1. Gearóid Ó Maoilmhichíl
Child Protection and Welfare in the GAA

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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 also as Gaeilge (2010)

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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 ,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

19. 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

20. RESPECT INITIATIVE

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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
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