Our current child protection officers are Emily Lowry and Paul O’Callaghan.
Our child protection policy:
Tennis Ireland – Child Protection Policy September 2014
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Child Protection Policy
This policy applies to all those involved in St Michael’s Tennis Club including, but not limited to,
coaches, administrators, officials, volunteer drivers, members, parents and young people.
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY STATEMENT
St Michael’s Tennis Club is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of its members. Every
individual in the club should at all times show respect and understanding for their rights, safety
and welfare, and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the club and the
guidelines contained in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport.
St Michael’s Tennis Club supports the view that all children’s sport should be conducted in an
atmosphere of fair play. In this context the club undertakes to adopt the definition of fair play as set
out in the European Sports Charter and Code of Ethics, Council of Europe (1993).
“Fair play is much more than playing within the rules. It incorporates the concepts of friendship,
respect for others and always playing within the right spirit. Fair play is defined as a way of thinking,
not just a way of behaving. It incorporates issues concerned with the elimination of cheating,
gamesmanship, doping, violence (both physical and verbal), exploitation, unequal opportunities,
excessive commercialism and corruption.”
In order to promote the best practice in children’s sport, the club complies with the guidelines as set
out in Section 2.7 of the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport as follows:
The club has adopted and implemented the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s
Sport as an integral part of its policy on children in the club.
The club is operated under its Memorandum and Articles of Association or it’s Constitution.
This document has been approved and adopted by clubs members at various Annual and
Extraordinary General Meetings of the members of the club. Any changes to the
Memorandum and Articles of Association or the Constitution have to be approved by the
members of the club at a General Meeting of the members.
Tennis Ireland – Child Protection Policy September 2014
The club permits all junior (i.e. under 18) members over 16 years of age to vote, where
possible, in the running of the junior section of the club. One parent/guardian has one vote
for all of their children under 16 years of age, where relevant.
The General Committee of the club is elected by the club members at each an Annual
General Meeting in accordance with the procedures set out in the Memorandum and
Articles of Association or it’s Constitution.
The club has adopted and consistently applies a safe and clearly defined method of
recruiting and selecting Sports Leaders.
The roles of the committee members, all Sports Leaders and parents/ guardians have been
clearly defined.
The club appoints one male and one female children’s officer at the AGM as outlined in the
Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport. One of the Children’s officers is an ex
officio member of the General Committee.
The General Committee appoints one of the Children’s Officers to act as Designated Officer
to liaise with the Statutory Authorities in relation to the reporting of allegations or
suspicions of child abuse. Any such reports are made in accordance with the procedures
outlined in this Code/Children First/Our Duty to Care.
In order to ensure best practice throughout the club the General Committee disseminates its
code of conduct, including the disciplinary, complaints and appeals procedures in operation
within the club to all its members. The club’s code of conduct is posted prominently around
the club premises.
Procedures have been put in place for dealing with a concern or complaint made to the
Statutory Authorities against a Committee Member or Sports Leader. A Sports Leader who is
the subject of an allegation which has been reported to the Statutory Authorities, shall stand
aside while the matter is being examined. He/she will be invited to resume full duties
immediately that he/she has been vindicated.
Where appropriate, Sports Leaders are required to report to the General Committee on a
regular basis.
The club encourages regular turnover of committee membership while ensuring continuity
and experience.
Effective procedures for responding to and recording accidents/ incidents have been put in
place.
The club monitors both the use of the facilities and participation in club activities to ensure
that any unusual activity (high rate of drop-out, transfers, etc.) is identified, checked out and
reported by the Designated Officer to Tennis Ireland.
All club members are given notice of all General Meetings of the club in accordance with the
procedures in that regard as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association or it’s
Constitution.
The minutes of all General and Committee meetings are recorded, adopted as correct and
safely filed.
St Michael’s Tennis Club is committed to ensuring that Sports Leaders are competent to provide safe
and rewarding experiences for those in their care and that Sport Leaders are provided with the
appropriate training for their activity. Appropriate training and education opportunities will also be
made available to club officials, non-coaching staff and parents/guardians as appropriate.
Tennis Ireland – Child Protection Policy September 2014
St Michael’s Tennis Club is committed to ensuring that adequate adult supervision of all club
activities involving children is provided.
EQUALITY STATEMENT
All children should be valued and treated in an equitable and fair manner regardless of ability, age,
sex, religion, social and ethnic background or political persuasion. Children, irrespective of ability or
disability should be involved in sports activities in an integrated and inclusive way, whenever
possible, thus allowing them to participate to their full potential alongside other children (Code of
Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport 2000)
St Michael’s Tennis Club recognises the additional vulnerability of some children and the extra
difficulties they may face when seeking help, i.e.
Dependency due to disability may make some children feel powerless
On occasions possible limited ability to communicate their feelings
A negative self-image can make children vulnerable to manipulation by others.
To address this vulnerability coaches are encouraged to seek guidance on working with children with
a disability from external agencies, parents / guardians and the children themselves.
CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
St Michael’s Tennis Club recognises that the legal principle that the welfare of the child is paramount
means that consideration of confidentiality should not be allowed to override the right of children to
be protected from harm. Everyone in our organisation, including children, must be aware that they
can never promise to keep secrets. However, information of a confidential nature will only be
communicated on a ‘need to know’ basis.
APPENDICES
St Michael’s Tennis Club is committed to continual monitoring and development of this Child
Protection Policy in the light of changing circumstances.
All members will be required to read and sign the appropriate Code of Conduct contained in the
Appendices to this policy. The original signed document will be held by the club. All Coaches and
Sports Leaders will be required to read and sign the appropriate Code of Conduct contained in the
Appendices to this policy. The original signed document will be held by the club.
Appendix 1 Club Children’s Officers
Appendix 2 Code of Ethics for Coaches
Appendix 3 Code of Conduct for Children/Young People
Appendix 4 Code of Conduct for Parents/Guardians
Appendix 5 Code of Conduct for Sports Leaders
Appendix 6 Club recruitment procedures
Tennis Ireland – Child Protection Policy September 2014
Appendix 7 Club Complaints Procedure
Appendix 8 Courses for Child Welfare
Appendix 9 Guidelines for Sports Leader
Appendix 10 Tennis Ireland Policy Statement
Appendix 11 Recruiting Sports Leaders
Appendix 12 Sample Recruitment Form for Existing Leaders
Appendix 13 Sample Recruitment Form for New Leaders
Appendix 15 Sample Application Form
Appendix 16 General Guidelines for Working with Children
Appendix 17 Tennis Ireland’s 12 Requirements for Compliancy
Appendix 18 Child Welfare & Protection Procedures
Appendix 20 Reporting a Disclosure
Appendix 21 Sample Accident Form
Appendix 22 Sample Incident Form
Appendix 23 Photographic & Video Consent Form
Appendix 24 Guidelines for Parents
Appendix 25 Guidelines for Social Media
Appendix 27 Managing Challenging Behaviour
Appendix 30 Supervision & General Guidelines
Appendix 31 Child Protection Policy