GAA Handball Wexford is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all young people who participate in our sports and activities. We shall take all practicable steps to protect them from discernible forms of abuse, from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment and shall respect their rights, wishes and feelings.
GAA Handball Wexford will ensure that this ideology is promoted in every echelon of our association by;
- Recognising that all children have the right to be protected from harm.
- Ensuring that all our coaches and volunteers are carefully recruited and selected in accordance with our guidelines and relevant legislative requirements and that they accept responsibility for ensuring the wellbeing of children in their care.
- Responding swiftly and appropriately to any allegations or concerns so as to protect the welfare of children who participate in our games and related activities.
- Appointing Children’s Officers in each of our Clubs and at County Board level.
- Appointing a Designated Officer in each Club and County who will liaise with the statutory authorities as appropriate.
- Providing parents and children with the opportunity to voice their concerns.
- Ensuring that all allegations of abuse of young people are confidentially dealt with in accordance the Association Guidelines and relevant legislation.
- Reviewing the effectiveness of our Child Protection and Welfare procedures and related policies on an on-going basis.
- Ensuring that members, coaches, team mentors, administrators, parents/guardians and spectators sign up to and adhere to our Code of Behaviour.
- Promoting the Give Respect – Get Respect initiative at all levels within our Associations.
GAA Handball Wexford therefore requests that all clubs now make provisions to ensure the following is achieved:
ALL CLUBS must have a Children’s Officer in place and members must be aware of who this person is.
Parents/Guardians of all players u-18 must complete a Juvenile Player application form at the beginning of the new registration year and clubs must have a record of all such players.
All coaches of Juvenile players MUST complete a coach/mentor form and club secretaries MUST retain a copy of each coach/mentor (forms can be found in the appendix of ‘Our Games or Code)’
All coaches of Juvenile players and/or officers whom have direct contact with Juvenile Players MUST be Garda vetted.
Clubs MUST provide evidence that their coaches have completed both a Foundation Level Coaching course (minimum) and a GAA Child Safeguarding course.
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