada Press Article "Athletic groups need to address issues surrounding concussions" - This article highlights the SSA's concussion policy and includes an interview with the SSA's Executive Director, Doug Pederson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada Soccer and SSA would like to draw your attention to the following guidelines for the safe use of goalposts. Too many serious injuries and fatalities have occurred in recent years as a result of unsafe or incorrect use of goalposts. Safety is always of paramount importance and everyone in soccer must play their part to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future.

 

For safety reasons goalposts of any size (including those which are portable and not installed permanently at a pitch or practice field) must always be anchored securely to the ground.
Portable goalposts must be secured by the use of chain anchors or appropriate anchor weights to prevent them from toppling forward.
It is essential that under no circumstances children or adults should be allowed to climb, swing on or play with the structures of the goalposts.
Particular attention is drawn to the fact that if not properly assembled and secured, portable goalposts may topple over.
Portable goalposts should not be left in place after use. They should be dismantled and removed to a place of secure storage.
It is strongly recommended that nets should only be secured by plastic hooks or tape and not by metal cup hooks. Any metal cup hooks should if possible be removed and replaced. New goalposts should not be purchased if they include metal cup hooks which cannot be replaced.
Goalposts which are "home-made" or which have been altered from their original size or construction should not be used. These have been the cause of a number of deaths and injuries.
Guidelines to prevent toppling: Follow manufacturer's guide-lines in assembling goalposts. Before use, Coaches should test the goals following the guidelines below:
	Ensure each goal is anchored securely in its place
	Exert a significant downward force on the cross bar
	Exert a significant backward force on both upright posts
	Exert a significant forward force on both upright posts

These must be repeated until it is established that the structure is secure. If not, alternative goals/pitches must be used.
 
Let's keep our players safe. Kwik Goal Safety Booklet & Checklist.

Players wearing jewellery has not been allowed in the FIFA Laws of the Game since 2004 including taping over jewellery which is a common misinterpretation that players have today.  The rule in the FIFA laws of the game states as follows:

Law 4 The Player's Equipment (Safety) - A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery)
 
Then the interpretations of the Laws go on further to state "Jewellery - All items of jewellery (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands, etc..) are strictly forbidden and must be removed. Using tape to cover jewellery is not acceptable.
 
Referees are also prohibited from wearing jewellery (except for a watch or similar device for timing the match)."
 
The only thing that SSA will allow players to have on are medical alert bracelets in terms of jewellery.

Referee Associations MUST be instructing their referees to ensure that they make sure NO PLAYERS PLAY WITH JEWELLERY OF ANY KIND and be sure to notify and preach this in their annual indoor refresher clinics. Remember if a referee is not abiding by the FIFA laws of the Game if reported to SSA. The SSA could suspend a referee's registration.

League operators MUST notify all participants that jewellery is forbidden and cannot be worn by players on the field of play during a game. This does not mean that you send it out to only team managers as the message does not always travel down to all members. This should try to reach each individual participant in some way as well or make it part of league rules.