2026 SHAPE Iowa

What does the onboarding process for new coaches and program volunteers look like where you work and play? Many rookie staff members in athletics and recreation are enthusiastic about contributing to the fun and success of a team or program. Just imagine if some of that energy could be channeled first into preparations for safe sport and physical activity experiences.
In this session, we will consider the roles and responsibilities of athletics coaches and program facilitators in terms of participant well-being. Specific areas of focus include management duties, first responder care, and leadership in reducing the frequency and severity of injuries. To help develop action items for promoting safety under a wide range of circumstances, we will discuss sample justifications for essential organizational training in curricular, cocurricular, and extracurricular settings.