Kenmare Shamrocks

Child Welfare

Kenmare Shamrocks CHILD WELFARE & PROTECTION

CHILD WELFARE AND PROTECTION

The Association and its sister organisations recently launched (April 2018) online version of Code of Behaviour (Underage), the joint Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport. This Code has been agreed between the GAA, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, the Camogie Association, GAA Handball Ireland and the Rounders Council of Ireland. The Code replaces all previous Codes and is a mandatory Code of Best Practice for all Gaelic Games Associations in our work with underage players. It is a comprehensive good practice guidance publication and we are anxious that as many players, coaches, parents and other Club personnel have immediate access to its contents.

The Code is also available in Disc format (not printed) form the National Children’s Office. For more information or a disc, please contact the GAA National Children’s Officer, Gearóid Ó Maoilmhichíl at 01-8363222 or [email protected].

The Gaelic Athletic Association is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all young people who wish to participate in our Gaelic Games and activities. We will take all practicable steps to protect them from discernable forms of abuse, from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment and shall respect their rights, wishes and feelings.

We do this by:

  • Recognising that all children have the right to be protected from harm.
  • Ensuring that all of our coaches and volunteers are carefully recruited and selected and that they accept responsibility for ensuring the well-being of children in their care.
  • Responding swiftly and appropriately to protect the welfare of children who participate in our games and related activities.
  • Providing parents and children with the opportunity to voice any concerns that they may have.
  • Appointing Children’s Officers in each of our Clubs and at County Board level.
  • Appointing a National Children’s Officer to oversee the implementation of good child protection and welfare practices within the Association.
  • Appointing a Designated Person in each Club and County who will liaise with the statutory authorities as appropriate.
  • Appointing a National Designated Person to assist in the processing of child protection and welfare matters.
  • Ensuring that all allegations of abuse of young people are confidentially dealt with in accordance the Association’s Guidelines for Dealing with Allegations of Abuse and with statutory guidelines and relevant legislation.
  • Reviewing the effectiveness of our Child Protection procedures and policies on an ongoing basis.
  • Ensuring that members, coaches, team mentors, administrators, parents/guardians and spectators sign up to and adhere to our Code of Behaviour.

MAINTAINING APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF BEHAVIOUR IN OUR WORK WITH CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

Maintaining Appropriate Levels of Behaviour in our Work with Children & Young People complements Sport Ireland Code of Ethics and the Code of Behaviour (Underage), the joint Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport and addresses the appropriate levels of behaviour, practice and conduct required from our young players, officials, coaches, trainers, mentors, supporters, parents/guardians and clubs..

For ease of use, the document can be downloaded by the appropriate section from the first edition below. It is jointly promoted by Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (The Gaelic Athletic Association), Cumann Camógaíochta (Camogie Association), Cumann Peil Gael na mBan (Ladies Gaelic Football Association), Liathróid Láimhe CLG na hÉireann (GAA Handball Ireland) and Cluiche Corr na hÉireann (GAA Rounders ) as we promote good practice and assist those who promote and deliver our games to the highest possible standards.

For ease of use, download the appropriate section the below links

Code of behavior booklet

The publication by the Gaelic Athletic Association, Ladies Gaelic Football Association, the Camogie Association, GAA Handball Ireland and the Rounders Council of Ireland of this joint Code of Behaviour (Underage) is a milestone for our Associations, replacing as it does the previous Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport.