Heslerton CC is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its members.

The club believes that it is important that members, coaches, administrators and parents associated with the club should, at all times, show respect, be encouraged to be open at all times and to share any concerns or complaints that they may have about any aspect of the club with the Club Secretary.

As a member of Heslerton CC you are expected to abide by the following junior club rules:

POLICY STATEMENT

The health and safety of club members, participants, spectators and all others involved in cricket is of paramount importance to Heslerton CC. The Club is committed, so far as reasonably practicable, to operating in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and all relevant regulations made under the Act.

In order to achieve this Heslerton CC will:-

• provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from its activities

• consult with our members on matters affecting their health and safety

• provide and ensure maintenance of safe facilities and equipment

• ensure all participants are provided with adequate safety information

• minimise the risk of accidents

• maintain safe conditions for cricket activity

• review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals

The management committee has prime responsibility for health and safety in the Heslerton CC’s activities. It is the duty of this committee to see that everything reasonably practicable is done to

prevent personal injury and to maintain a safe and healthy place of recreation. It is the duty of all coaches, members, players, spectators and all others involved in cricket to act responsibly, and to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves and colleagues.

ORGANISATION

Day to day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice is delegated to the Club Secretary.

All club members are expected to co-operate with the management committee on health and safety matters, take reasonable care of their own health and safety & report all health and safety concerns to the Club Secretary.

Coaches

Umpires and scorers

All umpires and scorers must have a current CRB check.

MONITORING

The management committee is responsible for monitoring the operation of this policy & for investigating accidents and making recommendations to prevent a recurrence.

SAFETY PROCEDURES

Risk assessment

Coaches should carry out a risk assessment at the beginning of each session & fill in an attendance register. Any adverse findings of the risk assessments must be reported to the Club Secretary and

remedial action agreed and implemented before activities begin.

Accidents and First Aid

All accidents, however minor, should be recorded in an accident book. If necessary, First Aid should be administered by a trained person. In the event of more serious accidents/injuries (e.g. fracture or dislocation) a young person’s parents should be informed and an incident/accident report filled in.

Child Welfare

Heslerton CC is committed to making cricket a safe, positive and enjoyable experience for all players, participants and spectators but particularly for young people and vulnerable adults. Heslerton CC endorses and implements the recommendations of the ECB Safe Hands (Welfare of Young People in Cricket) Policy.

Ratios of staff to Young People

It is important that there is an appropriate ratio of supervising adults to young people, particularly on away trips, to ensure the safety of the group. The minimum ratio is 1:10 if young people are over 8 years old & there must be enough adults to be able to deal with an emergency (i.e. minimum of two).

Outdoor Nets

Outdoor nets should cause minimal nuisance or danger to other players or members of the public.

Surfaces should be maintained to provide a secure footing and be free from any defect which would cause a ball to lift, shoot or turn dangerously from the pitching area.

Outfield Practice

When players practice on the outfield they should do so in positions which minimise the risk of

injury to fellow cricketers and spectators and damage to property.

Helmets and other protective equipment

A helmet with a faceguard must be worn by young players (in both junior & adult cricket) when batting and when keeping wicket standing up to the stumps (as a guideline, closer than 5 metres) against a hard ball in practice and in matches. All players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item of protective equipment when batting against a hard ball in addition to pads, gloves, and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box). A thigh guard is also strongly recommended. Good quality footwear which ensures sufficient grip, cushioning and support should be worn.

Drinks

It is important that young players drink appropriate amounts of water to reduce the risk of dehydration during a match or practice session. Coaches and umpires are encouraged to ensure that regular intervals for drinks are arranged in matches.

Safe positioning of fielders

No player in the under 15 age group or younger shall be allowed to field closer than 7.3 metres (8 yards) from the middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side, until the batter has played the ball. For players in the under 13 age group and below the distance is 10 metres (11 yards).

In addition, any young player in the under 16 to under 18 age groups, who has not reached the age of 18, must wear a helmet and for boys an abdominal protector (box) when fielding within 5.5 metres (6 yards) of the bat, except behind the wicket on the off side. Players should wear appropriate protective equipment whenever they are fielding in a position where they feel at risk.

(Age groups are based on the age of the player at midnight on 31^st August in the year preceding the current season).

Overbowling

Overbowling is a common cause of back injuries in cricket. To ensure that young fast bowlers do not place undue stress on their bodies, every attempt must be made to keep the amount of bowling within reasonable limits. The following directives provide sensible playing and training levels:

Age Maximum overs per spell Maximum spells per day

Up to 13                 4                                             2

Under 14/15          5                                             2

Under 16/17          6                                             3

Under 19                7                                             3

For the purpose of these directives a fast bowler should be defined as a bowler to whom a wicket keeper in the same age group would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball.

Net coaching

The coach should check and ensure that the area and equipment is safe for the type of activity which is to take place and that no damage or danger to property or persons is reasonably likely to occur. The coach should ensure good net discipline and monitor participants continually during the session. The deliberate and frequent bowling of fast short-pitched deliveries should be discouraged.

Games outdoors

Umpires are the sole judges of whether pitches are playable and conditions are fit for play. If no certificated or appointed umpires are present, the captains will make this decision. Law 42.8 concerning fast intimidatory bowling should be strictly enforced.

Junior Matches

A completed junior club membership form is required for each young player participating in matches whether at home or away. Match information needs to be communicated to parents and the team including method of transport, pick up point, time of departure & return, destination & venue and contact details for the Team Manager.

Junior cricket exists on the support of volunteers and parents and private cars are used for transport to away fixtures. It is imperative that the guidelines in the ECB publication Safe Hands (Welfare of Young People) in Cricket Policy are followed when transporting young people in private cars.

For single sex groups, there must be at least one same gender supervising adult.

For mixed groups there must be at least one male and one female supervising adult

Heslerton CC is committed to ensuring that all Young People who play Cricket for the club have a safe, positive & enjoyable experience. The club is committed to ensuring that everyone knows and accepts their responsibilities in relation to a duty of care for Young People. This policy sets out a framework for the club’s commitment to good practice and the protection of Young People in its care.

• All Young People within cricket, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability or disability, have the right to be protected

• All Young People participating in cricket have a right to do so in a safe environment

• Adults working in cricket will provide a safe, positive and fun cricketing experience for Young People

• Adults will understand and be supported in their role and responsibility with regard to the Duty of Care for Young People

• Individuals will receive support to be aware of and understand best practice and how to manage any welfare issues which may come to light

The duty of Heslerton CC is to ensure the safety and welfare of any Young Person involved in cricket related activities, to safeguard them and protect them from reasonably foreseeable forms of harm.

By adopting and implementing ECB The Safe Hands (Welfare of Young People in Cricket) Policy the club will ensure that the environment for Young People is safe and fun

It is important that all Adults (Coaches, Umpires, Team Managers, Volunteers and Parents) working with Young People behave in an appropriate manner, operating within an accepted ethical framework. This will protect both the Young People and the Adults within cricket.

Heslerton CC will aim to encourage Coaches/Responsible Adults to:

• Ensure that cricket is fun, enjoyable and fair play is promoted

• Treat all young people equally, with respect and dignity, and be an excellent role model

• Always put the welfare of each Young Person first, before winning or achieving goals

• Always work in an open environment & build a balanced relationship based on mutual trust

• Recognise the developmental needs and capacity of Young People

• Give enthusiastic and constructive feedback, rather than negative criticism

• Ask each participant to complete a Junior Club Membership Form and ensure the information on this Form is to hand, in case of emergency

• Keep a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given

• Ensure that if any form of manual/physical contact is required, it should be provided openly and according to guidelines provided in this document

• Keep up to date with the technical skills, qualifications and insurance in Cricket

• If groups have to be supervised in the changing rooms, always ensure adults work in pairs

• Ensure that mixed teams are always accompanied by both a male and a female adult

• Ensure that there is regular communication with Parents/Carers

All individuals working with Young People should NEVER:

• Spend time alone with Young People away from others

• Take Young People to your home where they will be alone with you

• Transport Young People in your car alone

• Transport Young People if you are an unregistered driver

• Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games

• Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching or physical abuse

• Allow Young People to use inappropriate language unchallenged

• Make sexually suggestive comments to a Young Person, even in fun

• Reduce a Young Person to tears as a form of control

• Allow allegations made by a Young Person to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon

• Do things of a personal nature for Young People that they can do for themselves

If any of the above, or the following incidents occur or are observed, you must report them to the Club Welfare Officer and make a written note of the event using the Club Welfare Incident Form and inform Parents wherever possible if:

• You accidentally hurt a Young Cricketer

• A Young Person seems distressed in any manner

• A Young Person appears to be sexually aroused by your actions

• A Young Person misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done

Heslerton CC will provide Codes of Conduct which should be adopted and adhered to by all Cricket Coaches, Parents, Players, Volunteers & Officials. Heslerton CC will aim to ensure that:

• All Club Members understand the Codes of Conduct

• All Club Members are familiar with the procedures if the Codes of Conduct are not adhered to

• The Club Constitution reflects the adoption and management of the Safe Hands Policy

Heslerton CC advise that parents/carers check the following:

• The Club has adopted the ECB Safe Hands (Welfare of Young People in Cricket) Policy

• Coaches and Volunteers are carefully recruited and suitably qualified

• Coaches/Volunteers/Umpires have been screened to check their suitability to work with Young People

• Coaches and Volunteers are working to a Code of Conduct

• The Club offers regular training to Coaches and Volunteers

• There are clear guidelines with regard to arrangements for travelling to events

• Parents are encouraged to become involved

• Young People are encouraged to talk to you about their experiences of Cricket and their Club and ensure they know how to voice their concerns if they are not happy about any situation

Where Heslerton CC are appointing an Umpire and/or Scorer for their games involving Young People, the club will aim to check the following:

• The Umpire/Scorer is qualified and holds relevant current insurance and for example is a member of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers

• The Umpire/Scorer has been through an appropriate recruitment process

• The Umpire/Scorer has been screened to check his/her suitability to work with Young People

• The Umpire/Scorer is working to a Code of Conduct

Where images of Young People are used, e.g. on the Club website, Heslerton CC will aim to :

• Ask for parental permission to use their child’s image

• Ask for the Young Cricketer’s permission to use his/her image

• If a photograph is used, avoid naming the Young Cricketer

• Only use images of Young Cricketers in appropriate dress

• Encourage the reporting of inappropriate use of images of Young People

Heslerton CC will aim to ensure that:

• Players aged 10 and under should be supervised at all times in changing rooms by two adults of the same gender as the Players

• Adults working with young teams will not change or shower at the same time using the same facility as Young Players (under 16).

• Mixed gender teams will have access to separate male and female changing rooms

• If Young Players (under 16) play for Adult Teams, they and their Parents should be informed of the Club’s policy on changing arrangements

• If Young People are uncomfortable changing or showering in public, no pressure should be placed on them to do so

• If the Club has disabled players they should be involved in deciding how they wish to be assisted to change

Heslerton CC will aim to develop and inform Parents of its transport policy i.e. the dropping off and collecting of Young People at the Club. The following principles will help underpin the policy:

• Coaches and Club Officials will be responsible for Young People in their care when on the Club premises

• It is the responsibility of Parents/Carers to transport their child/children to and from the Club

• If a Parent/Carer is late the Club will attempt to contact the Parent/Carer & wait with the Young Person at the Club with, wherever possible, other Volunteers or Parents

Within a Club setting or on away fixtures, it is inappropriate and it is illegal for Adults, Coaches, Volunteers, Umpires or Scorers to allow Young People to consume alcohol, smoke (under the age of 16), or take illegal or banned substances.

It is not the responsibility of Club Coaches, Volunteers, Umpires or Scorers to decide that child abuse is occurring, but it is their responsibility to act on any concerns.

It is not the responsibility of Club Coaches, Volunteers, Umpires or Scorers to decide that bullying or harassment is occurring, but it is their responsibility to act on any concerns.

As normal good practice and to prevent unsuitable people from working within Cricket, Heslerton CC will adopt a selection policy for all Volunteers.

The Club will aim to ensure club volunteers understand their roles and responsibilities and the expectations of the Club.

Where appropriate (as advised by ECB) club volunteers must complete a Self Declaration Form or complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) form.

Appropriate training will be organized to enable individuals to ensure that they fulfill their role within the duty of care for Young People. The ECB requires all Coaches to attend a Good Practice and Child Protection (GPCP) Workshop every three years.

The Club will aim to introduce a Complaints and Discipline Procedure to deal with any formal complaints and/or appeals.

Heslerton CC will aim to follow the ECB system for individuals to report any concerns or issues

that they may have relating to a Young Person at their Club or under their care.

The Club will aim to appoint a Club Welfare Officer (CWO), who will receive training through the ECB Education and Training Strategy.

Any concerns or any information received must be reported to the Club Welfare Officer, who will refer the matter to the County Board and/or the ECB Welfare Case Officer.

• Listen carefully to what is said and take the Young Person seriously

• Find an appropriate early opportunity to explain that it is likely that the information will need to be shared with others

• Ask questions for clarification only and avoid asking questions that suggest a particular answer

• Reassure the Young Person that they have done the right thing by telling you

• Tell them what you will do next and with whom the information will be shared

• Record in writing what was said using the Young Person’s own words as soon as possible

• Report the incident to the Club Welfare Officer

If you have concerns regarding:

• A Parent or Carer (concerns outside Cricket)

• A Club Official or Volunteer (concerns within Cricket)

• Information received through a Self Disclosure

You must inform the Club Welfare Officer who will follow guidelines as laid out in the ECB Safe Hands (Welfare of Young People in Cricket) Policy.

Where there is a complaint of abuse against an Official or Volunteer, there may be three types of investigation:

Disciplinary or misconduct - the ECB is involved

Criminal - the Police are involved

Child protection - Social Services are involved (possible involvement by the Police)

If allegations against an Official or Volunteer constitute poor practice or breach of code of conduct, the ECB will manage the incident as misconduct, and either communicate a written warning to the individual, with a copy to the Club Welfare Officer, or instigate a full investigation under the ECB Disciplinary Procedures.

The same procedure will be followed if bullying or harassment is suspected.

Advice and guidance will be sought by the ECB Welfare Case Officer from the local Social Services Officer with respect to consulting with Parents.

Information passed to the Social Services or the Police must be as helpful as possible, hence the necessity for making a detailed record at the time of the disclosure/concern, using an Incident Report Form. Every effort must be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained when an allegation has been made and is being investigated.

If you are the person who is the centre of an allegation, you may be asked to stop working with Young People in Cricket. This may result in suspension from activity within Cricket whilst a full investigation is carried out. This is to protect all parties involved.

When taking a team away from the Club to play in a game/competition, consideration and planning needs to be paramount to ensure the duty of care for the Young People within the team is fulfilled.

Heslerton CC will aim to:

• Appoint a Team Manager with clear roles and responsibilies

• Establish where and when the fixture is

• Have sufficient Volunteers to manage and look after the Young People

• Have permission from the Parents/Guardians or Carers for transporting and supervising their sons/daughters whilst in our care

• Ensure that the Team has agreed to act within the ECB Code of Conduct

• Ensure that all Adults who are responsible for Young People within the team have been checked, in accordance with Section 4.3

• Ensure that a risk assessment is conducted

Heslerton CC will aim to communicate to Parents and the team when travelling to a fixture for the day the method of transport, pick up point, time of departure & return, the destination, competition details, and the name & contact details of the Team Manager and Coaches responsible for the team.

Heslerton CC policy is that parents or other responsible adults are responsible for transporting players to and from all matches and practice sessions. Therefore the Club will not be registering Private Vehicles for the transportation of individuals in connection with any fixtures or practice sessions arranged by the Club. This policy is not intended to exclude any player from participation and parents/carers should contact the Club Welfare Officer if they have any problems with the transportation of players to matches or practice sessions.

Heslerton CC will aim to ensure that:

• Drivers ensure their vehicle is roadworthy and that they have a valid licence and insurance

• Drivers only use vehicles with seat belts and ensure that their passengers wear them

• Drivers are aware of their legal obligations when transporting Young Cricketers

• Parents/Carers give written permission for their Child to be transported in another Adult’s car by signing the Junior club membership form

• Drivers are not alone with a Young Person in the car at any time. If this situation arises, drivers need to ensure that the Young Person is in the back of the car

Heslerton CC will aim to ensure that:

• All supervising Adults have been checked by the recruitment procedures set out in Section 4.3

• One supervising Adult has received training on Welfare and Child Protection

• For single sex groups, there must be at least one same gender supervising Adult

• For mixed groups there must be at least one male and one female supervising Adult

• Supervising Adults have a clear knowledge of their role and responsibility for the team

• Supervising Adults understand The Safe Hands Policy, & Codes of Conduct and behaviour

• There are enough Adults to be able to deal with an emergency (i.e. minimum of 2)

• There is a ratio of 1 Adult to 10 Young People for a team of over 8 year olds

Heslerton CC will aim to ensure that:

• Medical forms are completed, signed by the Parent & returned to the Club

• Medical details and relevant information are carried by a supervising Adult

• There is access to a mobile telephone and the minimum first aid provision

If an emergency occurs the supervising Adult will:

• Establish the nature of the emergency & ensure the rest of the Team are safe and supervised

• Ensure all members of the party are aware of the situation and are following emergency procedures

• Ensure that a supervising Adult accompanies any casualties to hospital

• Complete an incident form

• Contact Parents and keep them informed about the situation

• If necessary report the incident to the insurers, using the appropriate forms

Heslerton CC will aim to ensure that they have insurance including cover for matches away from their home Club. Coaches who are members of the ECB Coaches Association have insurance within their membership services. All Coaches must be qualified and insured when working with Young People.

All Umpires should ensure that they have relevant and up to date qualifications and insurance cover.

Heslerton CC do not organise any overnight stays/cricket tours for Young People. If this situation changes then the club will adopt the relevant guidelines from the ECB Safe Hands (Welfare of Young People in Cricket) Policy.

Heslerton CC will aim to ensure that:

• The whole Club is aware of their Safe Hands (Welfare of Young People in Cricket) Policy

• There is clear communication within the Club with regard to the Welfare of Young People in Cricket

• All members of the Club understand their roles and responsibilities with regard to the Welfare of Young People in Cricket

• Parents are aware of the policy

In order to implement the Safe Hands Policy Heslerton CC will aim to:

• Identify an Officer to take on the role of Welfare Officer for the Club

• Contact the County Development Officer to access support in training the whole Club to raise awareness of Child Protection

• Adopt the ECB Safe Hands (Welfare of Young People in Cricket) Policy and complete the support training