Coaches' lessons for preventing rugby injuries

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 242, 10 May 1988, Page 5

Coaches' lessons for preventing rugby injuries

Teaching players and coaches to recognise treatment and prevention of rugby injuries is the driving force behind a new sports injury video recently released.'

"Injury Free - The Way To Be" has been produced by a leading New Zealand health care company, Smith and Nephew (NZ) Ltd in conjunction with the New Zealand Rugby Football Union. The video is fronted by past and present All Blacks including Andy Dalton, Gaty Whetton, Zinzan Brooke and Grant Fox. It demonstrates training to avoid injury and how to recognise and treat injuries on and off the field. Peter Goldsmith, coaching co-ordinator for the Auckland Rugby Football Union said a new variation to the rales introduced last year placed a far greater responsibility on managers and coachers to recognise and treat injuries. Under the new rules, managers and coaches are permitted

on to the field of play to treat minor injuries. "With this added responsibility, many coaches are not properly equipped to recognise or treat some injuries or know whai to seek professional medical help," said Mr Goldsmith. "Coaches are also being encouraged to attend a St John Ambulance course." A manipulative physiotherapist and a member of the NZRFU medical committee, Malcolm Hood said that injury prevention and treatment was vital but often overlooked. "If coaches and managers are really interested in the well-being of their players on the field, then they should watch, study and leam from this video."