GAA Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport Cill Chainnigh GAA Club Children’s Officers 9ú Deireadh Fomhair 2013

2 The Children's Officer in the GAA COUNTY CHILDREN’S OFFICER Member of the County Committee (3.11)  Chairperson.. Secretary...Children’s Officer CLUB CHILDREN’S OFFICER Member of the Club Executive Committee GAA Official Guide 2011 (Appendix 3) 7.2  Chairperson, Secretary.... Children's Offi cer

National Guidance in Child Welfare and Protection

4 GAA Child Welfare/Protection Guidance

5 Our Objective We want our underage players to benefit from and participate in our Gaelic Games in a SAFE and ENJOYABLE environment where our Games are conducted in a spirit of FAIR PLAY

6 Children’s Officers & Designated Persons

GAA Structures and Regulations  Child Welfare and Protection Committee  Child Welfare & Protection Appeals Committee  Child Welfare Training Committee  National Children’s Office  Designated Persons Club/County  Children's Officer Club/County  Child Protection Awareness Course (GAA/ISC)  Designated Persons Training (GAA/ISC)  Children's Officer Training  Anti Bullying Training  Designated Person Training (GAA/ISC)

Key Legislation/Guidance 2013  National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012  Criminal Justice - Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children & Vulnerable Persons Act 2012  Children First Bill  AccessNI – amendments  Our Games - Our Code

As a Children’s Officer What successes have you had in your role? 2. What challenges have you had?

Role of Club Children’s Officer  Ensure that underage players participate and benefit from our Games in a safe, enjoyable environment  Promote a youth and child centered ethos  Promote an awareness of our responsibilities  Organise Child Protection Awareness Training and GAA Tackling Bullying Workshops as appropriate and in conjunction with the County Children’s Officer  Ensure the implementation & promotion of relevant Child Welfare Codes and Guidelines  Promote Our Games –Our code the Code of Behaviour  Deal with breaches of the Code of Behaviour

Role of Club Children’s Officer  Influence policy and practice within the club in order to prioritise the needs of children  Organise regular information meetings for young people and their parents/guardians  Create a children's/age-group specific notice board  Promote good links between local schools and the Club  Encourage the involvement of parents in club activities  Maintain good communication links with the County Children’s Officer  Ensure implementation of Garda Vetting in the Club  Promote the Give Respect - get Respect Initiative

Role of Children’s Officer ( Cnt’d )  Ensure all underage members complete annual membership forms  Report regularly to the Club Executive Committee  Monitor changes in underage membership  Follow up any unusual dropout, absenteeism or club transfers by children  Keep records of each member on file, including junior members, their contact numbers and any special needs of the child that should be made known to team coaches  Ensure, in collaboration with other Club Officers, that children are aware as to how to make concerns known

Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport  Detailed Guidance for Clubs  GAA Policy Statement  Web sites, photography..  Recruitment and Vetting  Hosting and trips away  Template forms for Club use  Joint Codes with Camogie, Ladies Football, Rounders, handball

 Young Players  Coaches  Parents  Supporters  The Club  Breaches of Code Code of Behaviour One Code for Gaelic Games

Promoting the Code in your Club  In Groups outline five ways in which you may promote the Code of Behaviour in your Club  Discussion  Agreement/Consensus on top five

16 GAA Guidelines for Dealing with Allegations of Abuse  Published in December 2009  Act as a GAA directive at local, county and national level  Compliant with legal requirements and national guidelines  Outlines responses and recording of allegations/disclosures  Outlines how to report allegations or concerns - To statutory authorities - Within the GAA  Permits interim or temporary action within the GAA  Endorsed by ISC, HSE, NSPCC and GAA Congress

17 GAA Give Respect – Get Respect Initiative The GAA Respect Initiative seeks to ensure that Gaelic Games are promoted and played in a positive, fair and enjoyable manner where players, coaches, spectators and referees Give Respect – Get Respect from each other

Frequently asked questions  Can the same person be CO and DP?  Do the CO and DP work together?  What if the Club or Coaches are not serious about the Code of Behaviour?  What if a Coach constantly misbehaves?  What is a debarment order?  How is a debarment order decided upon  What happens when a debarment order is lifted? How do we contact the HSE or the Garda  What happens if a case is not proven?

19  Insert text here Title of page to go here Go raibh míle maith agaibh