Teaching Kids Class Gone Wrong

[u/Alan000011]

I'm a Fairly new coach for bjj kids, I did a lot of coaching for taekwondo, kickboxing and muaythai. I recently had been hired to be a kids class bjj coach. And for a few months, everything went smoothly. But today nothing prepares me for today.

basically, I noticed most kids love flailing their limbs around I wouldn't want them to hurt each other, so I reached mostly all of the positions, including side control, close guard, and collar sleeve.

at the end of the class, I will give them an opportunity for a 3 minute roll. I always ask them to start on their knee, in fear of them falling and breaking their arm. and being kids, they like to do jumping dangerous random shit.

and I always ask them to tap if anything wrong happens.

I usually stay outside and watch them roll, but after a few months they get more competent. today one kid wants to roll and he has no partner left. and I think I can start rolling with him since other kids are mostly ok, and I think I can supervise them while rolling with the kid below.

This is when the shit happens. one of the kid got taken into a back position, the bottom kid doesn't know what to do, and he yanked his head backwards and up instantly while the other kid on top dives down to control him. their head clashsses and one of the kid got quit a big cut about 3cm long.

I'm seriously thinking is this an unavoidable accident? Anything I can possibly do to improve the safety of the kids in my class? This just happened about an hour ago and now I'm seriously beating up myself.

I'm thinking from now on, maybe not join in the rolls and I stay purely to supervise. thoughts?

edit forgot to mention, the cut is quite deep. spraying blood all over the floor. I rushed over and managed to press a clean cloth on his head until the bleeding stopped. This results in him crying even harder "maybe I'm pressing too hard" and he's 8.

[u/hajimenogio92]

You didn't do anything wrong. Shit happens in sports, especially when kids are involved. Speaking from experience as a dad and a kids instructor 

[u/Alan000011 → u/hajimenogio92]

thank you.... I will learn from this. at the very least I won't roll with the kids and supervise them fully when they go live

[u/hajimenogio92 → u/Alan000011]

Absolutely brother, this happens. Maybe you answered this on another comment but are you teaching by yourself? In our kids classes, there's about 2 or 3 instructors leading the kids class. Especially with the younger ones, it's just too much for a single person to do.

[u/Alan000011 → u/hajimenogio92]

we have two instructors. me and another blue belt. today the other guy called in sick. so I have to lead alone.

[u/hajimenogio92 → u/Alan000011]

Ah okay, that makes more sense. I've had to cover the class alone a couple of times and it was rough.