Club Sports Health and Safety

General Guidelines

The Office of Student Engagement strives to provide an awareness of the inherent risks involved in each activity. Often these elements of danger are beyond the control of the Office of Student Engagement. Participation in club sports is strictly voluntary and such participation involves the unavoidable risks of personal injury, loss or damage to personal property, and the possibility of loss of life.

It is the individual’s responsibility to determine his/her own ability to participate and at what level he/she can participate.

  • Club Sports Teams are expected to abide by all local, state, and national health and safety regulations. 
  • All club sports teams must have Safety Officers who are certified in Adult CPR/AED and Standard First Aid.
    • At least one Safety Officer must be present for any travel, home event, practice, or other physical activity.
    • Club funds may be used to pay for 2 club members’ certifications per year.
  • Each member of a Club Sports Team must do the following before he/she is allowed to participate in Club Sports Team activities:
    • Sign a Club Participant or Parental Consent, Release of Claims, and Photo Release Form before being able to participate in any club activity. If the club member is not yet 18 years old, then the Form must be signed by a parent or guardian. This form states that each Club Sport member/parent/guardian realizes there is a risk of injury while participating and that the Gardner-Webb University is not responsible for any injury which occurs during this sport/activity.
      • Club Participant or Parental Consent Form is located in the “View Forms” link at the end of this Handbook, in the “Documents Tab” of the Inter-Club Council Involve Profile, or in the Office of Student Engagement.
    • Each Club Member must provide emergency contact information and a copy of insurance cards. This information must be documented in Involve and on paper within the Emergency Binder that is required to be present at each practice and competition.
  • Each member of a visiting team must sign a Game Contract and provide the required signature(s) on the Visiting Club Participant or Parental Consent, Release of Claims and Photo Release Form prior to participation.
    • Game Contract and Visiting Club Participant or Parental Consent forms are located in the “View Forms” link at the end of this Handbook, in the “Documents Tab” of the Inter-Club Council Involve Profile, or in the Office of Student Engagement.
  • Team Officers are responsible for seeing that all the forms are read, understood, and signed by team members and guests before participating in team activities.
  • All accidents/injuries, no matter how small, must be reported. The Injury Report Form must be completed and submitted to ADSE within 24 hours of the event.
    • Injury Report Form is located in the “View Forms” link at the end of this Handbook, in the “Documents Tab” of the Inter-Club Council Involve Profile, or in the Office of Student Engagement.
  • Each club should have its GWU-issued first-aid kit available during all practices and events. These University-issued first aid kits will be loaned to each at the start of the year. First Aid kits will be returned to the Student Engagement Office at the end of each academic year. Clubs will be billed for any loss of first aid kits.

Failure to comply with the above rules will result in appropriate action by the Inter-Club Council.

Gardner-Webb University and the Office of Student Engagement cannot be responsible for any injury or property loss incurred by participants while involved in any Club Sport.

Injuries

In the event of an injury:

  1. The club member(s) that are the designated Safety Officers certified in FA/CPR/AED shall respond. Determine the seriousness of the injury.
  2. If the injury is life-threatening:
    • When in doubt, always believe the injury is more serious than originally thought.
    • Call 911 or send someone for help. Assign bystanders (when available) to specific tasks (i.e., calling campus police, getting an AED, etc.).Administer first aid to the level of your training.Call for help and do not move the injured participant until help arrives, even if it means delaying an activity in progress.Remain with the injured participant until help arrives.All serious injuries that require transportation (to Student Health Clinic, doctor’s office, hospital, etc.) should include a 911 call for ambulance assistance. Have someone meet the emergency vehicle.Follow instructions from emergency personnel until injury treatment is complete.
    • If an accident occurs requiring a GWU Club Sports participant to be transported to the hospital either by ambulance or in a personal vehicle, the Club MUST call the Assistant Director of Student Engagement as soon as possible. Student Development personnel will either call the member’s emergency contact or instruct the club leadership to contact the member’s emergency contact
  3. If the injury is not life-threatening:
    • The club member(s) that are the designated Safety Officers certified in FA/CPR/AED shall respond and administer first aid to the level of their training.
    • If any follow-up care is needed, the Student Health Clinic is available to all students, faculty, and staff.
  4. Regardless of the level of injury, an Injury Report Form must be completed. This report MUST be completed in full and submitted within 24 hours of the injury.
  5. Important Locations
    • The Student Health Clinic
      • Hours:
        • 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. Monday- Friday, CLOSED on Saturday and Sunday.
      • 148 Memorial Dr. Shelby, NC 28152(980) 487-2390 
    • NextCare Urgent Care
      • Hours:
        • 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday-Friday8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
      • 419 Earl Rd, Shelby, NC 28150(704) 481-0555
      • Atrium Health Urgent Care Shelby
        • Hours
          • 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sunday-Saturday
        • 1010 E. Dixon Blvd. Suite B, Shelby, NC 28152980-487-2900
    • Hospital
      • Hours
        • Open 24/7
      • 201 E. Grover St., Shelby, NC 28150
      • 980-487-3000

An injured participant is responsible for all financial obligations incurred in any treatment necessitated by an injury.