The field is complex and a sport development worker must have some knowledge of trauma and the knowledge and ability to work with sportspersons who may have been traumatised. But he/she must also be able to deal with the stress that may be part of working with traumatised sportspersons. There is a vast difference between a former child soldier and recalcitrant teenager in a secondary school somewhere in a western country. It is for this reason that this part of the toolkit pays attention to the ways in which you can protect yourself and manage stress. We present the following:

• Practical examples presented by experienced field workers in the sections Working in the Field and How to protect yourself against aggression in the field.
• A description of self help techniques.
• Organising a support network.
• Warning signs of overload and burnout.
• Relief Worker Burnout Questionnaire, which you can use to assess your own situation.

Jo Verhaegen

Jo Verhaegen