From a legal standpoint, you must fulfill nine responsibilities in order to be protected from legal liability from your actions as a coach:

• Provide a safe environment
• Properly plan the activity
• Provide adequate and proper equipment
• Match players of similar skill, size or ability
• Warn of inherent risks in the sport (included in registration waiver of liability)
• Supervise the activity closely
• Evaluate players for injury or incapacitation
• Know emergency procedures, CPR and first aid
• Keep adequate records.

Under New Jersey's "Little League" Law, volunteer athletic coaches, managers or officials for non-profit sports teams are immune from liability if they attend a safety orientation and skills training program and exercise due care in carrying out their duties (outlined above). WWPSA offers a Rutgers Safety Course once a year for new coaches which covers their requirement under the safety and training program. As long as these volunteers perform their responsibilities according to prudence and without willful neglegence, they are immune from legal liability under this statute.

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