Sports Coaching Risk Assessment - A Step By Step Guide

A risk assessment isn't simply a tick-box exercise. Many serious personal injury claims trace back to something that could have been checked in advance. Public Liability policies by Insure4Sport also require you to "exercise reasonable care to prevent accident, injury, loss or damage". 

In this guide, we'll run through the recommended steps for writing a sports coaching risk assessment and share real claims where a risk assessment may have helped reduce the risk. 

What is a risk assessment? 

A risk assessment is a structured way of identifying anything that could cause harm during a coaching session. It helps you understand who could be affected and how - and ensures you can put appropriate measures in place to reduce the likelihood or severity of an accident or injury.  

As a coach, it’s recommended that you do your own risk assessment rather than simply relying on the venue’s general one. This will help you identify the specific risks in your sessions related to the activities you do and the equipment you use. It can also be helpful if someone brings a compensation claim against you.  

Carrying out a risk assessment 

Identifying potential hazards ahead of your sessions can help reduce the likelihood of an accident and any claim being made against you. 

One of the main hazards to consider is the equipment you're using. There are also the surfaces, exercises, weather and air temperature to take into account. You also need to decide who is most at risk and what steps you can take to reduce or control those risks. 

How to write a risk assessment for coaching: 5 key steps 

Whether you need a risk assessment checklist for a personal trainer or you're writing a risk assessment for your boxing coaching business, the five steps below are a great starting point.   

1. Identify the hazards  

The first stage is to identify the potential hazards of your training session. Focus on:  

• Equipment: This can include damaged or unsuitable equipment, loose or unstable goals, the use of balls, resistance equipment, bats, racquets, the protective equipment required, and incorrect use of equipment.  
• Environment: Consider things like uneven or slippery surfaces, wet weather, excessive heat or cold, poor lighting, obstacles, confined spaces, unsafe playing surfaces, traffic or other activities nearby.  

It can be helpful to walk through the processes you’ll use during the training session and think of any potential hazards at each step. You can also talk to existing staff members and check any historical accident records to understand any previous issues at your chosen facility.  

2. Decide who might be harmed and how 

Consider both the participants and how the specific activity could cause harm.  

• Participants: You should evaluate different levels of ability, existing injuries, medical conditions, fatigue, inappropriate clothing or footwear, poor behaviour, or difficulty in understanding instructions.  
• Activity type: This could include contact or collision, falls, overexertion, repetitive movements, lifting, jumping, throwing, high-speed activity, competitive behaviour and activities requiring specialist skills.  

Imagine the scenarios you thought about in step one. Play them out in your head and consider who could get injured at each step. As well as any active participants, also think about:  

• Coaches and assistants: Could be injured while demonstrating activities, moving equipment, supervising participants or dealing with an incident. 
• Spectators, parents and visitors: Could be harmed by stray balls, moving equipment, collisions or other activity taking place nearby. 
• Other people using the facility: Could also be at risk if equipment, participants or activities encroach into their area. 

3. Evaluate the risks and put controls in place  

It’s important to consider how likely an accident is to happen and how serious the potential injury could be. The key principle is to control the risk rather than simply identify it. If a playing surface is wet, you may decide to change the activity, move to a safer place or postpone the session, for example.  

4. Record your findings 

Make sure you record:  

• The activity being assessed  
• Date of the assessment  
• Location  
• Hazards identified  
• Who could be harmed  
• Potential consequences  
• Existing control measures  
• Any additional controls required  
• Who is responsible for implementing those controls  
• Date controls were implemented  
• Date of the next review  
• Name/signature of the person completing the assessment

5. Review and update regularly  

Don’t treat your risk assessment as a simple tick-box exercise. It’s important to review and update it regularly, especially if anything changes. This could include:  

• Before you start a new activity or programme 
• When you change venue or introduce new equipment  
• If an accident happens or there’s a near miss  
• When weather or other external conditions cause new risks  
• Periodically, even if nothing has changed  

Learn how to do a risk assessment for a football coaching session and how to conduct a gym risk assessment.  

Preparing an emergency action plan 

Even with careful planning, accidents can still happen, so it's important to have an emergency action plan in place. Decide in advance who is in charge if something goes wrong, and keep emergency contact details for your participants and any coaches you work with. Know where the first aid kit and nearest defibrillator are, and how to reach the nearest A&E. 

If an incident happens, record what happened as soon as you can and tell your insurer. Our claims process guide explains what happens next. 

If you coach higher-risk activities, your policy will likely include specific conditions. The only way to understand exactly what you need to do is to check your policy. 

Real claims, real lessons 

Even an ordinary training session can sometimes lead to a significant compensation claim. The following real Insure4Sport case studies show how things can go wrong, and the role a risk assessment can play. 

An overlooked piece of equipment 

During a fitness class, a piece of equipment was left standing against a wall rather than being put away. Later in the session, it was knocked over and fell onto a participant's foot. The injury took over three months to heal, and the resulting claim ran into tens of thousands of pounds. 

A quick check before and during a session for anything unsecured or unstable is the kind of step that can help reduce the risk of incidents like this. 

Mismatched equipment

During a training session, a participant was accidentally given two kettlebells of different weights for a paired exercise. They didn't notice until after they had finished. They developed back pain that got worse over the following day and needed hospital treatment, and the resulting claim reached five figures. 

Checking equipment before an exercise begins can help spot issues like this. It shows that hazards can come from how a session is planned, not just the physical space. 

Coaching risk assessment FAQs 

How often should I review my risk assessment? 

It's good practice to review your risk assessment at least annually, and whenever the activity, venue or group changes. 

Do I need a written risk assessment, or is verbal enough? 

A written risk assessment may not be a strict requirement of your Public Liability policy. However, you do need to "exercise reasonable care to prevent accident, injury, loss or damage". A written assessment helps you show this and is easier to rely on if someone makes a claim against you. 

What should I do if I spot a risk I can't fix immediately? 

If you spot a risk that you can’t fix immediately, don’t simply carry on as normal. Stop or pause the activity if it could cause serious harm. Make sure to keep people away from the hazard. You can also put a temporary control in place, like changing the activity or using alternative equipment. Tell the appropriate person to get it fixed and record what you found, who you reported it to and whether further action is required.  

Is a risk assessment a legal requirement for sports coaches? 

Under health and safety law, anyone whose work could put others at risk is generally expected to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. Public Liability policies by Insure4Sport also require you to "comply with all legal requirements, regulations, rules and guidelines imposed on you by any competent authority including the Health & Safety Executive and any sporting or industry governing body relevant to the sport". 

Does my venue's risk assessment cover me too? 

Not necessarily. A venue's risk assessment usually covers the building and its general use, not the specific activities, equipment and groups in your sessions. It's a good idea to do your own coach-specific risk assessment as well, and to check the venue's for anything that affects your sessions. 

Public Liability insurance by Insure4Sport 

Alongside a thorough risk assessment, Public Liability insurance by Insure4Sport can help protect you financially if something goes wrong. Find out more about the range of sport insurance we offer, including specialist extreme sports, boxing, cheerleading and multi-sports insurance. 

Read our companion guides to understand how our cover works: Public Liability Insurance: How Much Cover Do I Need?, Personal Accident Insurance: How Much Cover Do I Need? and What Happens When a Claim Is Made Against a Sports Coach?