Safety Guidelines for Secondary Interschool Athletics in Alberta

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Communication with Parents/Guardians
• Prior to the student athletes’ first practice after completion of tryouts,
parents/guardians should be made aware of the inherent risks associated with
participating in interschool athletic activities (see Appendix A) and must sign
and return an Interschool Athletic Participation Form (see Appendix B).
• Inform student athletes and/or parents/guardians of the times and locations of
interschool athletic activities.
• Teacher/coach should make parents aware that it is recommended that
parents/guardians of student athletes have a student accident insurance policy if
one is not provided by the school board (see Appendix A).
Medical Information
• Prior to the student athletes’ first practice, teachers/coaches should be aware of
the medical background and physical limitations of the student athletes. This
includes knowledge of student athletes with conditions such as heart disorders,
asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and severe allergies.
• Each school should develop a process by which this medical information is
shared with the teacher/coach.
• The teacher/coach should have student athletes’ medical information available
at all interschool athletic activities (see Appendices B and M). Documents
should be kept in a secure location. It is recommended that one copy remain in
the teacher’s/coach’s possession with the original on file at the school.
Record Keeping
• The teacher/coach should document student athlete attendance and all practice
plans, with reference to progressive development of skills, and attention paid to
identified inherent risks of the activity (see Appendix H). Records should be
maintained and stored for seven years or in accordance with district policies
regarding records.
Coaching by Supply Teachers
• In situations where a supply teacher or other teacher is asked to coach an
interschool athletic activity, the following should occur:
o Administrators should address teacher competence level with
interschool athletic activity and knowledge related to safety
considerations;
o Absent teacher/coach, administrator or designate should review
relevant portions of the Safety Guidelines for Interschool Athletics in
Alberta with the replacement teacher/coach and be available to be
contacted should questions arise during the activity;
o In the absence of the teacher/coach, the administrator or designate
should specify restrictions/modifications for student athletes with
health or behavioural problems.
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