RISK ASSESSMENT
Risk assessment is not a paperwork exercise. It is a professional habit — the discipline of thinking clearly about what could go wrong, before it does, and taking action accordingly. This page sets out the principles, process, and a working template for ADAPT coaches at every level.
Principles of risk assessment in parkour
Parkour as a discipline has an intelligent relationship with risk. It does not seek to eliminate risk — it seeks to understand it, to develop the skills and awareness to manage it, and to grow through the process of doing so. This is true for practitioners training themselves, and it is equally true for coaches responsible for others.
The goal of a risk assessment is not to create zero-risk environments. It is to identify risks that are unreasonable — that exceed the benefit of the activity, that are not appropriate for the participants present, or that have not been considered and accounted for — and to reduce or eliminate those. Risk that remains after that process is risk that has been consciously accepted. That is a different thing entirely from risk that was simply never considered.
Every coaching decision is implicitly a risk assessment. The question is whether you are making those decisions consciously, systematically, and in advance — or reactively, under pressure, with no written record. The first protects your participants and yourself. The second leaves both exposed.
The risk assessment process
Identify the hazards
A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. In parkour coaching this includes the physical environment (surfaces, structures, obstacles, terrain), the equipment used, the activities planned, and the participants themselves (age, ability, health, experience). Walk the space. Think through the session plan. List everything that could go wrong — not just the obvious, but the foreseeable.
Assess the risk
For each hazard, assess two things: likelihood (how probable is harm?) and severity (how serious would the harm be?). A surface that is slightly damp is likely to cause a slip, but the result is probably a minor fall. A structure with significant height and an inadequate landing zone is less likely to cause injury — but if it does, the consequence is severe. Both factors matter. High severity demands higher levels of control regardless of likelihood.
Implement controls
A control is any action that eliminates or reduces a risk. Controls follow a hierarchy: eliminate the hazard entirely if you can (remove the obstacle, move the session, cancel an activity). If you cannot eliminate it, reduce it (restrict access to a zone, modify the activity, provide instruction, increase supervision, add spotting). Controls must be practical and proportionate — and they must actually be implemented, not just listed.
Record and communicate
Write it down. A risk assessment that exists only in your head is of no value if something goes wrong. The written record demonstrates that you considered the risks, made professional judgements, and took action. Share relevant findings with co-coaches, venue staff, and — where appropriate — participants. A participant who understands why a specific zone is out of bounds is more likely to respect that boundary than one who was simply told not to go there.
Review and update
Risk assessments are not static documents. Review your assessment every time you use a new venue, every time the participant group changes significantly, every time an incident occurs, and at a minimum every six months for recurring sessions. The process of reviewing is also the process of improving your assessment — you will see things on the third review that you missed on the first.
Key considerations by environment
Indoor gym / parkour facility
Check equipment integrity before every session. Verify mat placement, structure stability, ceiling clearance, and surface grip. Confirm emergency exit routes are unobstructed. Check that all equipment complies with the venue's maintenance log.
School hall / sports facility
Confirm the floor surface is appropriate for barefoot or light footwear activity. Identify and manage audience or passers-by if the space is shared. Understand the venue's emergency procedures and ensure at least one co-coach is briefed on them.
Park / public green space
Assess surfaces for moisture, uneven ground, and debris. Identify and manage interaction with non-participants. Check any fixed park furniture for structural integrity before use. Confirm mobile signal and nearest emergency care access.
Urban environment
Confirm legal access. Check structures for integrity — surfaces, edges, fixings. Assess fall zones for every intended movement. Manage pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Plan a specific emergency route for any structure with height.
Natural / rural environment
Assess ground stability, rock and tree condition, water hazards, and terrain grade. Confirm emergency service access and mobile signal before arrival. Carry additional first aid supplies. Brief all participants on the specific environment before the session.
Adverse weather
Wet conditions change the risk profile of almost every parkour surface. Reduce movement demands significantly, or relocate. Cold affects grip strength and reaction time. Heat and direct sun demand hydration management and session intensity adjustment. Always check weather before outdoor sessions.
Worked example: outdoor urban session
The following is an example risk assessment for a Level 2 coach leading a mixed-ability beginner/intermediate adult group session in a managed urban outdoor space (a plaza with concrete walls, benches, and steps). This is illustrative — your own assessment must reflect your specific environment and participants.
| Hazard | Who is at risk | Likelihood | Severity | Risk level | Controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet/damp concrete surfaces after overnight rain | All participants | High | Medium | High | Arrive early to assess surface dryness. Delay session start if surfaces are wet. Remove vault/precision movements on elevated surfaces. Inform participants before session begins. |
| Unexpected pedestrian or cyclist entering the space | Participants and public | Medium | Medium | Medium | Define a clear coaching zone at session start. Keep participants within that zone. Appoint co-coach to monitor boundaries during active movements. Brief participants to pause if a third party enters. |
| Ankle sprain on precision landing to uneven surface | Individual participants | Medium | Medium | Medium | Inspect all intended landing surfaces before the session. Ensure all participants warm up ankles specifically. Use progressive precision drill (close, ground-level) before introducing distance or height. Monitor landing mechanics closely. |
| Fall from wall (max. 1.2m) during vault practice | Individual participants | Low | High | High | All vault progressions begin at ground level. Height only introduced after sound ground-level technique. Co-coach spots for all first attempts at height. Clear landing area maintained below and beyond the wall at all times. |
| Overexertion and fatigue (beginner participants) | Beginner participants | Medium | Low | Low | Monitor participant energy levels throughout. Build rest periods into session structure. Explicitly normalise stopping to rest. Watch for signs of fatigue (technique degradation, laboured breathing, changed demeanour). |
| Sunstroke / dehydration (summer session) | All participants | Low | Medium | Low | Remind participants to bring water. Schedule rest in shade every 20 minutes. Move session to shaded area if temperature exceeds 28°C. Recognise early signs of heat exhaustion and respond accordingly. |
Dynamic risk assessment: real-time awareness
Your written risk assessment is completed before the session. Your dynamic risk assessment happens continuously throughout it. This is not a separate process — it is the ongoing application of the same thinking: what has changed, what does that mean, and what do I do about it?
Environmental changes. Weather deteriorates. A new hazard appears. The surface becomes wet. The space fills with unplanned third parties. When the environment changes, reassess. Do not continue because "the plan was to."
Participant state changes. Someone arrives late and missed the warm-up. A participant is visibly distressed. Someone discloses a recent injury they hadn't mentioned. Fatigue is clearly affecting a participant's technique and judgement. Each of these changes the risk profile. Respond to the participant you have, not the participant you expected.
Activity escalation. A participant begins to push beyond what you planned or what you intended. A group starts to influence each other into movements above their level. This is one of the most common risk vectors in parkour coaching — the social pressure of a group that is enjoying itself. Your job is to hold the progression, not to manage social dynamics at the cost of safety.
Your own state. Are you tired? Distracted? Managing something off-site? Your capacity to assess risk in real time is affected by your own condition. Know your limits and compensate for them — with a more conservative session plan, more co-coaching support, or by deferring the session if you are not in a position to deliver it safely.
Risk assessment template
Copy the field labels below into a document or email and complete them for each session venue. Submit completed assessments to your host organisation or keep on file. To submit a template to ADAPT, email info@adaptqualifications.com.
ADAPT Parkour Session Risk Assessment
Complete this form for each venue before delivering a session. Review every six months or when the venue, activity, or participant group changes significantly.