Safeguarding

Safeguarding Policy Statement

Thames Ditton Cricket Club (The Club) is committed to ensuring all Children (i.e under the age of 18 ) participating in cricket have a safe and positive experience.

We will do this by:

Recognising all children participating in cricket (regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability or disability) have the right to have fun and be protected from harm in a safe environment
Ensuring individuals working within cricket at, or for, our club provide a welcoming, safe, and fun experience for children
Adopting and implementing the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) “Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children” and any future versions of this
Appointing a Club Welfare Officer and ensuring they attend all current and future training modules required by the ECB
Ensuring all people who work in cricket at, or for, our club (such as staff, officials, volunteers, team managers, coaches and so on) have a responsibility for safeguarding children, and understand how the “Safe Hands Policy” applies to them
Ensuring all individuals working within cricket at, or for, the club are recruited and appointed in accordance with ECB guidelines and relevant legislation
Ensuring all individuals working within cricket at, or for, the club are provided with support, through education and training, so they are aware of, and can adhere to, good practice and Code of Conduct guidelines defined by the ECB, and the club
Ensuring the name and contact details of the Club Welfare Officer is available:
- As the first point of contact for parents, children and volunteers/staff within the club
- As a local source of procedural advice for the club, its committee and members
- As the main point of contact within the club for the ECB County Welfare Officer and the ECB Safeguarding Team, and
- As the main point of contact within the club for relevant external agencies in connection with child safeguarding
Ensuring correct and comprehensive reporting procedures exist for raising and managing child safeguarding concerns.
Providing an environment where the views of children, parents and volunteers are sought and welcomed on a range of issues. This will help us create an environment where people have the opportunity to voice any concerns (about possible suspected child abuse/neglect, and/or about poor practice) to the Club Welfare Officer *
*Details of the County Welfare Officer will be made available, in case the Club Welfare officer is unavailable, or the concern relates to the Club Welfare officer.
Ensuring all suspicions concerns and allegations are taken seriously and dealt with swiftly and appropriately
Ensuring access to confidential information relating to child safeguarding matters is restricted to those who need to know in order to safeguard children – including the Club Welfare Officer and the appropriate external authorities, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), as specified within ECB child safeguarding procedures

‘Safe Hands’ – Cricket’s policy for safeguarding children

The ECB has produced Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children as part of its commitment to ensuring that the game provides a safe, friendly and enjoyable experience for children.

The Policy provides the sport with the tools to ensure that the whole game takes up the challenge of continuously improving the participation conditions for children.

Safe Hands greatly enhances the value of existing activities and practices throughout ECB’s extensive club and schools network and ensures that the many thousands of coaches and volunteers integral to the game are supported.

The Policy is backed up by a comprehensive training and education programme, a structured implementation plan and a sensitive process to respond to concerns.

The Policy and associated documents are available to download at: www.ecb.co.uk

Once appointed, the Welfare Officer will attend a training course regarding their role, requirements and responsibilities. At this course they will be given a comprehensive copy of the Policy.

You may be asking How will Safeguarding and Child Protection affect me?

Safeguarding and Child Protection in Cricket is applicable to all.

The Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children has been developed to provide a comprehensive and complete guide to all those who participate in Cricket

What does my club need to do?

Safeguarding and Child Protection will not be implemented overnight. It is a long-term process. It is the responsibility of the whole club to implement the appropriate Safeguarding policies and procedures.

Safeguarding Children: Policies and Procedures

The ECB requires all affiliated clubs with junior sections to adopt its Safe Hands Policy for the protection and welfare of children (i.e. under the age of 18). Part of Safe Hands means acquainting parents and children with policies and procedures Thames Ditton Cricket Club (TDCC) has in place in certain specific areas. A full and comprehensive set of TDCC Policies and Procedures are kept in the clubhouse for your information. A summary of our policies are listed below. Please take a few minutes to read them. Thank you.

Anti-bullying

We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all our children so they can train, and play, in a relaxed and secure atmosphere.

Bullying will not be tolerated.
All instances of bullying, whether emotional, physical, racist, sexual, homophobic, verbal or cyber are unacceptable, and must be reported to the Club’s Welfare Officer.
TDCC has procedures in place to deal with incidents promptly and effectively. These include a Junior Code of Conduct, reporting to the ECB Safeguarding Team (when appropriate), holding discussions about bullying, why it matters and how to change behaviour.
In cases of adults reported to be bullying cricketers under 18, the ECB will always be informed.
At TDCC, children and parents are assured that they will be supported if bullying occurs.

Changing Rooms and Showering Facilities

Adults must not change or shower at the same time using the same facility as children.
Adults should try to change at separate times to children during matches, for example when children are padding up.
If adults and children need to share a changing facility, the Club must have consent from parents that their child(ren) can share a changing room with adults in the club.
If children play for Open Age teams, they, and their parents, must be informed of the Club’s policy on changing arrangements.
Mixed gender teams must have access to separate male and female changing rooms.
Mobile phones, tablets or any other recording device must not be used in changing rooms under any circumstances.
If children are uncomfortable changing or showering at the club, no pressure should be placed on them to do so.

Photography and Video Camera

Photographs/images are not to be taken at matches or training without the prior permission of parents or guardians. This permission can be given by proxy by the coach of each team only after parental consent for this has been granted.
If no consent has been given for a child on the player profile form, then it is to be made known to the relevant person of the other team (e.g. coach/team manager) so the appropriate person/s taking photographs for the other team is/are aware and can avoid taking photographs of that particular child
Children are to be informed that photographs are to be taken.
Children should be informed that if they have concerns they can report these to the coach or team manager.
Concerns about inappropriate or intrusive photography should be reported to the Club Welfare Officer and recorded in the same manner as any other child protection concern
Parental permission must be obtained to use a child’s image to represent cricket and within the club.
When using an image, the club should avoid naming the child, and when a name is used the use of an image should be avoided.
Prior parental consent must be obtained for the use of video analysis as part of a coaching programme.
Care must be taken in the storage of such films.

Transport

Parents/carers are responsible for the safe delivery and collection of their child for matches or training.
It is not the Club’s responsibility to transport, or arrange to transport, children to and from the club or match.
Team Managers/Coaches are not liable or responsible for any private transportation arrangements organised by parents/carers
The Club must receive permission from parents/carers for children to participate in all competitions and away fixtures/events. This permission is by written consent as contained on TDCC Junior Member Consent Form.
Players must not leave the playing facility whether at home or away without notifying the Coach or Team Manager.
The club advises parents that late pick-ups of children places managers and coaches in a potentially vulnerable position and must be avoided. Parents/carers should have a contact number for the club/coach to inform them of emergencies and possible late collections.

Managing children away from the club

For away matches, age group managers are to inform parents of the following: meeting point, venue, directions and times, including estimated time of return and provide contact telephone numbers.
Parents must be made aware that it is their responsibility to provide adequate transport to away matches.
Under no circumstances should age group managers provide transport to or away from matches to unaccompanied children, unless written consent has been received.
It is the manager’s responsibility to take the team kit bag to away matches.
For trips involving an overnight stay specific guidance will be given

Missing children

In the event of a child going missing, TDCC will follow the ECB Safe Hands guidelines.
The club will ensure other children in their care are looked after appropriately while a search is organized.
The child’s parents will be informed, either verbally or by phone.
All available responsible adults will be organized by areas to be searched.
The area in which the child has gone missing will be searched including changing rooms, toilets, public and private areas and the club grounds.
An adult will be nominated at a specific location to whom searches will report back.
The child’s disappearance will be reported to the police immediately following the child’s disappearance being noted.
If the police recommend further action before they get involved, TDCC will follow their guidance.
At any stage when the child is located, all adults including parents, searchers and police, if involved, will be informed.
All missing child incidents MUST BE notified at the very earliest opportunity to the club Welfare Officer.

Working with external partners

TDCC will consider all obligations and duties before undertaking any partnership or programme with external organisations.

Social Media, texts and emails

All TDCC Codes of Conduct and photography guidelines apply online and in text and email communications.
Coaches, managers and TDCC will not send text messages to children; all arrangements will be made via their parents/carers.
Coaches, managers and TDCC will not send private messages to children via social media and will not invite or accept children to become ‘friends’.
For children of 16 or 17 it may be acceptable, with the parent’s prior consent, to email or text the parent and to copy in the child. The parent must receive the same messages as the child.
All contact with children will be in relation to coaching, matches and cricket related activity.
Any concerns regarding the inappropriate use of social media should be reported to the Club Welfare Officer.

Supervising children at cricket sessions

A minimum of two responsible adults will be present in all training sessions and matches.
For single sex groups there must be at least one same gender member of staff.
For mixed groups there must be one male and one female supervising adult.
The ratios of qualified coaches to children are:
– Net Coaching: 1 coach: 8 children
– Group Coaching: 1 coach: 24 children
– Hard Ball Coaching: 1 coach: 16 children
Regular intervals for drinks will be arranged.

Wearing of cricket helmets by Young Players

Helmets with faceguards or grilles must be worn when batting against a hard cricket ball.
Wicket keepers must wear a helmet with a faceguard, or a wicketkeeper face protector.
Young players are not allowed to bat or stand up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard ball without wearing appropriate protection.
Young players should regard a helmet, pads, gloves and an abdominal protector (for boys) as compulsory for all training sessions and matches.

Fielding and fast bowling

TDCC abides by the ECB fielding regulations and fast bowling directives.

Children playing in Open age matches

ECB approved helmets, fast bowling directives and fielding regulations will be adhered to for junior players in adult matches.
The Captain will inform the opposing captain and umpires of under 18s in the side.
Players who are selected in a County U12 squad in spring for a summer squad, or in another squad deemed by ECB Performance Managers to be of a standard above ‘district level’ for that season are eligible to play Open age cricket. This is providing they are at least 11 years old, are in school year 7 on 1st September in the year preceding the season, and have written parental consent to play.
District and club players who are not in a county or area squad must wait until they reach the U13 age group, be in Year 8 and be 12 years old on 1st September of the preceding year before being able to play in any Open age cricket. Written parental consent is required.
The club has a duty of care:
– not to place a young player in a position that involves unreasonable risk
– not to create a situation that places members of the opposing side in a position whereby they cannot play cricket as they would normally do against adult players.

Girls playing in boys’ age group leagues and competitions

TDCC encourages the development of girl cricketers and is happy for them to participate in boys’ cricket.
In ECB national competitions the age group requirement applies to all players regardless of their sex.
In local leagues, and other leagues, TDCC will follow the competitions age group requirements.
Boys cannot play in girls’ leagues or competition unless this is explicitly stated in the rules of that competition.
TDCC’s duty of care applies to all players and girls should only be allowed to participate if the responsible adults are satisfied they are competent to do so.