The continual growth of organized youth sport in the United States and the subsequent need for qualified youth sport coaches has quadrupled over the past two decades, which in some manner explains today's interest of approximately 2.4 million adults (often parents) actively involved with coaching organized youth sport. Youth sport injury and rising medical costs have accompanied the growth and participation associated with organized youth sport, highlighting a need for basic first aid training for youth sport coaches. The purpose of this research study was to determine the basic first aid qualifications, knowledge, and confidence to use that knowledge among youth sport coaches in organized sport.
Method
One hundred, fifty-four youth sport coaches from seven different youth sport (football, soccer, baseball, and hockey) organizations were surveyed by email to determine whether the coaches had the basic first aid (FA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation/automated external defibrillation (CPR/AED) training to serve their young athletes in the event of an emergent or non-emergent injury or sudden illness. Additionally, coaches were asked whether they had the confidence to manage a basic emergency injury or illness situation should such an occurrence arise during the course of a sports season involving regular practices or game competition.
Analysis/Results
Major findings of this study revealed that only 19% and 30% of the 154 youth sport coaches surveyed were formally trained with basic FA and CPR/AED certifications, respectively. Significant differences were found between those youth sport coaches who were certified and those who were not certified with respect to FA knowledge, t(152) = 2.63, p < .01, and with respect to CPR/AED techniques, use and care, t(149) = 2.77, p < .01. One-way ANOVA testing indicated significant differences between youth sport coaches holding one, two, or none of the formal FA or CPR/AED certifications, with respect to the youth sport coaches knowledge and confidence to use that knowledge when faced with FA or CPR/AED injury or illness situations, F(2, 146) = 11.46, p < .001.
Conclusions
In consideration of these findings, recommendations should be made to encourage or mandate FA and CPR/AED certification for youth sport coaches involved with organized youth sport. Formal FA and CPR/AED training must be available to youth sport coaches to parallel the continued growth in organized youth sport.
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