Aspire Coach Safety Protocol

When Nutrition Becomes a Safety Issue: The Coach's Protocol

Safety issues require a different coaching posture: stay calm, name the concern, document what was observed, and move the athlete toward the right adult and clinician instead of trying to solve it privately.

What counts

Repeated dizziness, restriction, rapid loss, or stress injury is not just a nutrition talk

The issue becomes a safety concern when health risk, collapse, or clinical behavior enters the picture.

Patterns matter more than coach intuition alone.

Treat serious concerns with the same urgency you would any other health risk.

Coach job

Stay factual and boundaried

Document what was seen, heard, and when it happened.

Keep language concrete: meals missed, dizziness reported, injuries repeated, behavior changed.

Do not diagnose or promise secrecy.

when to call
  • EscalationMove the concern through the right chain fastUse the trainer, parent, AD, school nurse, counselor, or physician path already in place.The faster the referral path is defined, the safer the coach response becomes.This should not depend on one assistant improvising in the moment.
  • What not to doDo not negotiate a medical risk inside a casual sideline talkAvoid private management, body commentary, or trying to monitor the athlete alone.Serious concerns need shared documentation and adult support.A clean protocol protects both the athlete and the program.
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