Lower Earley Cricket Club

Children playing in Adult Matches

The ECB has issued guidance covering the selection and participation of young players in open age group cricket. This is to help clubs decide when to select young players in open age group cricket and how best to help their cricketing development when they play within open age groups. The guidance applies to boys and girls. The ECB keeps these guidelines under review. Put simply, the overall aim is to allow young players to develop in safety, but not to spoil the game for adults. For the avoidance of doubt, this guidance applies to training and nets as well as games.

The guidance is as follows:

General

• Making the step up from junior to open age group cricket is an important event in any player's cricket experience. The player's safety, personal development needs and overall cricket experience must be considered.
• Clubs, squad coaches and managers must take into account the requirements on age detailed in this guidance.
• Each case must be determined on an individual basis, depending on the player's ability and stage of cognitive and emotional maturity to take part in Open Age cricket ‐ The minimum age guidance provided below MUST be followed.
• Juniors should be involved in all aspects of the game wherever possible i.e. socialising, team talks, practice, decision making and so on, so they feel part of the team
• Children will often feel more comfortable and able to perform if they have a family member or friend also playing in the side
• Remember, children's early experiences will remain with them always and will often determine whether they want to remain playing the game or give up and do something else.
• Provide an opportunity for players to show their talents in an appropriate way. Children who are just used as fielders will not fully experience the game.
• Be supportive, at all times, for all forms of effort even when children are not successful. Try and put them in situations where they will experience some success (however small) and ensure plenty of praise and encouragement.
• The captain must inform the Umpires of under 18s in the side.

Cricket specific safeguarding guidance

Restrictions

ECB Helmets, Fast Bowling Directives and Fielding Regulations should always be adhered to for junior players in Open age group cricket.

Minimum age

The minimum age for Open Age cricket is the U 13 age group. Players must be in Year 8, and 12 years old on the 1st September of the preceding year. This applies to all club and district players who are not in a county or area squad (or region in Wales) . Written parental consent is required. Players who are selected in a County U12 squad (or Regional squad in Wales) in spring for a summer squad - or in another squad deemed by ECB Performance. Managers to be of a standard above 'district level' for that season - are also eligible to play Open age cricket. This is providing they are at least 11 years old, are in School Year 7 on 1st September in the year preceding the season, and have written parental consent to play. It is essential clubs and coaches recognise the 'duty of care' obligations they have towards young players in Open Age cricket. The duty of care should be interpreted in two ways:

• Not to place a young player in a position that involves an unreasonable risk to that young player, taking account of the circumstances of the match and the relative skills of the player.
• Not to create a situation that places members of the opposing side in a position whereby they cannot play cricket as they would normally do against adult players. In addition, the guidelines note the need for clubs and leagues to recognise the positive experience young players should have in open age cricket. Clubs should provide an opportunity for players to show their talents in an appropriate way.

Safeguarding Policy

Lower Earley Cricket Club is committed to ensuring all Children* participating in cricket have a safe and positive experience. We will do this by:

• Recognising all children participating in cricket (regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability or disability) have a right to have fun and be protected from harm in a safe environment.
• Ensuring individuals working within cricket at, or for, our club provide a welcoming, safe, and fun cricketing experience for children.
• Adopting and implementing the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) "Safe Hands Cricket's Policy for Safeguarding Children" and any future versions of this.
• Appointing a Club Welfare Officer and ensuring they attend all current and future training modules required by the ECB, so they have the necessary skills to undertake their role effectively.
• Ensuring all people who work in cricket at, or for, our club (such as staff, officials, volunteers, team managers, coaches and so on) understand the "Safe Hands Policy" applies to them according to their level of contact with children in cricket.
• Ensuring all individuals working within cricket at, or for, the club are recruited and appointed in accordance with ECB guidelines and relevant legislation.
• Ensuring all individuals working within cricket at, or for, the club are provided with support, through education and training, so they are aware of, and can adhere to, good practice and code of conduct guidelines defined by the ECB, and the club.
• Ensuring the name and contact details of the Club Welfare Officer is available as follows:
1. As the first point of contact for parents, children and volunteers/staff within the club.
2. As a local source of procedural advice for the club, its committee and members.
3. As the main point of contact within the club for the ECB County Welfare Officer and the ECB Child Protection Team.
4. As the main point of contact within the club for relevant external agencies in connection with child safeguarding.
• Ensuring correct and comprehensive reporting procedures exist for raising and managing child safeguarding concerns. Such procedures should recognise the responsibility of the statutory agencies and be in accordance with pre-defined child safeguarding procedures as set down by the ECB, Statutory Agencies and Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) guidelines and policies.
• Providing everyone connected with the club (including parents, children and volunteers) with the opportunity to voice any concerns they have (about possible suspected child abuse, and/or about poor practice) to the club Welfare Officer.
• Ensuring all suspicious concerns and allegations are taken seriously and dealt with swiftly and appropriately.
• Ensuring access to confidential information relating to child safeguarding matters is Section 3 ‐ Safeguarding Policy Statement ‐ October 2010 restricted to the Club Welfare Officer and the appropriate external authorities, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), as specified within the ECB child safeguarding procedures.

(*The word "Children" should be taken to mean all persons under the age of 18)

Photography/Filming

The ECB wishes to ensure photography and video footage taken within cricket is done so appropriately.

Parents and carers should not be prevented from taking pictures of, or filming, their children. These are normal family practices and help mark milestones in a child's life. The introduction of proportionate controls on the use of photographic equipment (cameras, and videos, including mobile phones) is part of general safeguarding good practice in a club. For the avoidance of doubt, these guidelines also apply to live broadcasts on social media or other platforms.

The ECB is keen to promote positive images of children playing cricket and is not preventing the use of photographic or videoing equipment. Please remember that photographs are considered 'personal data' in terms of the Data Protection Act. Depending on the circumstance, consent from either the child, adult, or both should be sought before capturing, sharing or publishing images where a child can be identified, including posting on the club's website etc. In addition, as with all personal data you process, it should be processed in accordance with the principles laid out in the Data Protection Act, and other relevant legislation and guidance. Be aware that some people may use sporting events as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage of children. All clubs should be vigilant about this. These individuals could attend the local cricket club allowing people to presume they are related to a child involved. Any concerns during an event should be reported to a club official or event organiser.

It is also possible that if a picture and name was placed in the local paper, the club website etc., the information could be used inappropriately. For this reason the ECB guidance is that a child's picture and name should not appear together. There may be other reasons why individuals may not wish their child's photograph to be taken by someone they do not know personally, for example estranged parents looking to gain access to a child, or families that have fled abusive situations. Parents / carers must be offered the opportunity to withhold consent for photographs / filming of their child.

• Photographs/images are not to be taken at matches or training without the prior permission of the parents/carers of the child. This permission can be given by proxy by the coach of each team only after parental consent for this has been granted. The coach must arrange this prior to attending matches.
• If no consent has been given for a child on the player profile form, then it is to be made known to the relevant person of the other team (e.g. coach/team manager) so the appropriate person/s taking photographs for the other team is/are aware and can avoid taking photographs of that particular child.
• The children should be informed a person will be taking photographs.
• The children should be informed that if they have concerns they can report these to the coach or team manager.
• Concerns regarding inappropriate, or intrusive, photography should be reported to the Club Welfare Officer and recorded in the same manner as any other child protection or safeguarding concern.
• It is recommended that cricket tournaments/festivals/events/competitions. set up a camera registration book for parents to complete.

It is recommended that all cricket clubs as well as tournament/festival/event organisers adhere to the appropriate guidelines relating to publishing of images as detailed below. Use of images of children (for example on the web, in the media or in league handbooks), including broadcast on social media platfoms:

• Ask for parental permission to use the child's image and, wherever possible, show the image to the parents and child in advance. This ensures that they are aware of the way the image will be used to represent cricket and the club.
• Ask for the child's permission to use their image. This ensures they are aware of the way the image is to be used to represent cricket and the club.
• If the cricketer is named, avoid using their photograph.
• If a photograph is used, avoid naming the child.
• Only use images of children in appropriate kit (training or competition), to reduce the risk of inappropriate use, and to provide positive images of the children.
• Encourage the reporting of inappropriate use of images of children. If you are concerned, report your concerns to the County or Club Welfare Officer.

Using video as a coaching aid

There is no intention on the part of the ECB to prevent club coaches using video equipment as a legitimate coaching aid. However, players and parents/carers should be aware that this is part of the coaching programme, and material taken in connection with coaching, must be stored securely and deleted or destroyed when a parent requests this, or when the material is no longer needed. The parents/carers and children must provide written consent for the use of photography and video analysis.

Anti-Bullying Policy for cricket

Statement of intent

We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our children so they can train, and play, in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our club.

If bullying does occur, all children should be able to tell, and know, incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a TELLING club. This means anyone who knows bullying is happening is expected to tell someone who can do something about it.

What is bullying?

Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim. Bullying can take many forms:

• Emotional: being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (for example: hiding kit, or making threatening gestures).
• Physical: pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence.
• Racist: racial taunts, graffiti and/or gestures.
• Sexual: unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments.
• Homophobic: because of, or focusing on, the issue of sexuality.
• Verbal: name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours and teasing.
• Cyber: bullying behaviour online or via electronic communication (email and text, social media, etc) Misuse of associated technology, such as camera and video facilities.

Why is it important to respond to bullying?

Bullying hurts. No one should be a victim of bullying. Everyone has the right to be treated with respect. Children who are subject to bullying also need to learn different ways of behaving.

Cricket clubs have a responsibility to respond promptly, and effectively, to issues of bullying.

Objectives of this policy

• All adults and children at the club should have an understanding of what bullying is.
• All officials, coaching and non-coaching staff should know what the club policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
• All children and parents should know what the club policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
• As a club, we take bullying seriously. Children and parents should be assuredthey will be supported when bullying is reported.
• Bullying will not be tolerated.

Lower Earley Cricket Club Guidelines on Changing Rooms and Showering Facilities

All ECB affiliated cricket clubs must have a Changing Policy, guidelines for which are provided here. These guidelines apply to the arrangements to be made for adults and children using changing facilities. Clubs should make arrangements so that children and adults do not use the same changing facilities at the same time. Best practice principles to be adopted by clubs, wherever possible, are as follows:

• Adults must not change, or shower, at the same time using the same facility as children - if the same changing room is used then they must have different times.
• If adults and children need to share a changing facility, they must do so at different times.
• Mixed gender teams must have access to separate male and female changing rooms.
• Due to the risks of inappropriate photography or filming, mobile phones must not be used in changing rooms.
• If children are uncomfortable changing or showering at the club, no pressure should be placed on them to do so. It is suggest instead that they may change and shower at home.

ECB Guidelines on Managing Children Away from the Club

In any given season, as many as 50 per cent of matches can be played away from the club and that's without tours and festivals or similar events. For a club to be able to demonstrate its duty of care to the children in its team/s a robust generic protocol needs to be able to fit all occasions.

• Follow ECB recruitment guidelines for staff and volunteer appointments.
• Undertake risk assessments of venues and facilities.
• Follow ECB supervision guidance for cricket activities involving children.
• Have an agreed transport policy in place at the club.
• Ensure the team has agreed to act within the appropriate ECB and/or Club Code of Conducts.

A Team Manager should be appointed with clear roles and responsibilities that include communication with the parent to establish the following:

• Why the trip is planned and what is its reason or purpose.
• When the trip will take place the date, the time of departure as well as the estimated time of return.
• Where the trip is to, including the destination and venue.
• Where the meeting points will be, at home and at the away venue.
• Staffing arrangements, including the name and contact details of the Team Manager responsible for the trip.
• Kit and equipment requirements
• Be in possession of a written copy of relevant emergency contact details and any medical information for all children taking part.

Staffing and staff training arrangements

This should include the following:

• Wherever possible, a club should appoint a Head Coach and Team (tour) Manager, with the Head Coach and coaches taking responsibility for training and competition.
• Management of the team ‐ A Team Manager (or any other staff) taking responsibility for any other necessary support roles, such as chaperones.
• All members of staff need to have a clear knowledge of their role and responsibility for the team.
• All staff must go through an induction programme ensuring they understand the ECB "Safe Hands Policy"
• Ensure there is a 'Club Home Contact' ‐ a member of the club who is not travelling away, who will act as a contact point in an emergency. Ensure the Club Home Contact is provided with the following information to enable them to fulfil their role should they need to:
• Names of players and staff on the trip.
• Emergency contact names and phone numbers for each of the above.
• Details of any medical or physical needs these persons may have.
• Contact numbers for staff which can be used while the staff are on the trip.
• Telephone numbers for the local police to the home club.

The Club Home Contact should be a member of the club who has been appropriately vetted.