Carver Youth Cheer Safety Policy 

In order to provide the best safety plan possible and to maintain compliance with governing bodies, the following Carver Youth Cheer (CYC) Safety Policy consists of rules, regulations and best practices. These have been adopted from, but not limited to, the following bodies: Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA), Youth Cheer and Dance Alliance (YCADA) & Pop Warner Little Scholars.

Medical Coverage:

Practices: During practices, all CYC coaches have been provided with first aid kits. In-season practices are typically held inside the Carver Public Schools, which are equipped with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). An AED will be available to the CYC coaches at all outdoor practices. All CYC coaches are certified to the American Heart Association (AHA) First Aid/CPR/AED standard, as required by the afore mentioned bodies.

Home Games: During home games, Carver EMS typically provides an EMT standby, equipped with a full complement of sports injury equipment and an AED. CYC coaches will also have first aid kits available.

Away Games: During away games, it is the responsibility of the host school to provide medical coverage, per MIAA rules. CYC coaches will also have first aid kits available.

Medical Emergency Transportation
If an injury or illness occurs during practice or a game at a Carver facility and transport to a hospital is required, under most circumstances, Carver EMS will be the primary ambulance service. The closest facility is the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth, MA. However, based on the extent of the injury, it is the responsibility and requirement of the EMS crew to transport to the closest appropriate facility. Therefore, for serious trauma injuries, including possible concussions, the EMS crew may deem it necessary to transport to trauma-level hospitals, including the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, MA, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, MA or one of the following major hospitals in Boston (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital). The ambulance crew will communicate the destination with the legal parent/guardian. Carver Youth Cheer has no influence as to the disposition of the athlete once Carver EMS or a similar agency is on scene.

Reporting/treatment of Injuries/Illnesses:

If an injury or illness occurs during a practice, game or CYC sanctioned activity, the following procedure shall be followed:

• Team coaches are advised and will evaluate the athlete

• The coach will provide only the interventions they are certified to perform, as a certified CPR/First Aid provider
• Based on the nature of the injury, the athlete may return to the activity if determined to be safe to do so by the coach
  
  
• If the incident is determined to be outside the scope of the coaches training, the coach will do the following:
• Call for emergency services via 9-1-1
• Notify the athletes parent/guardian
• Notify the CYC Safety Director
  
  
• The coach will document the injury and interventions on the CYC injury/illness report
  
  
• The athlete’s parent or legal guardian may request a copy of the injury/illness report by contacting the CYC Safety Director in writing

            Current Carver Youth Cheer Safety Director (2024-2025 Season)
            Timothy Blanchard
508-789-0815
[email protected]

Return to Athletic Participation:
Per MIAA Rules Part II, Section 8: Subsequent to any serious injury and prior to further participation in that sport, an athlete should receive a medical release from a licensed physician.    

Weather Related Emergencies:
During extreme weather conditions (hot, cold, rain, etc.), the coaches will determine if outdoor practices will be canceled, shortened, or moved inside (if space is available). Any concerns may be brought to the Safety Director.

For any outdoor practices, a water and Gatorade station will be provided for all athletes and coaches. It is expected that athletes will arrive at all practices and games with their own water bottles filled.

Thunder & Lightning  

Per MIAA Rules Part II, Section 16:

• 16.2  Thunder or lightning necessitates that all outdoor practices and competitions be suspended.
  • 16.2.2 When thunder is heard or when lightning is seen, the following procedures must be executed:
• 16.2.2.1    Suspend play and direct participants to the previously identified shelter, a building normally occupied by the public or if a building is unavailable, participants should go inside a vehicle with a solid metal top (e.g. bus, van, car).

• 16.2.2.2 Do not permit people to stand under or near a tree; and have all stay away from poles, antennas, towers and underground watering systems.
  
  
• 16.2.2.3   After thunder and/or lightning has left the area, wait 30 minutes after the last boom is heard or strike is seen before resuming play or competition.

The thunder/lightning rules will extend to practices and other sanctioned Carver Youth Cheer outdoor activities.

General Performance Safety Rules & Concerns:

• Carver Youth Cheer will, always, follow the most current performance rules as outlined by the Youth Cheer and Dance Alliance (YCADA) and Pop Warner.
  
  
• Any concerns as to whether a safety rule is violated should be brought to the attention of the Cheer Coordinator and Safety Director for review. Safety concerns should be limited to questions of rule violations only. Concerns regarding personnel choices, personality conflicts, bullying and alike should be first brought to the team coach. Further escalation may be brought to the Cheer Coordinator and/or the Board President.