Sports Leaders Code of Conduct (Including Adult Captains)

Leaders should familiarise themselves with the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport, and the Cricket Ireland Code of Conduct, and follow procedures if they suspect abuse, or receive complaints of abuse.

The following outlines the standard behaviours expected of our leaders in our sport.

Leaders should:

 Involve parents where possible and inform parents when problems arise

  Keep a record of attendance at training and competitions

 Keep a brief record of injury(s) and action taken (on an ‘accident template’)

 Keep a brief record of problem/action/ outcomes, if behavioural problems arise (on a ‘concerns template’)

 Report any concerns to the Children’s Officer or a Designated Liaison Person in accordance with this Code’s reporting procedures

 Encourage young people to respect one another including their opponents and to expect respect for their worth as individuals regardless of their level of play

 Be acutely aware of the power that you, as a coach, can be perceived by the players to have over them

 Develop coaching relationships which recognise any imbalance of power and avoid any intimacy with young people that could develop as a result; know the boundaries and don’t cross them

 Encourage young people and other coaches to develop and maintain integrity in their relationship with others

 Make parents aware where cameras need to be used as a legitimate coaching tool. Obtain parental consent where needed

 Put the welfare of the young person first (be child-centred)

 Be positive during sessions and competitions, praise and encourage effort as well as results; strike a balance between effort and winning/results

 Encourage fair play and treat all participants equally

 Recognise developmental needs, ensuring activities are appropriate for the individual’ age and/or stage

 Plan and prepare appropriately

 Complete the Safeguarding 1 training and be committed to the values and guidelines of Cricket Ireland

Where possible Leaders should avoid:

 Communicating with U18s on WhatsApp or social media, or sharing material with children via social media; any act of this nature should firstly be with the child’s parent/guardian or have parental consent that states they have knowledge of this communication group and/or the material (i.e., they are informed there is a team WhatsApp group – this should also have at least three parents included)

 Any contact with children not related to coaching, matches and cricket related-activity

 Touching unnecessarily to show a technical move. If a person can do it themselves give them directions, ask them to do what is needed (i.e., can you put your arm up like this? if that doesn’t work, ask them ‘is it ok if I move your arm/leg’ etc

 Spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others

  Taking children to their home

  Taking children on journeys alone in their car

Sports Leaders should not:

 Use any form of punishment or physical force on a child

 Exert undue influence over a participant to obtain personal benefit or reward

 Engage in rough physical games, sexually provocative games, or allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any kind, and/or make sexually suggestive comments about, or to, a child. This includes innuendo, flirting, or inappropriate gestures and terms

 Take measurements or engage in certain types of fitness testing without the presence of another adult and permission of the parent(s)

 Do not exploit any coaching relationship to further personal, political, or business interests at the expense of the best interest of your players

 Never communicate or form a “friendship” with children online with the intent of arranging to meet in the “real world”

 Never ask anyone to keep secrets of any kind as this may create an environment where leaders have a special relationship with some young people some

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Code of Conduct for Parents/Guardians

Cricket Ireland wishes to provide the best possible environment for children in our clubs. There is an expectation on parents and their children to adhere to some guidelines to help achieve this.

Parents should –

 Respect the rules and procedures set down in the Child Safeguarding Policy of Cricket Ireland

 Be a role model and maintain the highest standards of conduct when interacting with children, other parents/guardians, with officials and organisers

 Give encouragement and applaud all positive accomplishments

 Support all efforts to remove abusive behaviour and bullying behaviour in all its forms

 Encourage your child to play by the rules. Teach your child that honest endeavour is important and do all you can to encourage good sportsmanship

 Always behave responsibly and do not seek to affect the game/player unfairly

 Respect the child’s sports leader/s and support his/her efforts

 Always recognise the value and importance of the volunteers who are involved in your child’s Cricket. Respect umpires, coaches, organisers and other players

 Set a good example by applauding good play on both sides. Encourage mutual respect for teammates and opponents

 Recognise the importance of punctuality is recognised by parents/guardians due to difficulties caused by the late arrival or collection of children

 Liaise with sports leaders in relation to my children’s medical conditions

 Be aware that the use of video equipment is at times a legitimate coaching tool as part of the coaching programme for certain age groups (Generally over 11 years – please discuss this with your child’s coach if you have questions).

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Code of Conduct for Young People

Cricket Ireland wishes to provide the best possible environment for young people and vulnerable adults involved in our sport.

Young people deserve to be given opportunities to enjoy Cricket safely, free of any type of abuse. They have rights which must be respected as well as responsibilities that they must accept.

Young people and vulnerable adults are entitled to:

 Have fun and enjoy sport  Feel and be safe

 Be listened to and have their concern taken seriously

 Be believed

 Be treated with dignity, sensitivity and respect  Have a voice in the club

  Participate on an equal basis

 Experience competition to a level in which where they feel comfortable

 Make complaints if they feel the need, and have them dealt with appropriately

 Ask for help

 Say No to requests that make them feel uncomfortable

 Protect their own bodies  Confidentiality

Young people are expected to:

 Treat others with respect (e.g., team-mates, coaches, officials, etc)

 Always play fairly

 Be supportive of team-mates, and respectful and gracious to oppositional teams

 Abide by rules set down by coach/manager when travelling to a match/event

 Talk to the club’s Children’s officer if they have any concerns

  Only train and play when feeling well

 Avoid using violence, unnecessary physical contact, or bullying behaviours

 Avoid consuming alcohol or banned substances

 Communicate with others in a respectful manner  Not harm any person or property

 Abide by the Code of Conduct and polices of Cricket Ireland

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