Braughing Cricket Club Policies and Procedures

Welcome to Braughing Cricket Club, we are committed to ensuring that all young people (aged under 18) who play cricket as part of our club have a safe, welcoming and positive experience. We comply fully with the Safe Hands Policy – this is England’s Cricket Board’s (ECB) policy to safeguard children within cricket. It promotes good practice, helps awareness and ensures people know what to do if they have any concerns about children or about the behaviour of adults in cricket.

Procedure for reporting safeguarding incidents/concerns

Please refer all concerns, incident reports or queries directly to the Club Welfare Officers. The Club Welfare Officer will then pass this on the Hertfordshire County Welfare Officer, Richard Burling.

Club Welfare Officers:
David Cowell, 07772 209651 or david_cowell1984@msn.com
Wendy Szelong, 0775 965041 or w.szelong@googlemail.com

Other useful contacts:

President:
Duncan Eustace, 07807 747716 or duncanddeb@btinternet.com

1st team Captain:
Conal Gridley, 07899 865085 or cjg@bben.uk.com

Junior coach:
Thomas Fulk, 07738 264167 or thomasfulk@hotmail.co.uk

Chairman / Volunteer coach:
Pete Hobson, 07774 961829 or phobson@mmm.com

1.0 Code of conduct for players (including colts) and parents.
As a responsible player, you will:
• Treat others with the same respect and fairness that you would wish to be shown yourself. Do not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, colour or sexual preference. Be positive and patient with your team members. Avoid negative criticisms.
• Be organised and on time for all occasions such as training and matches.
• Be well equipped and ensure you have a drink (water is best) and a healthy snack (sandwich or fruits) with you at training and/or matches. Also make sure you have the appropriate clothing to suit the weather.
• Thank those who help you to participate; they give up their own time for you, free of charge.
• Act with dignity at all times. Avoid disruptive behaviour and never engage in any illegal/criminal or irresponsible behaviour. If in doubt, approach a club member for advice.
• If you are a young player and going home on your own, please inform your coach when you leave at the end of any occasion. Do not accept lifts in cars or invitations into homes on your own without the prior knowledge of your parent/carer.
• If anyone approaches you for private information unrelated to cricket do no give it unless you have first verified it with your coach.
• Do not smoke, drink or use banned substances.
• Remember that safety comes first, and fun follows.
As a responsible parent/person with parental responsibility you will:
• Make yourself known to those coaching or managing your child. Show them respect for the voluntary work that they do.
• Assume responsibility for the safety of your child (including transport to and from training or matches). If you wish to share transport duty, you will be doing so on your own accord. (see transport policy ). Contact the Club Welfare Officer to find out who’s on the same trip so that you can make contacts.
• Only children that are fully registered with Braughing Cricket Club are able to be left at the ground for training session or matches without parental/ responsible adult supervision. In any event children aged 8 years old or under must have a parent or responsible adult at the ground at all times.
• Take an interest in your child’s participation. Attend training sessions or matches whenever possible and give encouragement. Avoid negative criticisms.
• Ensure that the Club has up-to-date information on your child’s health and medical requirements. Provide any necessary medication that your child needs for the duration of training or matches. Inform their respective coach in this event.
• Ensure your child does not take unnecessary valuable items to training and matches.
• Report any concerns you have about your child’s welfare/treatment to the Club Welfare Officer. This does not affect your rights to notify the relevant authorities if you feel a crime has been committed.
• Remember that the Club wants your child to enjoy playing cricket in a safe and fun environment. We need your help to make this happen.

2.0 Coach/ volunteer code of conduct
All personnel should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to promote children’s welfare and reduce the likelihood of allegations being made. The following are common sense examples of how to create a positive culture and climate.

Good practice means:
• Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets).
• Treating all young people/disabled adults equally, and with respect and dignity.
• Always putting the welfare of each young person first, before winning or achieving goals.
• Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with players (e.g. it is not appropriate for staff or volunteers 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 Coach Education Programme. Care is needed, as it is difficult to maintain hand positions when the child is constantly moving. Young people and their parents should always be consulted and their agreement gained.
• Keeping up to date with technical skills, qualifications and insurance in sport.
• Involving parents/carers wherever possible. For example, encouraging them to take responsibility for their children in the changing rooms. If groups have to be supervised in the changing rooms, always ensure parents, teachers, coaches or officials work in pairs.
• Ensuring that if mixed teams are taken away, they should always be accompanied by a male and female member of staff. However, remember that 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 young people.
• 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 parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to administer emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment.
• Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.
• Requesting written parental consent if club officials are required to transport young people in their cars.
If a certain situation becomes unavoidable, such as, child not been picked up at end of match it may be necessary for a coach to intervene for health and safety reasons. This should be done at the consent of parent or registered carer, if they are not available then a senior position in the club, preferably the Child Welfare Officer, should be notified.
Points never to be sanctioned
• Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay
• Share a room with a child
• Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
• Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged
• Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun
• Reduce a child to tears as a form of control
• Fail to act upon and record any allegations made by a child
• Do things of a personal nature for children or disabled adults, that they can do for themselves
• Invite or allow children to stay with you at your home unsupervised.
N.B. It may sometimes be necessary for staff or volunteers to do things of a personal nature for children, particularly if they are young or are disabled. These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of parents and the players involved. There is a need to be responsive to a person’s reactions. If a person is fully dependent on you, talk with him/her about what you are doing and give choices where possible. This is particularly so if you are involved in any dressing or undressing of outer clothing, or where there is physical contact, lifting or assisting a child to carry out particular activities. Avoid taking on the responsibility for tasks for which you are not appropriately trained.

3.0 Team Selection

Team selection will be made, in the first instance, on the basis of current playing form and in the interests of building a well rounded team. General behaviour and attitude will also be taken into account.

If a parent/guardian believes that their child has been wrongfully left out of the side then they should speak to the Coach. If they are still dissatisfied then they may approach the Captain for further information.

Responsibility for the final selection of the team lies with the team coach.

Any telephone contact with juniors will be made exclusively through the parent/ carer details given on the application form. It is the parent/ carer responsibility to inform the coaches via email that they are happy that their child is old enough to be contacted directly. Please note this can only happen when the child turns 16 years old.

4.0 Transport Policy for Juniors

The English Cricket Board (ECB) has issued guidelines to all clubs regarding the transportation of junior players to and from training and matches. The club is advised that it is the parents/guardians responsibility to transport their children to grounds, and only after arrival at a venue will the Coach/manager assume control.

Parents are made aware that coaches/managers of teams will not act as a ‘taxi service’ and cannot be expected to have the responsibility of your children in their cars.

If you are unable to transport your child to a game or practice please arrange an alternative method for your child’s transportation.

If you cannot stay to watch your child play/train you are expected to collect your child on time from the specified meeting point at the time given by the coach. If you are going to be late even by a few minutes it is only common courtesy that you ring the coach to tell him.

For away games the meeting/return point for all matches will be the club car park, the time of meeting will be given to you by the coach when your child is informed they are playing. If you chose to go direct to a ground please make sure the coach/manager is aware of this decision.

We as a Club apologise if these arrangements sound strict, but we have been informed by the ECB how important it is to avoid putting the un-paid volunteers who run the Colts Cricket section in any awkward or compromising situations.

5.0 Changing rooms and showering policy
In line with ECB guidelines we will where possible ensure that junior players (all those under 18) who are playing for Braughing Cricket Club in a senior team will not change or shower with the rest of the senior team.
There will be occasions when this is not possible and we ask for your written consent for your child to share facilities in these circumstances.
Adults must not change or shower at the same time using the same facility as children.
• Adults should try and change at separate times to children during matches e.g. when 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 Adult 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 must not be used in changing rooms at any times.
• We strongly suggest that the showering facilities are not used on Saturday mornings or during competitions by the junior colts members.

Due to the layout of the changing rooms and toilets when the men’s teams are using the changing rooms the male toilets will not be in use for young people. The female toilets are accessible through another entrance and these can be used for all. As this is close to car park children should be accompanied by an adult at all times.

6.0 Photography / video

While we appreciate that the importance of photographs and videos to help mark milestones in a child’s life, BCC wishes to ensure that photography and video footage use within cricket is untaken appropriately.

Please read and bear in mind the following points when taking photos of your child during any cricket activities.

Photographs / images are not to be taken at matches or training without the prior permission of the parents/carers of the children. It is the responsibility of the photographer and manager/coach to communicate as to which (if any) children are to be excluded from any photographs.

In addition to the permission given on the player profile form by the parent / carer and child a number of measurers are in place as follows:

• The coach or manager will inform the photographer(s) if any child in the squad is excluded from photographs by their parents/guardians.
• Images will only be taken in playing or training kit and environment; this reduces the risk of inappropriate use, and provides positive images of the children and club.
• Parents / carers will be asked if and when a photograph is to be published and where possible will show the image to the parent /carer and child in advance.
• For publication purposes either an image of the child OR the name of the child will be used – never both.
• Braughing Cricket Club Board encourages the reporting of any concerns regarding photography and use of photographs to the Club Welfare Officer. This extends right down to the children; they should be encouraged to report any concerns they may have to their coach/manager/parent/guardian.
If you do not wish your child to be photographed with the team please let the coach know.

7.0 E-Safety

In order to safeguard all children within cricket and to avoid any misinterpretation of online activity by coaches/ volunteers Braughing Cricket does not advocate social network contact between coaches/managers and children under 18.
The following of adults in cricket by children and following children by adults on Twitter is strongly not recommended.

If a coach/manager believes this is the best way to share information regarding the team – match times/venues etc they can set up a facebook page in the name of the team which the children can then become members. Any photographs of the coaches will be representative of them and their phone numbers will be included in the page (as they are in the fixture book).

8.0 Anti-bullying Policy

Bullying hurts and no one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect.

As a Club, we take bullying seriously. We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our children so they can train and play in a relaxed, safe and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at our club. If bullying does occur, all children should be able to tell, and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a Telling Club, this means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the coaches / managers and officials.

9.0 Missing Child Policy

In the unlikely event that a child goes missing, we will follow the following guidelines set out by the ECB:
Ensure the other children in our care are looked after appropriately while we organise a search for the child concerned.
Inform the child’s parents if they are present at the event, or nominate an appropriate person to telephone them and advise them of the concern. Reassure them that we are doing all we can to locate their child.
Organise all available responsible adults by areas to be searched. It is best to take a short time to organise the search properly so that all places are searched fully. Search the area in which the child has gone missing including changing rooms, toilets, public and private areas and the club grounds. Request all those searching report back to a nominated adult at a specific point
This nominated person should remain at this specific reference point and must be making a note of the events, including detailing a physical description of the child including approx height, build, hair and eye colour as well as clothing the child was wearing where / when they were last seen, as this will be required by the police. If the search is unsuccessful we will then report the concern to the police.
A report should go to the police no later than 20 minutes after the child’s disappearance is noted, even if the search is not complete. If the police recommend further action before they get involved, we will follow their guidance. If the police act upon the concern we will be guided by them in any further actions to take.
At any stage when the child is located, we will ensure we inform all adults involved including the parents, searchers and police if they are by then involved.
All missing child incidents MUST BE notified at the very earliest opportunity to the Club Welfare Officer, who must immediately notify the County Welfare Officer, and they must then notify the ECB Child Protection Team.
10.0 Disciplinary Committee & Review Policy
Any serious infringement or situation should be immediately reported to
1, the Braughing CC Disciplinary Committee
2, Who in turn should highlight the issue to the parent / player / spectator involved.
If the situation requires further investigation, within 7 days the committee will meet with person(s) involved to understand the situation (other people would like to attend to be able to explain the situation), and within 48 hours make a recommendation on actions needed.
The BCC Committee shall comprise of at least 3 of the following (if any of the below is directly involved in the miss conduct then they should not be within the disciplinary committee)
President, Chairman, Club Captain, league rep, Welfare Officer
The Committee reserves the right to hand out any punishment it feels appropriate not limited to;-
- Written Warning
- Match Ban
- Reporting incident to league or Police

11.0 Added Information ECB Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket

Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket
11.1 The ECB is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct. This Code of Conduct incorporates the Spirit of Cricket, as set out below. It applies to all matches played under the auspices of the ECB and may be applied to cricket in general.
11.2 The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket as well as within the Laws.
11.3 Players and team officials must at all times accept the umpire’s decision. Players must not show dissent at the umpire’s decision or react in a provocative or disapproving manner towards an umpire at any time.
11.4 Players and team officials shall not intimidate, assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an umpire, another player or a spectator.
11.5 Players and team officials shall not use crude and/or abusive language (known as “sledging”) nor make offensive gestures or hand signals nor deliberately distract an opponent.
11.6 Players and team officials shall not make racially abusive comments nor indulge in racially abusive actions against fellow players, officials, members and supporters. Clubs must operate an active open door membership policy whilst respecting player qualification regulations and welcome players/members irrespective of ethnic origin.
11.7 Players and team officials shall not use or in any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal drugs.
11.8 Clubs must take adequate steps to ensure the good behaviour of their members and supporters towards players and umpires.

12.0 The Spirit of Cricket
Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws, but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.
12.1 There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team’s conduct firmly on the captain.
Responsibility of captains
The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.
Player’s conduct
In the event that any player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decisions of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player’s captain, and instruct the latter to take action.
12.2 Fair and unfair play

According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play.
The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.
12.3 The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:
• Time wasting
• Damaging the pitch
• Dangerous or unfair bowling
• Tampering with the ball
• Any other action that they consider to be unfair

12.4 The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:

• Your opponents
• Your own captain and team
• The role of the umpires
• The game’s traditional values

12.5 It is against the Spirit of the Game:

• To dispute an umpire’s decision by word, action or gesture
• To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
• To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:
o to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
o to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
o to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side

12.6 Violence

There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.

12.7 Players

Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.