Child Protection Policy

1. Aims

  • The Club aims to create an enjoyable environment for all children who take part in cricket and in the social activities after the match, as part of a Club fixture.
  • The Club emphasises that young people have the right to be safe, secure, free from threat, to be treated with respect and for their concerns to be listened to and acted upon.
  • The Club will seek to ensure and respect that children have specific facilities designated for them, with adequate supervision.
  • The Club has procedures in place to help any young person who requests help and support on a confidential basis, in issues relating to Child Protection.
  • The Club engages Umpires from a UCAS Convenor who has confirmed that all Umpires appointed to stand for the Club have  undergone the appropriate Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure process.
  • The Club will ensure that any Match Managers and match officials working with young people are aware of the Club’s Child Protection Policy.

2. Roles and Responsibilities

The Club has an adult member, Matthew Shales who is nominated Child Protection Officer, specifically responsible for Child Protection issues. The Child Protection Officer reports directly to the Chair of the Cricket Sub-Committee on such issues and will discuss any actions with The Chairman. The Child Protection Officer is responsible for all CRB procedures.

3. Procedures

Any concerns of Child Abuse within the area of Child Protection (physical, emotional, sexual, neglect or bullying and harassment), should be reported without delay to The Child Protection Officer, or, in his absence, the Chairman.

Any person connected with the Club who suspects that Child Abuse has occurred, or to whom Child Abuse is reported, or is concerned that the behaviour of others may be putting a child at risk of abuse should:

  • Immediately postpone any other activity and listen.
  • Make brief notes at the time, or as soon as possible afterwards.
  • Not ask any leading questions.
  • Not give any assurances of confidentiality but say that only those who need to know will be informed.
  • Immediately inform The Child Protection Officer, or, in his absence the Chair of the Cricket Sub-Committee or in his absence, the Chairman.

The Chairman should be made aware of any media interest in relation to Child Protection. The Chairman will handle all media enquiries.

The Child Protection Officer will, if possible, make his own enquiries in order to ascertain the seriousness of any incident in order to take appropriate action  which might in a most serious case be reported to the police.

The Child Protection Officer, together with appropriate Members of The Committee and any co-opted members of the Committee will investigate any incident and take any necessary action.

Match Managers’ Guidence on ECB Regulations

The following is a guide to be used whenever there is an instance when players under the age of 18 are playing either for or against us.

Use of Helmets

  • helmets with a faceguard or grille should be worn when batting against a hard cricket ball in matches and in practice sessions
  • young players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item of protective equipment when batting, together with pads, gloves and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box)
  • young wicket keepers should wear a helmet with a faceguard, or a wicketkeeper face protector when standing up to the stumps. A face protector represents an alternative head protection system for young wicket keepers. Face protectors are, at the time of publication of this guidance, a relatively new innovation.

The original guidance allowed parents or guardians to give their written consent to allow a young player not to wear a helmet. However parental consent not to wear a helmet is no longer accepted in any form of cricket.

This guidance applies to all players up to the age of 18 in all forms of cricket

ECB Fast Bowling Match Directives

AGE                  MAX. OVERS PER SPELL                         MAX. OVERS PER DAY

Up to 13                               5                                                              10

U14, U15                              6                                                              12

U16, U17, U18, U19            7                                                              18

For the purpose of these Directives a fast bowler is defined as a bowler to whom a wicket keeper in the same age group would in normal circumstances stand back to take the ball.

Having completed a spell the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his* spell have been bowled from the same end. A bowler can change ends without ending his current spell provided that he bowls the next over that he legally can from the other end. If this does not happen his spell is deemed to be concluded.

If play is interrupted, for any reason, for less than 40 minutes any spell in progress at the time of the interruption can be continued after the interruption up to the maximum number of overs per spell for the appropriate age group. If the spell is not continued after the interruption the bowler cannot bowl again, from either end, until the equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell before the interruption have been bowled from the same end. If the interruption is 40 minutes or more whether scheduled or not, the bowler can commence a new spell immediately.

Once a bowler covered by these Directives has bowled in a match he cannot exceed the maximum number overs per day for his age group even if he subsequently bowls spin. He can exceed the maximum overs per spell if bowling spin, but cannot then revert to bowling fast until an equivalent number of overs to the length of his spell have been bowled from the same end. If he bowls spin without exceeding the maximum number of overs in a spell the maximum will apply as soon as he reverts to bowling fast.

Fielding Regulations

The ECB has regulations covering the minimum fielding distances for young players in all matches where a hard ball is used.

No young player in the Under 15 age group or younger shall be allowed to field closer than 8 yards (7.3 metres) from the middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side, until the batsman has played at the ball.

For players in the Under 13 age group and below the distance is 11 yards (10 metres).

These minimum distances apply even if the player is wearing a helmet.

In addition any young player who has not reached the age of 18, must wear a helmet and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box) when fielding within 6 yards (5.5 metres) of the bat, except behind the wicket on the off side. Players should wear appropriate protective equipment whenever they are fielding in a position where they feel at risk.

These fielding regulations are applicable to all cricket in England and Wales. Age groups are based on the age of the player at midnight on 31st August in the year preceding the current season.

The Duty of Care

  • Not to place a young player in a position that involves an unreasonable risk to that young player, taking account of the circumstances of the match and the relative skills of the player
  • Not to create a situation that places members of the opposing side in a position whereby they cannot play cricket as they would normally do against adult players

Photography

Photographs/images are not to be taken at matches or training without the prior permission of the parents/carers of the child. This permission can be given by proxy by the coach of each team only after parental consent for this has been granted. The Match Manager coach must arrange this prior to attending matches. If no consent has been given for a child then it is to be made known to the relevant person of the other team (e.g. coach/team manager) so the appropriate person/s taking photographs for the other team is/are aware and can avoid taking photographs of that particular child.

Changing

Best practice principles to be adopted by clubs, wherever possible, are as follows:

  • If adults and children need to share a changing facility, the club must have consent from parents that their child(ren) can share a changing room with adults in the club
  • Adults must not shower at the same time using the same facility as children
  • Adults should try to change at separate times to children during matches, for example when children are padding up
  • If children play for adult teams, they, and their parents, must be informed of the club’s policy on changing arrangements
  • Mobile phones must not be used in changing rooms

If children are uncomfortable changing or showering at the club, no pressure should be placed on them to do so. Instead suggest they change and shower at home.