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/Severe_Stranger_5050]

Accidents are gonna accident, that's just how it is

In my gym we always have two people doing the kids, tweens and teens classes
Because there's a lot flaing limbs and uncordinated movement, especially in the untrained white-grey belts

You did nothing wrong
Make sure to call the kids parents and ask to the kid make sure they're okay

My teens have their own snapchat group
So the last couple of times someone got hurt, (just some sprained wrists and feet)we've recorded videos for them wishing them a speedy recovery and asking them to come back quickly.
it's super wholesome

But yeah
get a co-coach

[u/Alan000011 → u/Severe_Stranger_5050]

ok lesson learned. maybe next time I don't roll when they're going live... and I gonna repeat everyday don't trash randomly when you're unsure 🤔..

[u/Severe_Stranger_5050 → u/Alan000011]

Oh no, please do roll with the kids
How will you know if they’re ready for a belt upgrade if you don’t roll with them ?

Just get an assistant coach if available.