Off-site Sporting Event Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Pick-up and drop-off interface — Marshal bays and cone pedestrian lanes, impose a five-mile-per-hour site speed, hold teams inside until called forward, stagger coach arrivals, reserve disabled bays and emergency access routes, display clear signage, and coordinate staff on radios to reduce queue pressure.
• Playing surface hazards — Inspect pitches and tracks on arrival, remove debris and mark holes, agree no-play zones with officials, check for glass, sprinklers and unsecured goals, verify line markings and run-off areas, suspend play on saturated or frozen ground, and document defects to the host.
• Behaviour, spectators and conflict — Display and reinforce codes of conduct, seat spectators clear of run-off areas, brief pupils on respectful play and protest limits, position staff between rival groups if needed, pause or abandon events in case of abuse, and record and debrief all incidents.
• Medical conditions and medication — Carry current medical lists and consents, ensure inhalers and auto-injectors travel with pupils and are accessible, brief staff on care plans, assign a pitch-side lead, locate the host AED, adjust intensity for heat or illness, and record any treatment and parent notifications.
• Hydration and heat illness — Schedule formal water breaks, provide spare bottles and shaded team areas, monitor pupils for headache, dizziness, cramps or confusion, note unusually fatigued players for rest, and replace electrolytes for endurance events while discouraging energy drinks.