Awareness of Sports Injury Risk Warning and Agreement

By its very nature, competitive athletics can put students in situations in which SERIOUS, CATASTROPHIC, and perhaps FATAL accidents could occur.

Students and parents/guardians must assess the risks involved in such participation and make their choice to participate in spite of those risks. No amount of instruction, precaution, or supervision will totally eliminate all risk of injury. Just as driving an automobile involves the choice of risk, participation in athletics is inherently dangerous. The obligation of parents and students in making this choice to participate cannot be overstated.

By granting permission to your son/daughter to participate in athletic competition, a parent/guardian acknowledges that playing or practicing in any sport can be a dangerous activity involving MANY RISKS OF INJURY. Both the athlete and parent must understand that the dangers and risks of playing or practicing include but are not limited to: death, complete or partial paralysis, brain damage, serious injury to virtually all internal organs, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons and other aspects of the skeletal system and potential impairment to together aspects of the body, general health, and well-being.

Because of the dangers of participating in sports, we, the parent and player, recognize the importance of following coaches' instructions regarding techniques, training, equipment, and other ream rules, etc. both in competition and practice and agree to obey such instructions.

If any of the foregoing is not completely understood and you have questions, please contact your school athletic director or the school administrator for further information.

At the beginning of the school year or a season of practice, both the athlete and parent need to be informed in writing of the above information. The school must require that both the athlete and parent sign this form acknowledging that they have read the above statement and understand it thoroughly.

It is also preferable to have this warning additionally transmitted verbally to parents and athletes at pre-season meetings held by either the coach or athletic director. It is one of the legal responsibilities of the school that parents be informed of both awareness of risk and the responsibility to follow instructions and then give their consent to participate.