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CANNON COLTS YOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB - CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Introduction
All sporting organizations that make provision for children and young people must ensure that:
· The welfare of the child is paramount.
· All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from
abuse.
· All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
· All volunteers working in Cannon Colts Youth Football Club have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate officer.
Volunteers are not trained to deal with situations of abuse nor decide if abuse has occurred.
Policy statement
Cannon Colts Youth Football Club has a duty of care to safeguard all children from harm whilst they attend its activities. All children have a right to protection, and
the needs of children with disabilities and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. Cannon Colts Youth Football Club will ensure the
safety and protection of all children involved in Cannon Colts Youth Football Club through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by Cannon Colts
Youth Football Club.
A child is defined as under 18 (The Children Act 1989).
Policy aims
The aim of the Cannon Colts Youth Football Club Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice:
· Providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of Cannon Colts Youth Football Club.
· Allow all volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.
Promoting Good Practice with Young People
Introduction
Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to
interfere with your judgement about any action to take.
Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and the sporting environment. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work
with young people in order to harm them.
A coach, official or volunteer may have regular contact with young people and be an important link in identifying cases where a player needs protection.
All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines in this document. When a child enters the club having been subjected to child
abuse outside the sporting environment, sport can play a crucial role in improving the child’s self esteem.
In such instances the club must work with the appropriate agencies to ensure the child receives the required support.
Good Practice Guidelines
All club officials shall demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to protect themselves from false allegations. The following are common sense examples of how to
create a positive culture and climate within football:
Good practice means:
· Always working in an open environment (e.g. Avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging an open environment i.e. no secrets).
· Treating children equally, and with respect and dignity.
· Always putting the welfare of each child first, before winning or achieving goals.
· Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with players (e.g. it is not appropriate to have an intimate relationship with a child or to share a room with them).
· Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust, which empowers children to share in the decision-making process.
· Making sport fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play.
· Ensuring that if any form of manual/physical support is required, it should be provided openly and according to guidelines provided by the FA Level 1
Certificate in Coaching. Care is needed, as it is difficult to maintain hand positions when the child is constantly moving. Young people should always be consulted
and their agreement gained. Some parents are becoming increasingly sensitive about manual support and their views should always be carefully considered.
· Keeping up to date with the technical skills, qualifications and insurance in sport.
· Involving parents/guardians wherever possible (e.g. for the responsibility of their children in the changing rooms). If groups have to be supervised in the
changing rooms, always ensure parents/coaches/officials work in pairs.
· Ensuring that if mixed teams are taken away, a male and female member of staff should always accompany them. (NB however, same gender abuse can also
occur).
· Ensuring that at tournaments or residential events, adults should not enter children’s rooms or invite children into their rooms.
· Being an excellent role model - this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of players at training sessions and matches.
· Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
· Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of young people and disabled adults - avoiding excessive training or competition and not pushing them
against their will.
· Securing the parents consent to administer first aid and for other medical treatment.
· Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.
Introduction
All sporting organizations that make provision for children and young people must ensure that:
· The welfare of the child is paramount.
· All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from
abuse.
· All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
· All volunteers working in Cannon Colts Youth Football Club have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate officer.
Volunteers are not trained to deal with situations of abuse nor decide if abuse has occurred.
Policy statement
Cannon Colts Youth Football Club has a duty of care to safeguard all children from harm whilst they attend its activities. All children have a right to protection, and
the needs of children with disabilities and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. Cannon Colts Youth Football Club will ensure the
safety and protection of all children involved in Cannon Colts Youth Football Club through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by Cannon Colts
Youth Football Club.
A child is defined as under 18 (The Children Act 1989).
Policy aims
The aim of the Cannon Colts Youth Football Club Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice:
· Providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of Cannon Colts Youth Football Club.
· Allow all volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.
Promoting Good Practice with Young People
Introduction
Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to
interfere with your judgement about any action to take.
Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and the sporting environment. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work
with young people in order to harm them.
A coach, official or volunteer may have regular contact with young people and be an important link in identifying cases where a player needs protection.
All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines in this document. When a child enters the club having been subjected to child
abuse outside the sporting environment, sport can play a crucial role in improving the child’s self esteem.
In such instances the club must work with the appropriate agencies to ensure the child receives the required support.
Good Practice Guidelines
All club officials shall demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to protect themselves from false allegations. The following are common sense examples of how to
create a positive culture and climate within football:
Good practice means:
· Always working in an open environment (e.g. Avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging an open environment i.e. no secrets).
· Treating children equally, and with respect and dignity.
· Always putting the welfare of each child first, before winning or achieving goals.
· Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with players (e.g. it is not appropriate to have an intimate relationship with a child or to share a room with them).
· Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust, which empowers children to share in the decision-making process.
· Making sport fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play.
· Ensuring that if any form of manual/physical support is required, it should be provided openly and according to guidelines provided by the FA Level 1
Certificate in Coaching. Care is needed, as it is difficult to maintain hand positions when the child is constantly moving. Young people should always be consulted
and their agreement gained. Some parents are becoming increasingly sensitive about manual support and their views should always be carefully considered.
· Keeping up to date with the technical skills, qualifications and insurance in sport.
· Involving parents/guardians wherever possible (e.g. for the responsibility of their children in the changing rooms). If groups have to be supervised in the
changing rooms, always ensure parents/coaches/officials work in pairs.
· Ensuring that if mixed teams are taken away, a male and female member of staff should always accompany them. (NB however, same gender abuse can also
occur).
· Ensuring that at tournaments or residential events, adults should not enter children’s rooms or invite children into their rooms.
· Being an excellent role model - this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of players at training sessions and matches.
· Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
· Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of young people and disabled adults - avoiding excessive training or competition and not pushing them
against their will.
· Securing the parents consent to administer first aid and for other medical treatment.
· Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.
CHILD PROTECTION