Risk and Safety Practices in Youth Baseball and Softball

Risk is the inevitable consequence of being human. Risk management is a term used by experts to encompass all the strategies that may be employed to deal with risk. From a bottom line financial point of view, the objective of risk management is to efficiently conserve the assets and financial resources of an organization and to maintain financial stability by reducing the potential for financial loss. This study investigated risk and safety practices and methods utilized by youth baseball and softball organizations and their coaches. Research included a literature review examining the differences and similarities of the leading risk management models, risk related legal liability cases and results, injury statistics from youth baseball and softball (ages 5-17) participants, and the different actions and motivating factors for risk and safety management for both sport organizations and individual volunteers. A survey was used to collect the data on safety and risk management practices. The survey was designed to answer eight research questions. ANOVA techniques such as MANOVA, one- and two-way ANOVA and post hoc testing were used to analyze the data. In summary, coaches were willing to improve their level of risk and safety knowledge if it was required as a prerequisite to coaching. Second, organizations were not providing adequate risk and safety material or programs for their coaches and the implementation of risk and safety procedures varied between regions. Third, as player age increased, less risk and safety practices were conducted. Fourth, coaches who were under thirty years of age conducted the most risk and safety practices. Fifth, coaches' motivation to volunteer significantly influenced their risk and safety practices. Finally, being certified in general safety techniques (First Aid and CPR) should be accompanied with specific baseball and softball risk and safety education to improve overall safety