Safety Notes & Disclaimer

Effective date: October 22, 2026

Please read this before you use any ClipboardReady practice plan, drill or article.

Every practice

  • Start with the dynamic warm-up in each plan. Don't skip it.
  • Give water breaks at least every 20–25 minutes, and more often in heat.
  • Check the playing surface: no water, holes, loose balls or bags near play. Roll spare balls out of the way.
  • No jewelry; shoes tied; long hair tied back. Soccer players wear shin guards at every practice and game.
  • Outdoors: when thunder roars, go indoors. Follow your league's lightning policy.

Supervision

  • Avoid being alone with a single child. Keep another adult present.
  • Follow your league's background-check and safety-training requirements.
  • Stay until every player has been picked up.
  • Keep emergency contacts and medical notes (allergies, asthma) with you. Know where the first-aid kit and AED are.

Head injuries: when in doubt, sit them out

If a player bumps their head or shows signs such as headache, dizziness, confusion or nausea, remove them from play for the rest of the day and tell a parent or guardian. They need clearance from a medical professional before returning. Many states and leagues require concussion training for coaches. The CDC's free HEADS UP program is a good place to start.

Contact drills

Box-out and defense drills (basketball) and 1v1 and tackling drills (soccer) involve light contact. Pair players of similar size, start slowly, and stop any drill that gets rough.

Soccer: heading

The Soccer Kit has no heading activities. U.S. Soccer's guidance is that players 10 and under should not head the ball, and that heading for 11- to 13-year-olds should be limited in practice. Many leagues set stricter rules. Always follow your league's heading rule.

Soccer: goals

Movable soccer goals can tip over and cause serious injuries. Check that every goal is anchored or weighted before use, and never let players climb on or hang from goals or nets.

Disclaimer

ClipboardReady materials offer general practice ideas for recreational youth basketball and soccer. They are not professional coaching, medical or safety instruction, and they don't replace training or certification your league requires. Physical activity carries an inherent risk of injury. You are responsible for judging whether an activity suits your players' ages, abilities and health, and for supervising them at all times. Always follow your league's rules (including playing-time, equipment and conduct rules), your facility's rules and local laws. Stop any activity if a player is hurt or unwell, and get medical help when needed. ClipboardReady and its owner are not liable for any injury, loss or damage arising from the use of these materials.