Gearóid Ó Maoilmhichíl Child Protection and Welfare in the GAA

Child Protection and Welfare through the GAA Code of Best Practice GAA national approach and strategy GAA Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport Joint Code of Behaviour Training strategy National Children's Office & services Dissemination and delivery at local level

GAA national approach to child welfare, protection and safety Children's Officer and a Designated Person at Club - County - National levels National Committee structures and supports to overview - Code of Best Practice & Joint Code of Behaviour - Child Welfare & Protection Committee - Child Welfare & Protection Appeals Committee Congress 2009 adopted Rule 1:13 re codes, child welfare and procedures to deal with breaches and poor practice Establishment of a National Children's Office

Children’s Officers and Designated Persons at Club and County level Appoint Children's Officers & a Designated Persons at both Club and County level Establish the roles and provide supports CO & DP will replace any existing roles or titles Training day January 2010 national level, Provincial training commencing March 2010 National Children’s Office as a support initiative Provide a realistic time frame for implementation Annual seminars/conferences to update and up-skill appointed officers

GAA Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport The GAA good practice guidance for child welfare and protection Supported by: National Working Group GAA training and coaching Sports Council Training Implemented at local, county and national level

Background to GAA Code of Best Practice Previous Code reviewed by Code of Ethics Work Group* Awareness and acceptance of need to update Support structure required at local and national level Consulted widely within the Association with Statutory Authorities Awareness that Code needs to compliment the GAA philosophy of Fair Play, Respect, Safety & Participation Adheres to - Current guidelines - Legislation on an all Ireland basis - ISC/SportNI Code and to Good Practice in Sport

Implementation of Code Code is central to the GAA safety and welfare of young people strategy Will be integrated into our Games and Coaching philosophy Supported by proposed Rule changes Contents will form part of SportNI and ISC GAA endorsed Child Protection Awareness Training Provides realistic and achievable guidance to all who work with children/young people in the GAA Outlines roles and responsibilities of coaches* at all levels

Contents of GAA Code of Best Practice 15 Sections plus user friendly forms & appendices 1 GAA ‘child welfare and protection ‘ statement 2 Dignity and Rights of Young People 3 Code of Behaviour 4 Playing our Games Section 5 Disability Awareness 6 GAA Injury Scheme 7 Use of photography and web sites 8 Inclusion and Integration Strategy 9 ASAP Programme

Contents of Code of Best Practice contd.. 10 Recruitment of persons working with children – Vetting & ACCESS NI 11 Away trips for under age players 12 Hosting another club 13 The Children’s Officer 14 The Designated Person 15 Child Welfare and Protection in Sport - definitions and recognising of abuse, bullying, responding to and reporting allegations and disclosures (outline) Appendices - forms etc Available on www.gaa.ie also as Gaeilge (2010)

ISC/SportNI Child Welfare & Protection in Sport Training Agreement on delivery of the ISC/SportNI training to all under age coaches* by GAA trained tutors - for all coaches, mentors, managers etc Establishing a national network of Tutors - Small number of coaches increase to 70 plus in 2009 - Target of 2 tutors (minimum) in every county by 2010 Training will reflect the GAA Coaching and Games philosophy of Respect, Fair Play, Safety & Participation and comply with ISC/SportsNI course content

Recruitment of persons to work with under age players Central role for Club and County Children’s Officers Adopt positive and accountable recruitment. selection and support services for those working with underage players Vetting/Police checks on a 32 county basis Comply with the Vetting and Barring scheme 2009 Must apply to all regardless of underage roles An awareness of Code of Best Practice/Code of Behaviour Awareness as to roles and responsibilities Implementing a safe recruitment procedure that protects the young player, the club and the coaches themselves

Guidelines for Dealing with Allegations of Abuse Recognition that current guidelines and reporting procedures need to be appraised so as to ensure full compliance with national guidelines/legislation Legal review and views of statutory and sports bodies received by GAA Guidelines must act as an accurate directive to the GAA at local, county and national level Ard Comhairle and Coiste Bainistí agreed new Guidelines New booklet gone to print following discussions with Irish Sports Council, HSE, NSPCC and following legal advice

Reporting Allegations of Child Abuse in the GAA If not reported to Statutory Authority record decision. Inform person who made allegation. Monitor situation Refer to Co Designated Person- Consult informally with statutory authorities and Provincial/National DP Reasonable grounds for concern established Report to statutory authorities and to National Designated Person Report to National Designated Person Inform person against whom allegation has made and invoke debarment order

Camogie Ladies Football Handball Rounders Joint Code of Behaviour Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Camogie Ladies Football Handball Rounders One Code for One Club

Code of Behaviour for all Persons Working with Children Joint Code of Behaviour for all Gaelic Games Outlines levels of behaviour/conduct expected of our Young Players, Coaches, Parents/Guardians, Supporters and the role of the Clubs Emphasises Respect, Fair Play, Safety and Equal Opportunity Promoted by Children’s Officers at Club & County Available at gaa.ie and distribuetd to all Clubs

National Children’s Office A support and advisory service on child welfare and protection matters for all units and levels of the GAA National remit to ensure the adoption and implementation of the Code of Best Practice, the Code of Behaviour and the processing of allegations of abuse in association with relevant national committees Implement a child welfare and protection training strategy Design and deliver targeted training programmes for Children’s Officers and Designated Person Liaise with relevant statutory bodies on child welfare Advise within the Association in relation to allegations of abuse and action to be taken Liaise with Counties, Provinces and Clubs

Summary for 2009 2009 Distribute Code of Best Practice/Behaviour at club level Target of 70 plus Sports Council GAA tutors in 2009 Training pack for Sports Council tutors incl. new GAA slides Vetting and AccessNI - 12,000 mentors completed Commence the appointment of Vetting Co-ordinators in every county Complete and distribute the GAA Guidelines for Dealing with Allegations of Abuse Create an awareness of the need for Children's Officer's at Club and County level Prepare the rollout of training for Designated Persons at Club and County level Support clubs and counties where allegations of abuse have been made

Support services for 2010 2010 Implement GAA Code of Best Practice Behaviour and Code of Behaviour Support clubs and counties where allegations of abuse have been made Information day on 30 January for ISC/GAA Tutors, County Children’s Officers and Designated Person Two ‘Sports Council’ tutors (minimum) in every county by Oct 2010 Develop our capacity to roll out Sports Council/GAA training Children's Officers and Designated Persons Training at County level - commencing March 2010 Further develop our capacity to have mentors vetted Audit our compliance with GAA Code of Best Practice

RESPECT INITIATIVE

Aim The GAA Respect Initiative aims to promote positive behaviour and to ensure that an enriching environment is provided for the promotion and development of Gaelic games.

How Does it Work? All persons involved in the promotion of Gaelic games must implement and sign the GAA Code of Behaviour Players and coaches line up behind their manager before and after the game to shake hands with the referee, opposing players and coaches A captain is appointed for each game to maintain high standards of behaviour and to communicate with the referee A merit award- based on sporting endeavour and fair play- is awarded to a player at the end of each game/blitz. Supporters remain in designated areas at the side of the pitch for the full duration of each game. Coaches involved with the team should wear club top or distinctive bib Each unit must strive to achieve maximum participation for all players A club representative will welcome the referee to the club and act as a liaison person Nobody should be behind the goals. The ideal situation is that supporters should be on one side of the pitch behind a barrier with mentors on the other side.

Best Practice in Child Protection In our work with children/young people we should always be guided by the principle of paramountancy which requires that: the welfare of the child should be the paramount consideration Go raibh míle maith agaibh

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