Shortly the "Code of Practice for People Working in Athletics with Young Children", from the AAA and Notts AC's code of practice will be included here.

If you have any concerns regarding an athlete, Angela Dymond is the first contact. Her phone number is 07812 418693.

Policy aims

To provide the procedures necessary to safeguard the interests of the club, children and adults. To promote a safe, healthy and positive approach to these issues, which safeguard the club and sport from any issues of negligence in its widest sense.

The club should provide a safe and developmental environment for its athletes. To promote the welfare of all children and young people under the age of 18 and to protect from neglect, exploitation and abuse regardless of age, culture, gender, sexual identity, language, racial origin, religious belief or disability. In other words treating everybody the same.

To treat suspicions and allegations, which need investigating tactfully. Communicate with a sensitive approach. Gathering and weighing evidence as well as knowledge to possible remedies. Wrongful accusations can do much harm.

To work in partnership with the child's home, school and community and where necessary, make use of other agencies such as police and social services.

To be fully aware of definitions of differing types of abuse and have knowledge of procedures for reporting incidents.

It is not the responsibility of those working in athletics to decide that child abuse is occurring, however, it is their responsibility to refer any concerns on.

This following document is largely based on the work of the Athletic Association of Wales and the North of Ireland Amateur Athletic Association and that of Ken Brookman of the South of England Athletic Association. We are also grateful for assistance in the final draughting by Alan Mason of the North of England Athletic Association.

This document is intended as guidance for athletic clubs and those involved in the wider world of athletics. It should not be treated as a complete or authoritative statement of the law.

Introduction

The sport of athletics provides a major service for many adults and young people.

Young people gain much from the sport, not only in advancing their physical skills but also providing many opportunities for social and emotional development. Parents and children place a great deal of trust in the club and its officials and helpers. Overwhelmingly, this trust is well-placed. However, it is important that children and their parents can be assured that the club is providing a safe, wholesome and developmental environment. They also have a right to be reassured that the club has procedures in place to ensure this, and also manage, in the child's interest, any failures of the system. It is in this very positive spirit that the sport sets out this policy.

1. The policy of the sport of athletics is to promote the welfare of all children and young people and protect them from neglect, exploitation and abuse.
2. Anyone under the age of 18 is a young person. It may be a young child, but there is a wide range of maturity and attitudes; however all are potentially vulnerable.
3. The child's welfare is paramount and everyone in the sport has the right to protection from abuse whatever their age.
4. All children, irrespective of their age, culture, ability, gender, sexual identity, language, racial origin or religious belief have the right to protection from abuse.
5. Suspicions and allegations need to be investigated and acted upon by people well qualified to do so. Dealing with abuse requires; tact and the ability to communicate and to gather and weigh evidence, as well as knowledge of possible remedies. Wrongful accusations can do much harm.
6. The welfare of young athletes requires that clubs and other athletic bodies work in partnership with the child's home, school and community and when necessary make use of and fully co-operate with social services and/or the police.

Definitions

Abuse is caused not only by those who actually perpetrate it but also by those who fail to prevent, condone, minimise or tolerate it.

1. Physical abuse. Occasions where adults or other children deliberately inflict injuries on a child or knowingly do not prevent such injuries. This includes giving children alcohol or inappropriate drugs. In athletics physical abuse might also occur when the nature and intensity of training for competition exceeds the capacity of the child's immature and growing body.
2. Emotional abuse. When adults fail to show due care and attention or threaten, use sarcasm, taunt or shout at a child causing him or her to lose self-confidence, self-esteem and become nervous and withdrawn. This type of abuse may also occur when an adult repeatedly ignores or fails to respond to a child's efforts or places the child under unrealistic pressure to perform to the adults high expectations. Abusive situations may also occur if adults misuse their power over young people.
3. Neglect. Where adults fail to meet the child's essential needs for clothing, food, warmth and medical care. This also includes leaving a child without proper supervision or places the child at risk of injury. Neglect in athletics, is the failure to provide adequate help and care to young athletes. As most adults in the sport are volunteers it is important that the club does not require or encourage them to carry out tasks, which they cannot carry out safely or for the benefit of all concerned.
   
4. Sexual abuse. Occurs when male or females use children to fulfil their own sexual needs. It also includes suggestions that sexual favours can help; or refusal hinder a career.
5. Abuse of trust. Where young people are indoctrinated with attitudes to training, drugs and cheating, or social, political and religious views which are unacceptable to the young athletes family, community or the rules of the sport.

Identification of Abuse

Dealing with child abuse is rarely straightforward. In some cases, a child's disturbed behaviour or an injury may suggest that a problem may exist. In many situations however, the signs may not be clear-cut and decisions will need to be carefully considered.

1. Where ill treatment seems nothing to do with the club, those concerned for a youngsters welfare need to be exceptionally careful with their allegations and should seek advice.
2. Sometimes there are obvious bruises, or a youngster shows distress, but often victims learn to hide signs and their suffering is not obvious.
3. Uncharacteristic changes in the child's behaviour, attitude or commitment, inappropriate need by the child for closeness and attachment to coach or other adult may suggest some problem.
4. Fear of particular adults (especially those with whom a close relationship would normally be expected), a wish to switch to another coach or helper without reasonable explanation or trackside gossip may lead to some concern.
5. Children, who become increasingly unkempt, are reluctant to return home, or who are always alone and unaccompanied and/or prevented from socialising with their peers also need to be considered.

This list is far from exhaustive and the presence of one or more is not proof that abuse is actually taking place. Similarly there may not be any signs; yet, the experienced adult may just feel that something is wrong.

It is not the responsibility of those working in athletics to decide that child abuse is occurring but it is a responsibility to refer on any concerns.

Concern for abuse should not lead to the breaking of sound relationships which coaches, team managers and other club helpers form with those in their charge. Such relationships often give help which a family or school cannot provide by itself. Such relationships should not be broken lightly, but they must remain within accepted bounds.

Roles

For effective implementation of a policy all deliverers of athletics must work in partnership, to ensure the safety of children in their care.

The club should:

1. Formerly adopt this policy and support and strengthen it by the following:
2. Specifically identify one senior club official, coach or manager with the task of implementing the code. This person will become the Child Officer for the club.
3. Support the Child Officer in attending any local or regional course organised by athletics or for sporting clubs on the practical implementation of the policy.
4. Accept that all officers, the committee and all adult members have responsibilities in this area and to be prepared to respond to any concerns.
5. Exercise the highest degree of discretion and confidentiality for both the person making any accusation and the person(s) against which allegations have been made.
   
6. Recognise that it is the club's duty to refer any concerns to parents, social services or police as appropriate.
7. Ensure that the club needs to know if the would-be helper has been convicted of abuse, and has the right to refuse help from someone who has been so convicted. All volunteers to complete forms similar to that in appendix A.
8. Having a clear method of dealing, at committee level, with complaints about the poor athletic practice as distinct from alleged abuse. This provision should include an appeals procedure.

The child officer should:

1. Introduce and implement the policy within the club.
2. Undertake any training that may be provided and receive any written guidance that may be provided by; athletics, sport in general or social services.
3. Ensure that all club helper/officials/coaches complete a volunteer reference form (sample is given in appendix A.).
4. Receive and advise on reports from the club members.
5. Initiate action where are appropriate. Dealing with complaints of abuse usually requires training and the ability to rise above emotional involvement and revulsion. The involvement of qualified professionals as soon as serious concerns have been identified is important.
6. Keep confidential information on any matters referred and to make them available to the governing body, social services or police as necessary.

The governing body.

1. Will provide support and guidance for child officers and clubs.
2. Will co-operate with other bodies in providing training.
3. Will keep a list of qualified persons who have been convicted in a Court of Law of offences against children or young persons.
4. Will consider under its normal disciplinary procedures any matters referred to it by clubs or local athletic administrative bodies, under this code concerning athletic bad practice.
5. Will monitor the policy and amend it to make it more effective and take account of any changes required by legislation.

1. Parents/carers should be informed to clarify initial concerns. This must be done carefully and it may be that some personal concerns e.g. bereavement has caused this unhappiness. However, in circumstances were a child may be placed at a greater risk if such concerns were shared with the parents, they should not be informed.
2. Social services and/or the police should be contacted. Their numbers are in the phone book. In addition, notes of the call and a designation of the official informed should be made in case future contact becomes necessary.
3. If you want advice, or to talk a problem through, telephone the NSPCC free helpline which is 0800 800 500. This operates 24 hours every day. You do not have to give your name or club.
4. At the conclusion of the case the Child Officer takes any appropriate action in regard to informing the club or governing body.

1. The child officer should refer the matter immediately to a special meeting of the appropriate club committee.
2. Should the matter not be resolved satisfactorily within the club the matter should be referred to the regional association.

1. These guidelines are designed to ensure the best possible outcomes and success for children and to protect adults working to assist the athletic development of young people in their care.
2. All should respect the rights, dignity and worth of all and treat everyone with equality. All should place the well-being and safety of the performer above the development of performance. They should follow guidelines and training manuals of the sport and ensure that they are adequately insured by the club or otherwise.
3. Always be publicly open when working with young people. Situations where an adult and an individual child are completely unobserved should be avoided.
4. If physical contact is necessary, it should be done openly. Some parents are becoming increasingly sensitive about other adults touching their children and coaches should be aware of this.
5. Where possible, parents should take responsibility for the children in changing rooms. If groups are to be supervised in changing rooms, always ensure that adults work in pairs and that gender is appropriate.
6. Where mixed teams compete away from home they should always be accompanied by at least one male and female adult.
7. Volunteers should hold appropriate qualifications in coaching, leadership, officiating etc. otherwise they should be clearly working under the direct supervision of an appropriately qualified person. All volunteers must be actively encouraged to obtain the appropriate qualification.
8. Adults should ensure that the activities, which they direct or advocate are appropriate to the age, maturity and ability of the performer. Observance of the sports rules as set out in the current rule book is required.
9. Adults should always promote the positive aspects of their sport, e.g., fair play and never condone rule violations, bad sportsmanship or use of prohibited substances.
10. Adults should consistently display high standards of personal behaviour and appearance.
11. Adults should only criticise athletes constructively and in a friendly fashion. Language or actions which may cause the child to lose self-esteem or confidence should never be used.
12. Adults should be aware of the particular needs, customs and cultural requirements when working with disabled athletes or young people of differing racial or religious backgrounds from the majority of the club community.
13. All should be aware that as a general rule, it does not make sense to:
    spend amounts of time alone with children away from others;
    take children alone on car journeys, however short;
    take children to your home.
    If such situations are unavoidable they should only take place with the full knowledge and consent of the parent/carer and the club.
14. You should never:
    engaging rough physical or sexually provocative games;
    share a room with a child;
    permit or engage in any form of inappropriate touching;
    permit children to use inappropriate language unchallenged;
    make sexually suggestive comments or jokes to a child, even in fun;
    allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, and recorded or not acted upon;
    do things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves. However, it may be necessary to do things of a personal nature for children if they are very young or disabled. Such tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of the parent/carer:
    agree to meet an athlete on your own;
    encourage over enthusiastic kisses or embraces.
    If you accidentally hurt a child, or cause distress in any manner, or the child appears to respond in a sexual manner to your actions or misinterprets something you have done; report the incident to a colleague supported by a brief written report of the incident as soon as possible. Parents/carers should be informed of the occurrence.
    

Dealing with complaints.

An adult may become aware of abuse/poor practice in a number of ways. A child may well tell you, a third party may report incidents or suspicions or you may have seen an incident or have strong suspicions.
DO
Stay calm, do not rush into inappropriate action.
Reassure the child he or she is not to blame and make it clear that you know how difficult it must be to confide. Communication should be at the child's pace, without pressure.
Listen to what a child is saying and show that you take him/her seriously. Do not bring in any other adults in this stage, any discrepancies in statements may lead to legal problems.
Keep questions to a minimum. Use open-ended questions, i.e., those where more than a 'yes' or 'no' is required. The law is very strict and cases may be dismissed, if it appears a child is being led, or words or ideas suggested.
Explain to the child what steps you intend to take having heard their account.
Ensure that you clearly understand what the child has said and record it as soon as possible after the conversation.
Your report should include.

1. Child's name address and date of birth.
2. Date time and nature of incident.
3. Your observations of the behaviour and emotional state of the child and any obvious injuries.
4. The child's own account of what happened.
5. An account of any action you took and comments/advice made to the child. You should state whether parents/carers had been informed.
6. A statement is to whether the report is expressing your own concerns or passing on those of someone else.
   Sign and date the report and refer it to the Child Officer, so that a decision can be made as to the most appropriate action. Keep a copy and ensure maximum confidentiality is maintained.

1. Ignore what has been disclosed, or make promises you can't keep;
2. Make the child repeat the story unnecessarily;
3. Delay;
4. Take sole responsibility for further action.

1. Listen to the advice of your parents.
2. Avoid being left alone with anyone.
3. If you have to leave a group, tell someone where you are going and how long you are likely to be gone.
4. Do not allow anyone to talk to you about something personal concerning yourself or themselves if it has nothing to do with their job or the sport. If they persist, walk away and report it to someone in a senior position.
5. Do not agree to meet anyone in your own time without informing another adult.
6. Do not accept a lift from anyone if you are the only passenger, unless you have informed another adult. Either refuse or insist someone else goes along with you. Do not except a lift if you feel uncomfortable.
7. Do not become over familiar towards those who work with you in athletics.
8. Do not walk home alone at night.
9. Be especially wary of parked cars with the engine running.

1. Tell that person to stop at once.
2. Tell others who may be present what happened.
3. If they actually saw what happened, remember who they are so that they can be your witnesses.
4. If the misconduct continues, tell that person again to stop at once then leave if you can or shout for help. If you can't, report the matter as soon as possible to another adult or official.
5. Tell your parents as soon as possible.
6. Keep a record of the dates, time and place and what happened, make a list of any witnesses.
7. Ask any witnesses to do the same.
8. If any member of your group or club claim to have suffered the same sort of experience, ask them to make a similar record.
9. Talk to your parents and decide to whom to make a formal complaint. You should at least report it to your clubs Child officer.
10. What you should definitely NOT DO
11. Do not complain if nothing happened.
12. Do not exaggerate if something did happened.
13. Do not ignore behaviours at make sure uncomfortable.
14. Do not keep yourself what happened.
15. Do not delay before complaining.
16. Do not agree to push up what I'd what happened.
17. Do not be afraid or embarrassed to tell your parents, or friend or the clubs Child officer.
18. Ensure that you clearly understand what the child has said and record it as soon as possible after the compensation.

1. Child's name address and date of birth.
2. Day, time and nature of incident.
3. Your observations of the behaviour and emotional state of the Child and any obvious injuries.
4. The child's own account of what happened.
5. An account of any action you took and comments/advice made to the Child. You should state whether parents/carers has been informed.
6. A statement is to whether the report is expressing your own concerns all passing on those of someone else.

1. ignore what has been disclosed, or make promises you can't keep.
2. Make the child repeat the story unnecessarily.
3. Delay.
4. Take sole responsibility for further action.

1. Listen to the advice of your parents;
2. Avoid being alone with anyone;
3. If you have to leave group tells someone behaviour are going, how long you are likely to be;
4. Do not allow anyone to talk to you about something personnel concerning yourself are themselves if it has nothing to do with their job or the sport. If they persist walk away and report it to someone in a senior position;
5. do not agreed to meet anyone in your own time without informing another adult;
6. Do not except a lift from anyone if you are the only passenger unless you have informed another adult. Either refuse or insist that someone else go along. Do not except a lift if you feel uncomfortable;
7. do not become over familiar to those who work with you in athletics;
8. do not walk home alone at night;
9. Be especially wary of parked cars with the engine running.

1. Tell that person to stop at once;
2. Tell those who may be present what happened;
3. If they actually saw what happened, remember who they are so that they can be your witnesses;
4. If the misconduct continues, tell that person again to stop at once, then leave if you can or shout for help. If you cannot, report the matter as soon as possible to another adult or official;
5. Tell your parents as soon as possible;
6. keep a record of the date, time and place and what happened, make a list of any witnesses;
7. Ask any witnesses to do the same;
8. If any member of your group or club claim to have suffered the same sort of experience; ask them to make a similar record;
9. Talk to your parents and decide to whom to make a formal complaint. You should at least report it to your clubs Child Officer.

1. Do not complain if nothing happened;
2. Do not exaggerate if something did happen;
3. Do not ignore behaviour that makes you uncomfortable;
4. Do not keep to yourself what happened;
5. Do not delay before complaining;
6. Do not agree to hush up or hide what happened;
7. Do not be afraid or embarrassed to tell your parents, or a friend, or the clubs Child Officer.