This policy applies to all club practices, clinics, camps, team activities, and other club-sponsored activities. It applies to athletes, parents/guardians, coaches, volunteers, and club representatives. This document does not replace the current USA Wrestling Safe Sport Handbook, USA Wrestling policies, and related Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF) guidance and policies.

1. Supervision, screening & adult conduct

• Athletes must remain under appropriate adult supervision during club activities. 

• Adult-minor interactions, electronic communications, changing-room access, transportation, lodging, and one-on-one situations must comply with the current USA Wrestling Safe Sport Handbook and applicable Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).

• Adults must maintain appropriate boundaries. Bullying, hazing, harassment, intimidation, retaliation, grooming behavior, and abusive or degrading language are prohibited.

• Parents and athletes may raise a concern with the Club Safety Lead or board.

2. Facility & mat safety

• Coaches and/or volunteers will inspect the mat and practice area for tears, gaps, loose edges, moisture, debris, exposed hardware, and other hazards.

• Athletes must wear clean practice clothing and appropriate wrestling shoes on the mat. Street shoes are not permitted on the mat.

• No food, gum, or glass containers are allowed on the mat. Water bottles must be kept in the designated area.

3. Hygiene, skin conditions & illness

• Athletes should arrive clean, with clean practice clothing, trimmed nails, and any cuts or abrasions properly covered.

• An athlete with a suspicious rash, skin lesion, draining wound, fever, vomiting, or other potentially contagious condition must tell a coach and stay off the mat until the condition has been appropriately evaluated and the athlete is cleared to participate, consistent with applicable medical and event rules.

• Coaches should not diagnose skin conditions. When in doubt, the athlete should be held out and the parent/guardian contacted.

• Athletes must not share towels, soap, water bottles, or personal equipment. Practice clothing should be washed after each use; athletes should shower promptly after practice.

4. Training, pairing & injury prevention

• Coaches will teach age and experience-appropriate techniques and progressions. 

• Coaches may stop or modify an activity whenever conditions, technique, fatigue, or athlete behavior create an unreasonable risk.

• Intentional rough behavior is prohibited.

• Athletes must immediately tell a coach if they feel pain, dizziness, nausea, unusual shortness of breath, weakness, or other concerning symptoms. Athletes may stop participating at any time.

• No coach, athlete, or parent may pressure an injured or ill athlete to continue.

5. Injury, concussion & emergency response

• Any suspected concussion requires immediate removal from practice. The athlete may not return to practice or competition until evaluated and cleared by a qualified healthcare professional, consistent with applicable law and governing-body rules.

• An athlete who sustains a significant injury or exhibits symptoms of a potentially serious medical condition will be removed from participation and will not return until it is appropriate to do so under applicable medical guidance and governing-body requirements. 

• Coaches and volunteers will not diagnose injuries or determine medical clearance. Return-to-play decisions requiring medical clearance must be supported by documentation from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

6. Athlete & parent responsibilities

• Athletes must follow coach instructions, use equipment appropriately, respect teammates, and report unsafe conditions or behavior.

• Parents/guardians must provide accurate emergency contact information and notify the club of relevant participation restrictions or changes in emergency contacts.

• Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring athletes are picked up promptly and for communicating relevant medical restrictions to the club.

• No retaliation is permitted against anyone who raises a safety concern in good faith.