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Keeping junior sport safe

Playing sport is a great way for children and young people to have fun, develop friendships, learn new skills, and stay active and healthy. For young people to enjoy sport, however, it must be safe, fair and friendly. This benefits our children, our communities and our clubs.

Creating safe junior sport requires a commitment from all levels – sporting associations, coaches, parents and clubs. By working together to make junior sporting clubs and associations in Victoria a safer place for our children and young people to be, we can all enjoy playing and supporting the sports we love.

To help the sport and recreation sector, a Keeping Junior Sport Safe toolkit will be available to assist clubs and associations implement the Working with Children (WWC) Check and create safe junior sport environments.

Working with Children Check

The Working with Children (WWC) Check was introduced in 2006 by the Victorian Government to help protect children under 18 years of age from physical or sexual harm by preventing those who pose a risk to their safety from working with them. The Check enforces a mandatory minimum checking standard for people who work with children in either a paid or volunteer capacity.

The WWC Check is managed by the Department of Justice and will be phased in over two years for the sport sector. Under the phasing-in plan, people who work or volunteer in connection with the following sports and who need a WWC Check are required to apply between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009:

• Athletics (including Little Athletics)
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Football (soccer)
• Football (AFL)
• Gymnastics (including trampolining)
• Swimming (including lifesaving)
• Netball
• Tennis
• Martial arts

People working and volunteering with other sport and recreation groups will be required to apply between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010.

Your sport may have a policy for who needs a WWC Check above the minimum standard. The following record keeping sheet for your club is a handy tool to help track your clubs WWC Checks.

Record Keeping Sheet Template (Word 47 kb)
Record Keeping Sheet Example (PDF 486 kb)

For more information on the Working with Children Check:

• Download the list of Frequently asked questions for sports clubs and associations (PDF 104 kb) or (Word 37 kb).
• Visit the Department of Justice.

Guidelines for keeping junior sport safe

Safer sport and recreation increases ongoing participation. In a positive and safe sporting or recreational environment, young people can develop healthy lifestyles, friendships, life skills and a strong sense of belonging and community.

Injury is a known barrier to participation and it is estimated that 50 per cent of injuries are preventable. The below guidelines have been developed by Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) to support safe participation in sport and recreation for children and young people.

Read SMA's Safety Guidelines for Children and Young People in Sport and Recreation (PDF 1793 kb) or (Word 134 kb).

Smartplay

Smartplay's mission is to assist in reducing the frequency and severity of injury associated with sport and active recreation in Victoria. The program facilitates injury prevention practices to foster safer and more supportive environments for physical activity, through a range of communications and policy development based strategies.

Smartplay was formed in 1998 through an agreement between the Department of Human Services, Sport and Recreation Victoria and VicHealth. It is currently funded in Victoria by VicHealth and Sport and Recreation Victoria. The program is managed and delivered by Sports Medicine Australia - Victorian Branch.

Fair and safe behaviours in sport

The Play by the Rules resource is based on the belief that sport at grassroots and junior levels should be about enjoyment and fair play. There’s no room for sledging of opponents, umpires or other spectators. Nor should we tolerate situations where participants feel uncomfortable or threatened due to discriminatory or harassing behaviour, including by spectators.

The Play by the Rules website has practical information on model codes of practice, sample policies, the law, resources and frequently asked questions. Online training courses specifically cater for coaches, officials, administrators and participants.

For more information visit Play By the Rules.

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