Senators advance bill requiring safety courses for some Oklahoma youth sports coaches 

OKLAHOMA CITY — Some youth sports coaches may soon have to take a safety course.

A Senate panel on Thursday passed Senate Bill 1472 that would require a safety course for those coaching players ages 14 and younger on teams that play on public property.

The requirement would apply to coaches overseeing “high-risk youth activities,” including but not limited to: 

• football; 
• basketball; 
• baseball; 
• volleyball; 
• soccer; 
• ice or field hockey;
• cheerleading; 
• and lacrosse.

The measure would not apply to school-sponsored activities.

The course, which could be online, would include information about decreasing the likelihood that a youth athlete will sustain a serious injury. It would have to be approved by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, former quarterback and football coach for the University of Tulsa, said the measure is not aimed at the public or private sector. 

Rader authored the measure, dubbed the “Coach Safely Act.”

“I am trying not to bring a hammer and bring help,” Rader said.

He said it is easy to criticize coaches, adding that he didn’t want to make the job more difficult.

Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, asked about the consequences for those who do not take the class. The measure does not specify penalties for failure to comply.

Rader said he was counting on the willingness of people “who want to do the right thing.”

Haste said Rader was trying to assist with resources rather than being “punitive.”

Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, said the measure may need to be amended to exclude people who already have the training.

Rader said he did not want to pursue the bill if he felt like it would prevent volunteers from coaching youth sports teams.

He said he was open to suggestions to improve it.