Parents

Sport and Young people

Leaders become involved in sport for young people for a variety of different reasons, from a variety of sporting backgrounds and take on varying roles within clubs and organisations. Yet irrespective of the role or responsibility, all leaders share a common goal in their commitment to sport for young people.

We want sport to be safe, we want sport to be fun and we want to ensure that no matter what sport young people are involved in, that it takes place in the spirit of

‘Fair play’.

Fair play is the guiding principle of The Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport which is designed to provide guidance for those working with young people in sport. It outlines for sports organisations the type of issues that need to be discussed and addressed to provide the safest and most enjoyable environment for young people.

Parents/Guardians have the primary responsibility for the care and welfare of young people. As such there are a number of steps you can take to ensure a fun and safe sporting environment for children.

1. Examine the role you can play to enhance the quality of your child’s involvement in sport.

Encourage your child to:

• Put in their best effort – have a go

• Improve their skills

• Make friends

• Play by the rules

• Appreciate/accept everyone in the group, regardless of ability, race, religion, gender etc.

• Accept winning and losing as part of the game

2. Examine your behaviour and involvement in your child’s sport. You should:

• Be a role model – your child will learn best by example

• Show appreciation of, and respect towards, sports officials and their decisions

• Encourage children to play within the rules

• Behave responsibly on the sidelines and in all interactions involving children

• Focus on the child’s efforts rather than on performance

• Focus on the fun and participation of the child in the activity

• Know the names and qualifications of the leader

• Liaise with the sports leaders in relation to the times, locations etc, of training sessions

3. The Sports Leader is the other important influence on the child’s enjoyment of sport. It is important that we support the leader where possible. Parents should take note of the following aspects of the leader’s approach:

• The emphasis on fun as well as competition

• The opportunities for children to make friends and for everyone to be included

• The opportunities to improve skills

• The use of modified games or equipment, where possible

Communicate often with the leaders even though you may not be in a position to attend every session.

Show an interest in their efforts to make your child’s involvement in sport safe and enjoyable.

Show that you consider their role important – they are not baby-sitters.

4. Parents can work with the club/organisation to ensure that procedures of good practice are created and adhered to. Parents should: Check that the club has a copy of the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport. A copy will be made available to every club in the country. It will also be available on the Irish Sports Council’s web site Check that the Code has been adopted by the club Be willing to become a member of the club and be committed to upholding a code of good practice

• Take an active interest or offer to help in the running of the club, club events or any sporting activities in which your child takes part

• Be willing to become the Club Children’s Officer or offer to help the officer

• Be aware of their child’s training and/or competitive programmes and its suitability for the child

• Be aware of the club’s procedures and policies, in particular where changes are made that effect your child.

Strike a Balance

We need to keep in mind the reasons why young people want to take part in sport. They want to learn new skills, make new friends, be part of a group, to win and be successful, experience excitement, challenges and action. They need input and guidance by adults to achieve these aims but parents need to ensure that young people’s fun remains the central focus. In providing for the needs of young people in sport parents

Should not:

• Put undue pressure on the child to please or perform well

• Ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a game

• Treat the club as a child-minding service

• Take a child’s safety for granted. Never ignore or dismiss genuine complaints or concerns expressed by a child which relate to his/her involvement in sport

Code of Best Practice

Round Tower’s is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all young people who wish to participate in our Gaelic Games and activities. We shall take all practicable steps to protect them from discernable forms of abuse, from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment and shall respect their rights, wishes and feelings.

We do this by;

• Recognising that all children have the right to be protected from harm.

• Ensuring that all our coaches and volunteers are carefully recruited and selected and that they accept responsibility for ensuring the wellbeing of children in their care.

• Responding swiftly and appropriately to protect the welfare of children who participate in our games and related activities.

• Providing parents and children with the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have.

• Appointing Children’s Officers in each of our Clubs and at County Board level.

• Appointing a National Children’s Officer to oversee the implementation of good child protection and welfare practices within the Association.

• Appointing a Designated Person in each Club and County who will liaise with the statutory authorities as appropriate.

• Appointing a National Designated Person to assist in the processing of child protection and welfare matters.

• Ensuring that all allegations of abuse of young people are confidentially dealt with in accordance the Associations Guidelines for Dealing with Allegations of Abuse  (Fourth Edition 2009) and with statutory guidelines and relevant legislation.

• Reviewing the effectiveness of our Child Protection procedures and policies on an ongoing basis.

• Ensuring that members, coaches, team mentors, administrators, parents/guardians and spectators sign up to and adhere to our Code of Behaviour

Taken from GAA Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport 01-11-2011