EQUITY POLICY STATEMENT
Benfleet Cricket Club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport England definition of sports 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.
- Benfleet Cricket Club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
- Benfleet Cricket Club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
- All Benfleet Cricket Club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
- Benfleet Cricket Club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to the club disciplinary procedures.
JUNIOR CLUB RULES
Benfleet Cricket Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of all its members. The club believes that it is important that members, coaches, administrators and parents associated with the club should, at all times, show respect encouraged to be open at all times and to share any concerns or complaints that they may have about any aspect of the club with Jon Wright, the overall Youth Team Manager.
- As a member of Benfleet Cricket Club you are expected to abide by the following junior club rules:
- Have an understanding about the PreAmble - The laws of cricket start with a preamble about “The Spirit of Cricket”.
- All members must play within the Laws of Cricket and respect umpires and other officials and their decisions.
- All members must respect opponents.
- Members should keep to agreed timings for training and competitions or inform their coach or team manager if they are going to be late.
- Members must wear suitable kit – generally tracksuits/comfortable clothes – for training, and cricket whites for match sessions, as agreed with the coach/team manager.
- Members must pay any fees promptly.
- Junior members are not allowed to smoke on club premises or whilst representing the club at competitions.
- Junior members are not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs of any kind on the club premises or whilst representing the club.
POLICY STATEMENT ON CHILD PROTECTION
1. Benfleet Cricket club will adopt and adhere to the ECB Child Protection Policy “Safe hands welfare of young people in cricket” policy.
2. Benfleet Cricket club have appointed a Child Welfare Officer, currently Pat Tremain, whose responsibilities will include.-
2.1. Ensuring that this policy statement is brought to the attention of all existing and new Youth Team Managers, Coaches or any other persons associated with the Club who might be in close contact with youth members.
2.2. Ensuring all Youth Team Managers and Coaches appointed by the Club are suitably vetted by the police and/or social services.
2.3. Act as an independent point of contact for any child or parent who considers or discloses any abuse and in such circumstances take appropriate action to investigate the claim.
3. Before appointment all Youth Team Managers will be asked to undertake a police check.
4. All Youth Team Managers will be encouraged to attain at least an ECB Level 1 qualification.
5. Where a youth manager is not a qualified coach, as far as practicable, a qualified coach will be assigned to assist that manger.
6. All Youth Team Managers and Coaches will be required to comply with the National Coaching Foundation’s Code of Ethics and Conduct for Sports Coaches. A summary of which is included below.
7. In circumstances where abuse is reported or witnessed, then the matter may be reported to either the Essex County Cricket Club Welfare Officer, or to the Social Services, or to the Police.
THE COACHES CHARTER
1. Coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person and treat everyone equally within the context of their sport.
2. Coaches must place the well being and safety of the performer above the development of performance. They should follow all guidelines laid down by the sports governing body.
3. Coaches must develop an appropriate working relationship with performers (especially children), based on mutual trust and respect. Coaches must not exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
4. Coaches must encourage and guide performers to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.
5. Coaches should hold up to date and nationally recognised governing body coaching qualifications.
6. Coaches must ensure the activities they direct or advocate are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the individual.
7. Coaches should at the outset clarify with performers (and where appropriate with their parents) exactly what is expected of them and what performers are entitled to expect from their coach.
8. Coaches should cooperate fully with other specialists (e.g. other coaches, officials, sports scientists, doctors, physiotherapists) in the best interests of the performer.
9. Coaches should always promote the positive aspects of their sport (e.g. fair play) and never condone rule violations or use of prohibited substances.
10. Coaches must consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance.