Salthill Devon Club Rules

1. Team Discipline
2. Substance Abuse
3. Disciplinary Procedures & confidentiality
4. Health & Safety Statement
5. Core Values in Children’s Sport
6. Adult-Child Relationships
7. Good Practice in children’s Sport

Team discipline on/off the field

Players should be aware that they are representing the club both on and off the pitch. The manager should not tolerate any deviant behaviour, either physical or oral, towards the management team, match officials or opponents. The manager will be given every assistance by the football unit of the committee to deal with persistent offenders.

Substance abuse

The use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco should be actively discouraged as being incompatible with a healthy approach to sporting activity.

Disciplinary Procedures & Confidentiality

Discipline should be positive in focus . The main form of discipline should be through praise for :-
1. Effort.
2. Social skills as well as sporting skills.

Participants should treat others in a respectful manner. In particular they should recognise the time the time and input their adult leader contributes to their sport and treat them with dignity and respect.

Health and Safety Statement

Managers are responsible for the supervision of their squad at all Club related events, especially training sessions. Under no circumstances should young players be left on their own without adult supervision at any Club organised activity. The manager, unable to attend training etc. should organise a suitable replacement adult. Two adults should be present with each squad.

A First Aid Kit will be supplied to each manager for use at training sessions and competitive games. The manager should have a basic competence in how to use it.

The management team should ensure that the training/playing surface is safe and free from dangerous objects.

The clubs medical officer is:- Declan Larkin

The clubs physiotherapist is: Aoifane Walsh

Parents are responsible for transporting their children home after training etc

Core Values in Children’s Sport

1. Importance of Childhood

The right to happiness within childhood must be recognised and enhanced at all levels of sport.

2. Needs of the child

All children’s’ sport experiences and contexts must be guided by what is best for children.

3. Integrity

Adults interacting with children in sport should do so with integrity and respect for the child.
Fair Play.

All children’s’ sport should be conducted in an atmosphere of fair play.

4. Quality Atmosphere & Ethos.

Children’s sport should be conducted in a safe, positive and encouraging atmosphere. A child centred ethos will help to ensure that competition and specialisation are kept in their appropriate place.
Equality.
All children should be treated in an equitable and fair manner regardless of age, ability, sex, religion, social and ethnic background or political persuasion.
Importance of Sports Leaders.
Sports Leaders play a vital role in Irish sport. Without them children ‘s sport could not flourish. The right of the sports leaders to obtain a healthy sense of achievement and satisfaction through their involvement in children’s sport must be recognised.
Education and Training.
Adults who take responsibility for children in sport have a duty to ensure that they are competent to provide safe and rewarding experiences for those in their care through appropriate training and education.
Benefit of sport for children.
Children have a lot to gain from sport. Their natural sense of fun and spontaneity can blossom in a positive sporting environments, which promote progress in a child centered way. Sport provides an excellent medium in which children can learn new skills, become more confident and maximise their own unique potential.

Adult-Child Relationships

Adult-child relationships should be:-
1. Entered into by choice.
2. Open, positive and encouraging.
3. Defined by mutually agreed set of goals and commitments.
4. Respectful of the creativity and autonomy of the children.
5. Defined by and ethical code of conduct related to interaction, touching and bullying.
6. Carried out in a context where children are protected and where their rights are promoted.
7. Free from verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
8. Respectful of the needs and developmental stage of the child.
9. Aimed at the promotion of enjoyment and individual progress.
10.Respectful of the roles and responsibilities of sports leaders.
11.Governed by a code of ethics and good practice in sport.

Good Practice in children’s Sport

Leaders in children’s sport should strive to create a positive environment for the children in their care. They have overall responsibility to take the steps necessary to ensure that positive healthy experiences are provided.

Sports leaders should:
1. Be confident and qualified;

2. Be positive, enthusiastic and cheerful;

3. Reinforce the principles of fair play;

4. Give feedback in a constructive and encouraging manner;

5. Encourage an active healthy lifestyle;

6. Involve parents/guardians as much as possible

7. Recognise that they themselves should maintain the highest standard of personal conduct and support the principles of fair play.