• Safeguarding Children Policy Statement
• Code of Conduct for Young Players
• Anti Bullying Policy
• Guidelines on Transporting Young Players
• Young Players Changing policy
• Guidelines on Photographs
• Guidelines on the use of helmets, close fielding and fast bowling
• Children playing in senior matches
• Code of Conduct for Parents/Guardians
• Code of Conduct for Club members and Guests
• Sports Equity Statement
• Coaches Code of Conduct

Safeguarding Children Policy Statement
Brewood CC is dedicated to developing a culture within its teams where children and young people can participate in cricket in a safe and enjoyable environment. BCC has created a post of Welfare Officer and Tony Gubby is acting in that position.  We want to ensure that all young people at the Club can enjoy their sport in a quality and protected surrounding.
BCCs policy is-
Every child or young person (under 18 years) who plays or participates in cricket will be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse.
BCC recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people belonging to it, by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm and from neglect and bullying. We are determined to meet our obligation to ensure that it does so to the highest standard of care.
We shall adopt the ECB document ‘Safe Hands”, safeguarding children welfare policy and fulfil our commitment to apply all of its policies and procedures.  This policy and any associated procedures apply to anyone affiliated to BCC, whether in paid or voluntary positions and include umpires, club officials, coaches or other helpers in whatever capacity.
BCC will consider, having taken advice, whether anyone who has a previous criminal conviction or caution for offences relating to the abuse of children or young persons, violence or sexual offences, should be excluded from working with children and young people associated with BCC. This position is reinforced by legislation and guidance in England and Wales and will be assiduously applied by BCC.

The club has achieved the ECBs Clubmark status in demonstrating that it meets the ECB criteria for safeguarding and protecting children.  ECB Clubmark is an acknowledgement that we take these issues seriously and that we are striving to provide a high quality and welcoming environment for young participants in cricket.
We welcome parents/carers and guardians to all training and competitions and value your support.

Code of Conduct for Young Players
The following Code is suggested for Young Players.  If you have any comments please make Tony Gubby aware of them.
-    You must play within the rules and respect officials and their decisions.
-    You must respect opponents.
-    Members should keep to agreed timings for training and competitions or inform their coach or team manager if they are going to be late.
-    Members must wear suitable kit for training and match sessions. i.e. suitable white cricket shoes or trainers, crocket trousers for matches, tracksuit trousers for practice, cricket shirt, white socks,
-    Abdominal guard and support when batting, cap or sunhat, cricket helmet.
-    Members must pay any fees for training or events promptly.
-    Junior members are not allowed to smoke on club premises or whilst representing the club at competitions.
-    Junior members are not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs of any kind on the club premises or whilst representing the club.
-    Club membership shall not be renewed for those who do not conform to this Code or show little interest in the cricket activities.
-    Membership shall cease for any severe breaches of the Code and/or for those children who are disruptive and/or show little interest at coaching sessions.

Anti Bullying Policy
Brewood CC does not accept or condone bullying in any way and will address all forms of bullying and harassment. Everyone involved within the club environment, whatever their role, has a responsibility to work to stop bullying. To this end we advise that to help a victim and prevent bullying in Cricket an individual should;
-    Take all signs of bullying very seriously
-    Encourage all young people to speak and share their concerns, help the victim to speak out and inform the Club Welfare Officer.
-    Create an open environment
-    Investigate all allegations and take appropriate action to ensure the victim is safe
-    Reassure the victim that you can be trusted and will help them, although not promising to not tell of what has been said.
-    Keep a record of what has been said
-    Report any concerns to the Club Welfare Officer.  We also recognise and advise that in the event of any occurrence of bullying or harassment brought to the attention of the Club Welfare Officer, the club will;
-    Inform the bullies parents/carer
-    Try to get the bully to understand his/her behaviour
-    Provide support as required to the coach of the victim
-    Impose sanctions as necessary and as advised through ECB legislation
-    Encourage and support the bully (ies) to change behaviour
-    Discuss with families to report on progress
-    Keep a written record of action taken
The club also advises that in accordance with ECB legislation and as advised throughout this publication the first point of contact in all cases if there is a suspicion of bullying or harassment taking place should be the Club Welfare Officer who will advise of the correct procedural route to be taken through club policy.

Guidelines on Transporting Young Players
Our policy is that parents or other responsible adults are responsible for transporting players to and from all matches and practice sessions and therefore the Club will not be registering Private Vehicles for the transportation of young players in connection with any fixtures or practice sessions arranged by the Club.  Managers and Coaches will not normally transport young players.

Young Players Changing Policy
For players under the age of 16 playing in adult teams the following policy applies:
Young players uncomfortable with changing or showering with adults are under no obligation to do so and are advised to change and shower at home
Parental consent must be given if Young Players are to share changing facilities with adults
If Young Players are sharing changing facilities with adults, parents have the    option to supervise them whilst they are changing.  The Club will make reasonable efforts to arrange this.

Guidelines on Photographs
Brewood Cricket Club recognises the need to ensure the welfare and safety of all Young People in Cricket.  As part of this commitment we will not permit photographs, video images or other images of Young People to be taken or used without the consent of the Parent/Guardian.  We will take steps to ensure that these images are used solely for the purpose they are intended, which is the promotion and celebration of cricketing activities.   If photographs e.g. team or action shots, are submitted to the Press or published on our website or in our handbook, individuals will not ordinarily be identified.  Where a child or young person is identified it will only be with the explicit consent of parents.

Please note: Brewood Cricket Club understands that there are circumstances under which a parent would not wish their child to be photographed.  Whilst the Club will do all that it can to ensure the safety of children during photographed events, it is the responsibility of the parent concerned to ensure that if their child is not to be photographed and partakes in an activity and is by the nature of the activity inadvertently photographed or filmed, Brewood Cricket Club cannot be held responsible.

Guidelines on the use of helmets, close fielding and fast bowling
It is the Clubs’ policy that all cricketers under the age of 18 who participate in matches or coaching sessions under its jurisdiction will be expected to wear a traditional type helmet when batting and when wicket keeping or fielding close in front of the wickets.  Face masks when wicket keeping are not allowed.

No young player in the Under 15 age group or younger shall be allowed to field closer than 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 10 metres.  These minimum distances apply even if the player is wearing a helmet.

In addition any young player in the Under 16 to Under 18 age groups, who has not reached the age of 18, must wear a traditional helmet and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box) when fielding within 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.

Fast Bowling Guidelines
Age                                Max overs per spell    Max overs per day
Up to 13                                       5                                       10
Under 14 and 15                      6                                        12
Under 18                                    7                                        18

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

Children Playing in Senior Matches
Only children in age group Under 13 and above shall play in senior matches.   Parents permission will be required for children in these age groups to play in senior matches.   Children Under 12 or younger shall not be selected to play in senior matches.

Code of Conduct for Parents/Guardians
The Club appreciates greatly the contributions parents/guardians make to the organisation of the Junior Section and it is hoped that they will:
Encourage children to participate and not force them to be involved
Focus on the child’s effort and performance, rather than winning or losing, and never punish or belittle a child for losing or making mistakes
Encourage children to participate according to the laws and etiquette of cricket
Discourage unfair play and arguing with officials
Set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding the good performances of all
Support all efforts to remove verbal abuse and dissent from cricket
Respect officials’ decisions and teach their children to do likewise
Provide the age group organiser, or Team Managers, with details of any illness which a child has (e.g. diabetes, asthma, epilepsy) and what medication may need to be supervised
Ensure that adequate arrangements are made for the safe collection and transportation of the children to and from matches/practice sessions
Supervise their children, both before and after matches and coaching sessions
Support the Team Manager in whatever way you can.
Remember that children play cricket for their own enjoyment, not yours.

Code of Conduct for Club Members and Guests
All club members and guests must act in accordance with the following policies,
-    Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person within the context of Cricket
-    Treat everyone equally and not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, religious belief, class or social background, sexual preference or political belief.
-    Not condone, or allow to go unchallenged, any form of discrimination if witnessed.
-    Display high standards of behaviour.
-    Promote the positive aspects of Cricket e.g. fair play.
-    Encourage all participants to learn the Laws and rules and play within them, respecting the decisions of match officials.
-    Actively discourage unfair play, rule violations and arguing with match officials.
-    Recognise good performance not just match results.
-    Place the well-being and safety of Young People above the development of performance.
-    Ensure that activities are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the individual.
-    Respect Young People’s opinions when making decisions about their participation in Cricket.
-    Not smoke, drink or use banned substances whilst actively working with Young People in the Club.
-    Not provide Young People with alcohol when they are under the care of the Club.
-    Follow ECB guidelines set out in the “Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children’ and any other relevant guidelines issued.
-    Report any concerns in relation to a Young Person, following reporting procedures laid down by the ECB.
-    In addition to the above, all Club Officers and Appointed Volunteers will:
- Hold relevant qualifications and be covered by appropriate insurance
- Always work in an open environment (i.e. avoid private or unobserved situations and encourage an open environment).
- Inform Players and Parents of the requirements of Cricket.
- Know and understand the ECB’s ‘Safe  Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children’

Sports Equity Statement
Brewood CC is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the ECB cricket equity policy.
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.
The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief sexuality or social/economic status.
Brewood CC is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.

Coaches Code of Conduct
Brewood CC coaches shall work in accordance with the ECB Coaches Code of Conduct.  This is a lengthy document but can be seen and downloaded from the ECB web site.