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Football Risk Assessments: How to Keep Players Safe in Training and at Matches
What is a Football Risk Assessment?
A football risk assessment is simply a structured way to spot anything that could cause harm to players during training or matches and put reasonable steps in place to reduce the risk.
In line with FAI Safety Guidelines and the HSA (Health and Safety Authority) in Ireland, football clubs should follow a clear process to manage risks effectively. While the HSA outlines three core steps for sports risk assessments in Ireland, best practice across the industry extends these into five actionable steps:
- Identify hazards
- Decide who might be harmed and how
- Evaluate level of risks and decide on precautions
- Record findings
- Review and update controls regularly
Don't worry, you don’t need an array of complicated documents, just a practical process that helps to keep everyone safe.
Hazards to Consider for Your Risk Assessment
The very first step of any risk assessment is to try and predict what could potentially pose a risk to you, your players or your coaches. Your football risk assessment should include everything from trips and falls to broken equipment. So what are some of the most common risks to consider?
Playing Conditions
Playing conditions can change quickly and create unexpected hazards in football.
- Uneven ground or potholes can cause twisted ankles or falls.
- Wet or frozen pitches increase the chance of slipping injuries.
- Flooding can make the surface unsafe to use and may damage equipment
Player Actions
Players can accidentally cause injury to themselves or others during fast-paced play.
- Overly aggressive tackles or poor technique can lead to collisions or falls.
- Powerful shots or misplaced passes can damage property or equipment.
- Encourage good discipline and control to reduce avoidable risks.
Safety Gear Shortcomings
Safety equipment is essential, especially for younger players.
- Shin pads, suitable boots and other protective gear reduce injury risk.
- Coaches should regularly check that gear is fitted correctly and in good condition.
Faulty Footwear
Those snazzy boots might look impressive, but are they equipped to handle the turf? Not all boots are right for every surface.
- Wrong studs can cause slips, falls or unnecessary strain on joints.
- Encourage players to wear footwear suited to the pitch conditions.
Flag Posts & Pitch Boundaries
Flags might mark the territory, but what if they're too close to the action? When conducting your risk assessment, make sure to watch out for hidden risks.
- Flag posts too close to the playing area can lead to collisions.
- Sharp or low-hanging objects should be repositioned or padded.
Accessorising Wisely
Personal items might seem harmless but can cause injury during contact play.
- Ask players to remove jewellery, watches or metal hair clips before training or matches.
Remember that these are just some common risks to consider. Your football club will have your own, unique challenges to consider in your risk assessment that are not included in this list.
Football Risk Assessment Ireland Example: 5 Step Guide
Now that we’ve covered what a risk assessment for a football club is and some of the common risks to keep in mind, we will need to start filling out the risk assessment template and conducting the risk assessment itself. Let’s have a look at what you’ll want to include in your risk assessment with our 5 step guide.
1. What Are Your Hazards?
First, plot out the hazards you want to keep an eye on. It’s time to put on your detective hat and write down all of the potential risks associated with playing the beautiful game. Take a walk around the areas you, your coaches and your players will interact with and consider what hazards might be hiding there.
2. Who Might Be Affected?
Next, you’ll want to relate each hazard to the person that would be affected if the worst was to happen. Could it just be the players, or are the coaches in the line of fire too? And hey, let's not forget the unsuspecting parents watching on the sidelines and building owners who might find themselves caught in the crossfire of a stray shot.
3. What’s the Level of Risk?
We can’t promise you that lightning won’t suddenly strike a player on a clear day, but it’s a whole lot less likely than the risk of someone slipping on a wet pitch. This is why you will want to assign each hazard a level of risk based on how bad the injury would be and how likely it is to occur. Here’s a small guide to assigning the level of risk to the football hazards:
1/5 Very Low Risk: The risk is unlikely to occur but could still occur in exceptional situations.
2/5 Low Risk: The risk isn’t likely to occur but we should prepare for the worst case scenario.
3/5 Moderate Risk: The risk could occur and we will need a plan in place.
4/5 High Risk: The risk is quite likely and has possibly occurred before.
5/5 Very High Risk: The risk is highly likely to occur, has occurred before and the conditions would allow for it to happen again.
4. What Preventative Measures Can You Take?
Now it’s time to be creative and think of solutions to prevent or at least minimise the hazards. For example, if your pitch is flooded, it might be smart to either play on a different pitch, or even cancel the session in order to prevent your players going for an unexpected swim! Or, if you think the balls could cause an injury due to the level of pressure in them, the control measure would be to ensure that the balls are only ever pumped to the correct pressure in the future.
5. Keeping Your Assessment Up to Date
Finally, it’s important to remember that you’ll need to be on the ball when it comes to updating your football risk assessment. Just as tactics evolve on the field, so do the risks, so making sure that your assessment is kept up-to-date is the best way to prevent any injuries later on in the game. It’s also important that you have the correct insurance in place in case anything that wasn’t on your risk assessment was to occur. FAI-affiliated clubs should check their cover under the FAI's insurance scheme. If your club operates independently, ensure you have adequate public liability insurance as your risk assessment will be an important document if you have to make a claim.
Spend Less Time on Paperwork With ClassForKids
And there you have it! From unpredictable playing conditions to unexpected player actions, the landscape of risks can be as diverse as the game itself. But, a well-executed football match risk assessment is your playbook for preserving your club’s core values while minimising potential pitfalls - and you now know exactly how to fill out a risk assessment for your football club!
Risk assessments are just one part of the mountain of admin tasks football coaching clubs have to tackle. With ClassForKids, bookings, register management, payments, parent communication and more are all handled in one fuss-free system, making it easier for you to cut admin time and focus on your club.
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Football Risk Assessment FAQs
What should a football risk assessment include?
A good football risk assessment covers all potential hazards, who could be affected and what you’ll do to control each risk. It should also outline how often you’ll review your plan and who’s responsible for keeping it up to date. Including these details helps you stay organised and show clear accountability if you ever need to refer back to it.
Who is responsible for a football risk assessment?
Responsibility usually sits with the head coach, club owner or safeguarding lead, but it works best as a shared effort. Everyone involved in your sessions, from assistant coaches to volunteers, should understand how to spot and report risks. It keeps your club safer and more aware.
How often should a football risk assessment be updated?
Review it at least once each season, or sooner if something changes. That might include new equipment, a different venue, new age groups or after any incident, no matter how small. A regular review makes sure your risk assessment in football always reflects your club’s real environment.
What are the most common risks in football?
The most frequent risks in football include poor pitch conditions, faulty equipment, unsuitable footwear, missing safety gear and overcrowded training sessions. The good news is that most of these can be prevented with good preparation and regular checks.
Do I need a separate risk assessment for children’s football?
If your football club works with players under 18, you have additional legal obligations under the Children First Act 2015. This includes carrying out a child-specific risk assessment, publishing a Child Safeguarding Statement, appointing a Children's Officer and ensuring all coaches and volunteers have completed Garda vetting through the FAI before engaging with young players.
