Policies & Protocols

Concussion Management Protocol

Head injuries are one of the risks we take most seriously. Bolts Athletic Organization follows a "when in doubt, sit them out" standard, modeled on Texas's youth concussion law (Natasha's Law) and CDC guidance, for every athlete on every team.

The rule coaches follow, every time

Any athlete who shows signs of a possible concussion — or who is suspected of having one — comes out of the game or practice immediately and does not return that day. No coach, parent, or the athlete themselves can override this. Judgment calls go toward caution, always.

Signs to watch for include: confusion or disorientation, headache, dizziness or balance problems, nausea, sensitivity to light or noise, memory gaps around the hit, or simply "not looking right." A suspected head injury doesn't require a big hit or a loss of consciousness to count.

Getting back on the field

1. The athlete is evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible.
2. Only a licensed physician can clear an athlete to return to play — in writing. Coaches and parents cannot clear a return, even with the best intentions.
3. Once cleared, the athlete follows a step-by-step return (rest, then light activity, then sport-specific drills, then full contact) with at least a day between steps and no symptoms at each stage before moving to the next.

Before the season starts

• Coaches complete concussion recognition training annually.
• Every parent and athlete receives and acknowledges a concussion information sheet before the season begins.
• Any suspected concussion is documented and reported to Bolts leadership.

Questions about this policy or a specific injury: info@boltsbaseball.com.

Coach & Volunteer Screening Policy

Every adult who coaches, assists, or regularly supervises Bolts athletes goes through the same process before they're ever alone near a team — no exceptions for family, friends, or "just helping out for a week."

What we require before anyone starts

• A written application covering coaching/volunteer history and disclosing any criminal history involving violence or a sex-related offense.
• A criminal background check, including a search of the National Sex Offender Registry, before the applicant has any unsupervised contact with athletes.
• A completed Athlete Safety & Supervision Policy acknowledgment, confirming the volunteer has read and agrees to follow it.

An applicant with a history of physical violence or a sex-related offense is automatically disqualified from any role involving contact with athletes.

Ongoing

• Background checks are renewed annually for every active coach and volunteer.
• A new coach may shadow and assist under direct supervision of a screened coach while their check is pending, but is never left alone with athletes until it clears.
• Anyone flagged during a re-screen is immediately removed from athlete-facing duties pending review.

Why this matters

This isn't just paperwork — it's the standard our insurance carrier requires us to have in place, and more importantly, it's the standard we'd want for our own kids. If you have questions about the process, or want to volunteer, reach out to info@boltsbaseball.com.

Athlete Safety & Supervision Policy

Bolts Athletic Organization is committed to providing a safe environment for every athlete in our program. This page summarizes our policy on supervision, appropriate conduct, and reporting.

The core rule: no adult is ever alone with a kid who isn't theirs

Every one-on-one interaction between a coach, volunteer, or team parent and an athlete who is not their own child must be observable and interruptible — in view of, and able to be walked in on by, another adult at any time. This applies at practices, games, private-property practice sessions, and anywhere else Bolts activities happen.

• Practices on private property: at least two screened adults must be present for the full practice. No solo coach/single-athlete sessions, ever — no exceptions for "quick extra reps."
• Communication: coach-to-athlete texts, DMs, or social media messages are not allowed. All team communication goes through a group text/app that includes parents, or directly to a parent.
• Physical contact: limited to what's necessary for instruction (a hand adjusting a batting stance, a high-five, a supportive pat on the back) — always in view of others, never in private, never anything a parent watching wouldn't be comfortable seeing.
• Transportation: coaches do not transport an athlete alone without written parent consent on file in advance.

Recognizing and reporting a concern

Any coach, volunteer, or parent who suspects abuse, misconduct, or a policy violation — by anyone, involving any child — must report it immediately.

1. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
2. Report suspected abuse to Texas DFPS at 1-800-252-5400 or txabusehotline.org — in Texas, every adult is legally required to report suspected child abuse, not just certain professions.
3. Also notify Bolts leadership so we can respond internally: info@boltsbaseball.com.

Reports are taken seriously, investigated, and never met with retaliation against the person who raised the concern.

Screening

Every coach and volunteer who supervises athletes completes an application and a background check before working with kids, and is re-screened annually. See our Coach & Volunteer Screening Policy above for details.

These pages summarize the full policies adopted by Bolts Athletic Organization. Download the complete document above, or contact info@boltsbaseball.com with questions.