How to Respond When a Player Gets Hurt: 6 Easy Steps

It is day three of your summer sports camp. A 9-year-old takes a hard fall during a relay race and comes up holding her arm. She is crying. Her coach tries to keep her calm. Other campers are watching. And you, the camp director, need to know exactly what to do when a player gets hurt.

Injuries happen in youth sports. It is not a question of if, but when. So what separates a well-run camp from a chaotic one? It is how the adults respond in the moment. After more than 50 years protecting youth sports programs at Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we have learned a simple truth. The camps with a plan handle these moments faster and calmer, with better outcomes for everyone.

Here are six steps every camp director should follow when a player gets hurt.

First, do not let them walk it off. Do not wait to see if it improves. If a camper shows any sign of injury, pull them from the activity right away. Then move them to a shaded, comfortable spot and keep them calm.

This applies to visible injuries, like a twisted ankle. It also applies to quiet ones, like dizziness or nausea after a collision. When in doubt, sit them out.

Next, every camp should have at least one person on-site trained in basic first aid and CPR. That person can apply ice, clean and bandage minor wounds, and judge whether the injury needs professional care.

For serious cases, call 911 right away. That includes head injuries, suspected fractures, trouble breathing, or loss of consciousness. However, do not try to diagnose or treat anything beyond basic first aid.

Then call the child’s emergency contact as soon as you can. Be clear about what happened, what you saw, and what you have done. Above all, stay calm, factual, and kind. After all, parents simply want to know their child is in good hands.

For this reason, keep your emergency contact forms organized and within reach before camp starts. Do not bury them in a folder in your car.

Now write down what happened while it is fresh. Include the date, time, and location. Note the names of the people involved, which activity they were doing, and what the injury looked like. Also list any witnesses.

Good documentation protects the camper and your organization. Moreover, it makes the claims process much smoother whenever a player gets hurt and you need to file.

If the injury needs medical treatment, contact your insurance provider to start the claim. The sooner you file, the sooner the family gets help with medical costs.

For example, if your camp carries excess accident medical coverage through Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, that coverage helps pay the participant’s bills beyond the family’s health plan. And if the family has no health insurance, it can serve as primary coverage. New to this? Our guide on how to insure a youth sports team covers the basics.

As Kendrick Hilburn, one of our clients, shared, “Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance has exceptional customer service, they are friendly and always eager to help. You will always get a live person to help you with any questions or concerns.”