Split Second Coaching

Child Protection Policy

Split Second Coaching aims to ensure that:

The welfare of the child is paramount.

All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity, have the right to protection from abuse.

All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

All staff (both paid & voluntary) has a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate officer.

A specified Child Protection Officer is named for staff, children and parents to talk to about concerns. This is Louise Livingston.

All staff aim to adhere to the following code of conduct (based on the LTA code of Conduct

for all those working with Children in Tennis, 2000). Good practice means:

Always working in an open environment avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication.

Treating all young people/disabled adults equally with respect and dignity.

Always putting the welfare of each young person first.

Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with players building balanced relationships based on mutual trust and empowering

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.

Gaining agreement from the child or parent if physical contact is necessary during coaching

Keeping up to date with technical skills, qualifications and insurance.

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.

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 the coach is required to transport young people in their cars.

Practices to be avoided

The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If a case arises where these situations are unavoidable (e.g the child sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent fails to arrive to pick a child up at the end of a session), it should be with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge at the session or the child’s parents.

If any of the following occur it will be reported to Split Second Coaching’s Child Protection Officer, and the parents of the child will be informed:

if a staff member accidentally hurts a player

If a child seems distressed in any manner

If a child appears to be sexually aroused by a staff member’s actions

if a child misunderstands or misinterprets something the staff member has done