Diamond Valley Archers is a large club operating with very flexible usage times. This represents various challenges when it comes to the club attendance when it comes to children under the age of 16, coaching and supervision.
This document’s goal is to bring is into line with government child safety laws and policies.
Child: A person under the age of 16.
Coach: a person at the club instructing in archery
Parent: The legal guardian of the child as recognised by the law.
Adult: A person over the age of 18.
A child can only attend the club if in the presence of their parent.
They must not be left in the care of a coach or another adult.
A parent can also include another adult who is recognised as in the care of the child. Such as another adult relative, or a friend who is bringing the child on an arrangement with the parent.
The exception is that the adult CAN NOT be a person that has been met at the club or a coach, official or adult from the club. If unsure check with the committee.
A person between the age of 16 and 18 can attend the club without parent supervision, however must not supervise someone under the age of 16.
We recognise that there are situations where is is safe for the child and parent to be separated.
These situations will be:
• Organised club events such as weekend tournaments.
• Week night indoor leagues
• Weekend leagues
Situations not acceptable will be
• Private coaching sessions
• Private practice sessions with an adult or coach
• Practising at the club on their own or with another child.
The coach must not engage in physical contact with the child.
If the child initiates the contact then the coach must make the child aware that that contact is not acceptable.
If the coach must make contact in order to demonstrate an action they must
• Explain to the child what they wish to do and what they wish to accomplish
• Ask permission
• Make sure the parent is aware of what is happening and why and that they witness the
interaction.
• The coach or another adult is not to transport the child to and from the club. The parent must transport the child to and from the club.
• The coach must make sure they use age appropriate language around the child. Swearing and sexual innuendo is not tolerated.
Sexually explicit jokes, innuendo and comments are not tolerated.
• The coach must not get involved in the personal life of the child. Comments and opinions about their relationships with other children is not acceptable. Even in a ‘teasing’ or ‘joking’ way.
• The coach must not play other children against each other. It’s not the coaches place to set a competitive environment. Encouraging children to compete and beat each other is not acceptable.
• A coach must be careful not to ‘play favourites’ with one student over other students.
| Jill drops her 13 year old son Tom at the club on a Sunday morning and arranges to leave the child with Bill (an adult). Bill and Tom head down the field course to do some shooting alone together. |
| Result: This is NOT OK. The parent must remain at the club and walk down the field course with the group. |
| Jill drops her 13 year old son Tom at the club on a Sunday morning and arranges to leave the child with Bill (an adult). Bill and Tom head down the field course to do some shooting together and also take two other children under the age of 16. |
| Result: This is NOT OK. The group must have another adult or parent. |
| Jill drops her 13 year old son Tom at the club on a Sunday morning and arranges to leave with Bill (an adult). The pair setup and start shooting on the target range. Jill needs to leave and says she will be back in 1 hour. After a little while another adult, Fred, turn up and they decide to head down the field course. Jill returns early and can not find Tom or Bill. |
| Result: This is not OK. Jill was not aware that her child would be leaving the target range and going down the field course and did not know who was attending. |
| Jill arranges for Tom’s coach Bill to pick up Tom from his home after school and take him to the club. Bill brings Tom to the club and they shoot in the indoor range together. Being a weekday there is no one else around. |
| Result: This is NOT OK. While the club can not be responsible for Tom when he is away from the club it is not something a coach should do. Also attending the club without other adults will be a breach in the policy. |
| Jill arranges for Tom’s coach Bill to pick up Tom from his home after school and take him to the club. Bill brings Tom to the club and they shoot in the indoor range together. Being a weekday there is no one else around, however they will be shooting league and will get to the range at a time that they expect others to be there. |
| Result: This is NOT OK. While the club can not be responsible for Tom when he is away from the club it is not something a coach should do. Also attending the club without other adults will be a breach in the policy. |
| Jill drops Tom at the club and goes to work. She leaves Tom with Bill and Fred in the indoor range and they both agree to watch Tom. Jill arranges to return at 7pm to collect Tom. While she is away they shoot in the indoor range. Once Jill returns she finds them still shooting and takes Tom home. |
| Result: This is only acceptable during organised club activities where other adults and children will be participating. |
| Jill drops Tom at the club and goes to work. She leaves Tom with Bill and Fred in the indoor range and they both agree to watch Tom. Jill arranges to return at 7pm to collect Tom. While she is away they move to shooting on the outdoor target range. Once Jill returns she finds them shooting outside and takes Tom home. |
| Result: This is NOT OK as she has not left her child for a club activity. |
| Jill brings Tom to the club. She waits in the club rooms while Tom and Bill head down the field course together alone. |
| Result: This is NOT OK. Jill must also go down the field course with Tom in this case. If she does not wish to then Tom must stay on the target range or indoor range within her sight. |
| Jill brings Tom to the club on a Saturday. She waits in the club rooms while Tom and Bill head down the field course with adult Fred and 2 other Children. |
| Result: This is acceptable. |
| Jill brings Tom to the club on a Saturday She waits in the club rooms while Tom and Bill head down the field course with adult Fred and 2 other Children. Fred gets a call and must leave the club. Bill continues to shoot the course with the three children as they were not finished. |
| Result: This is NOT OK. Bill and the children must leave the course with Fred. |
| Jill brings Tom to the club on a Sunday for a competition. Tom is on a target with Adult John, Adult Mary and child Jane. Mary withdraws from the competition and leaves the course. Tom, John and Jane continue to shoot etc course. |
| Result: This is acceptable as it’s an organised event with other participants around the course. |
| Jill brings Tom to the Friday night league. Before scoring starts she asks the club official if she can leave Tom while she goes and buys some dinner for herself. As she is heading to the nearest shops is expected to be away around 30min. The official says that is fine. |
| Result: This is acceptable as long as the adult is back before the completion of the round. |
It is up to the parents and coaches and adult members to make sure these procedures are followed correctly. If there is doubt then the correct course of action is to check with the committee and assume that their actions are NOT OK.
This checking must be done in writing in an email to committee@dva.asn.au. A verbal approval by a committee member is not sufficient.
Club members, parents and committee should refer to this document for consideration.
If someone is not following these guidelines then they face the following actions. The committee will seek for an explanation first.
Adult Club Member: Suspension or expulsion from the club.
Parent Member: Suspension or expulsion from the club.
Parent non-member: Suspension or expulsion from the club of their child.
Coach: Suspension or expulsion from the club.
version 1.0