Best Practice For Clubs

Safeguarding

Visit the Club Safeguarding Resources section here

Ensure you are aware of the England Netball Safeguarding and Protecting Young People in Netball policy and are abiding by the principles within it. Ensure that all members know how to access this policy and all supporting documents and procedures. All information is available on the Safeguarding section of the EN website.

Key Contact  - Club Safeguarding Officer

Identify a key person as a Club Safeguarding Officer. This person should have a child centred approach, and have completed a 3 hour basic awareness training course (SCUK Safeguarding & Protecting Children). Their name should be clearly visible and communicated around the club (perhaps with a photo) so young people and adult members know who to go to for advice and to report concerns.  You may wish to download the club poster Be Safe, there is a space to insert your name, contact information and a photo. Please also ensure you give the contact details of your Club Safeguarding Officer to England Netball so we can add you to our database.

Safe Recruitment

Ensure you have safe recruitment procedures in your club.  All those who have a position which involves direct involvement with young people should have an enhanced CRB disclosure which is available through England Netball.   You should also encourage the use of personal disclosures and obtain references from other places the person may have volunteered if they are new to your club.

Safeguarding Awareness & Training

Ensure all those who have direct contact with young people in your club have completed basic awareness training. Sportscoach UK offer Safeguarding and Protecting Children courses regularly and locally.  You will find details on these courses by asking your England Netball Development Officer, EN region or your local County Sport Partnership. For committee roles where there is no direct contact with young people, the EN online training should be completed. Speak to your EN regional coordinator for more details.

Club Safeguarding Officers will be offered free Time to Listen training to help them in their role.

Communication

All adult members and young people should know where to go to for guidance and to report a concern.  This can be directly through the Club Safeguarding Officer and should also include information on external agencies such as Child Line and the NSPCC 24 hour helpline. These can be printed and displayed in your club, (see downloadable poster) on your website and in relevant paperwork relating to your members. In addition, establish an open communication culture within your club, encourage parents to get involved, invite them to observe some training sessions. Encourage them to take an active and positive role in their childs netball.

Good Practice and Codes of Conduct

Ensure you have Codes of Conduct displayed at your club (where applicable) and available for club members to read and refer to.  Agreed Codes of Conduct ensure that everyone knows the standard expected of them in a club and establishes guidelines for behaviour.     It should be made clear to everyone in the club what you expect and have agreed and what the consequences are for a breach of the Code of Conduct.

click here for the new Codes of Conduct and disciplinary guidelines for everyone in netball in England to follow.    

A selection of individual templates are available and listed below;

Codes of Conduct for Athletes

Codes of Conduct for Coaches

Codes of Conduct for Umpires

Codes of Conduct for Table Officials

Codes of Conduct for Tutors, Assessors, Testers, Trainers & Verifiers

Codes of Conduct for Volunteers

Codes of Conduct for Team Managers

Codes of Conduct for Parents & Carers

Codes of Conduct for England Netball Board

Codes of Conduct for National Groups & Committees

Codes of Conduct for Regional Management Board

Codes of Conduct for County Netball Association

Ensure you are up to date on safeguarding administration in your club. You should have written contact details on all your young players which are held in a secure place by a designated person. Information should only be shared within the club (and EN if asked in a disclosure capacity) on a need to know basis and for specific purposes, i.e. a coach running a session or a team manager arranging a fixture. Supporting information on consent forms, photography policies, away trips guidance and many other areas is available on the EN website under safeguarding.