GAA Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport

Cill Chainnigh

GAA Club Children’s Officers

9ú Deireadh Fomhair 2013

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The Children's Officer in the GAA

COUNTY CHILDREN’S OFFICER

Member of the County Committee (3.11) Chairperson.. Secretary...Children’s Officer

CLUB CHILDREN’S OFFICER

Member of the Club Executive Committee

GAA Official Guide 2011 (Appendix 3) 7.2 Chairperson, Secretary .... Children's Officer

National Guidance in Child Welfare and Protection

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GAA Child Welfare/Protection Guidance

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Our Objective

We want our underage players to benefit

from and participate in our Gaelic

Games in a SAFE and ENJOYABLE

environment where our Games are

conducted in a spirit of

FAIR PLAY

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Children’s Officers & Designated Persons

GAA Structures and Regulations Child Welfare and Protection Committee

Child Welfare & Protection Appeals Committee Child Welfare Training Committee National Children’s Office Designated Persons Club/County Children's Officer Club/County

Child Protection Awareness Course (GAA/ISC) Designated Persons Training (GAA/ISC) Children's Officer Training Anti Bullying Training Designated Person Training (GAA/ISC)

Key Legislation/Guidance 2013

National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012

Criminal Justice - Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children & Vulnerable Persons Act 2012

Children First Bill AccessNI – amendments Our Games - Our Code

As a Children’s Officer.....

1. What successes have you had in your role?

2. What challenges have you had?

Role of Club Children’s OfficerRole of Club Children’s Officer

Ensure that underage players participate and benefit from our Games in a safe, enjoyable environment

Promote a youth and child centered ethos Promote an awareness of our responsibilities Organise Child Protection Awareness Training and GAA

Tackling Bullying Workshops as appropriate and in conjunction with the County Children’s Officer

Ensure the implementation & promotion of relevant Child Welfare Codes and Guidelines

Promote Our Games –Our code the Code of Behaviour Deal with breaches of the Code of Behaviour

Role of Club Children’s OfficerRole of Club Children’s Officer

Influence policy and practice within the club in order to prioritise the needs of children

Organise regular information meetings for young people and their parents/guardians

Create a children's/age-group specific notice board Promote good links between local schools and the Club Encourage the involvement of parents in club activities Maintain good communication links with the County

Children’s Officer Ensure implementation of Garda Vetting in the Club Promote the Give Respect - get Respect Initiative

Role of Children’s Officer (Role of Children’s Officer (Cnt’dCnt’d))

Ensure all underage members complete annual membership forms

Report regularly to the Club Executive Committee Monitor changes in underage membership Follow up any unusual dropout, absenteeism or club

transfers by children Keep records of each member on file, including junior

members, their contact numbers and any special needs of the child that should be made known to team coaches

Ensure, in collaboration with other Club Officers, that children are aware as to how to make concerns known

Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport

Detailed Guidance for Clubs GAA Policy Statement Web sites, photography .. Recruitment and Vetting Hosting and trips away Template forms for Club use Joint Codes with Camogie,

Ladies Football, Rounders, handball

Young Players Coaches Parents Supporters The Club Breaches of Code

Code of Behaviour One Code for Gaelic Games

Promoting the Code in your Club

In Groups outline five ways in which you may promote the Code of Behaviour in your Club

Discussion

Agreement/Consensus on top five

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GAA Guidelines for Dealing with Allegations of Abuse

Published in December 2009 Act as a GAA directive at local, county and national level Compliant with legal requirements and national guidelines Outlines responses and recording of allegations/disclosures Outlines how to report allegations or concerns

- To statutory authorities

- Within the GAA Permits interim or temporary action within the GAA Endorsed by ISC, HSE, NSPCC and GAA Congress

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GAA Give Respect – Get Respect Initiative

The GAA Respect Initiative seeks to ensure that Gaelic Games are promoted and played in a positive, fair and enjoyable

manner where players, coaches, spectators and referees Give Respect – Get Respect from each other

Frequently asked questions

Can the same person be CO and DP? Do the CO and DP work together? What if the Club or Coaches are not serious about

the Code of Behaviour? What if a Coach constantly misbehaves? What is a debarment order? How is a debarment order decided upon What happens when a debarment order is lifted?

How do we contact the HSE or the Garda What happens if a case is not proven?

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