Policies & Procedures for Sports Coaches
Coaches working for Freedom Activities shall be made fully aware of the policies, procedures and guidelines within each school. This could be done through an induction within each organisation. For sessions run for adults within community settings Freedom Activities shall abide by the venue policies, procedures and guidelines.
Policies include:
* Child Protection
Due to the contact with children and young people and the relationships that develop as a result, coaches may observe behaviour or other signs, or receive information about a young person which could cause concern. This may be related to experiences the young person has encountered within the sporting environment, but could equally be at home or at school. It is imperative, therefore, that Freedom Activities work within the Child Protection policy and guidelines in place at each school and organisation, and that the coach is aware of the mechanisms for raising concerns and for reporting any incidents that may arise or come to their attention.
*Duty to Care Digital Badge
Freedom Activities has gained the Duty to Care Toolkit and Digital Badge. This encompasses knowledge within safeguarding, inclusion, diversity, well-being and mental health. All skills that make coaches at Freedom Activities able to support both participant needs and to allow them to take better care of themselves.
* Health & Safety
Health and safety regulations require provision of adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and trained individuals to enable first aid to be given to employees at work. All Freedom Activities coaches shall be qualified to give emergency first aid and shall maintain up to date relevant qualifications.
* Equity
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society. Freedom Activities will be able to demonstrate through its policies and actions that it is committed to ensuring that sports equity is central to how it operates.
*Codes of Conduct
Organisations should have a Code of Conduct for coaches which outlines expected standards of practice. Freedom Activities shall work within Sports coach UK “Code of Practice for Sports Coaches” in order to establish, publicise and maintain standards of ethical behaviour in coaching practice.
*Liability Insurance
All coaches at Freedom Activities shall have both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity in relation to their current coaching qualifications.
*Ratios
It is important to ensure that, in planning and running sports activities for children and young people, consideration is given to providing an appropriate supervision ratio of adults to participants.
Guidance on ratios will vary depending on the sport. Freedom Activities will work within recommended ratios together with schools' and organisations' own guidelines.
Supervision levels will be determined following a risk assessment which includes: age and experience of participants, any additional support required, nature of the activity, and facilities and equipment available.
Coaches working for Freedom Activities shall be made fully aware of the policies, procedures and guidelines within each school. This could be done through an induction within each organisation. For sessions run for adults within community settings Freedom Activities shall abide by the venue policies, procedures and guidelines.
Policies include:
* Child Protection
Due to the contact with children and young people and the relationships that develop as a result, coaches may observe behaviour or other signs, or receive information about a young person which could cause concern. This may be related to experiences the young person has encountered within the sporting environment, but could equally be at home or at school. It is imperative, therefore, that Freedom Activities work within the Child Protection policy and guidelines in place at each school and organisation, and that the coach is aware of the mechanisms for raising concerns and for reporting any incidents that may arise or come to their attention.
*Duty to Care Digital Badge
Freedom Activities has gained the Duty to Care Toolkit and Digital Badge. This encompasses knowledge within safeguarding, inclusion, diversity, well-being and mental health. All skills that make coaches at Freedom Activities able to support both participant needs and to allow them to take better care of themselves.
* Health & Safety
Health and safety regulations require provision of adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and trained individuals to enable first aid to be given to employees at work. All Freedom Activities coaches shall be qualified to give emergency first aid and shall maintain up to date relevant qualifications.
* Equity
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society. Freedom Activities will be able to demonstrate through its policies and actions that it is committed to ensuring that sports equity is central to how it operates.
*Codes of Conduct
Organisations should have a Code of Conduct for coaches which outlines expected standards of practice. Freedom Activities shall work within Sports coach UK “Code of Practice for Sports Coaches” in order to establish, publicise and maintain standards of ethical behaviour in coaching practice.
*Liability Insurance
All coaches at Freedom Activities shall have both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity in relation to their current coaching qualifications.
*Ratios
It is important to ensure that, in planning and running sports activities for children and young people, consideration is given to providing an appropriate supervision ratio of adults to participants.
Guidance on ratios will vary depending on the sport. Freedom Activities will work within recommended ratios together with schools' and organisations' own guidelines.
Supervision levels will be determined following a risk assessment which includes: age and experience of participants, any additional support required, nature of the activity, and facilities and equipment available.
