Athlete Safety

GUIDELINES FOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES

 

Purpose

 

Davis Water Polo Club (the Organization) is committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of our program participants. The purpose of this policy is to describe requirements placed on those within the Organization who work with Minors – to promote the protection of Minors and to provide the best possible experience for any child in our program.

 

The behavior of all employees, directors, subcontractors, agents or volunteers of the Organization who may have contact with, interaction with, or responsibility for Minors is expected to align, at all times, with our guidelines related to working with Minors. These guidelines are intended to provide assistance in determining behavior that is and is not appropriate in situations involving Minors.

 

In general, Minors should not be left unsupervised. It is the responsibility of those who bring Minors to the Organization’s programs to ensure appropriate supervision.

 

Definitions

 

Minor – A minor is anyone under 18 years of age.

 

Child Abuse – Abuse of a Minor includes serious endangerment of a child’s physical or mental health due to injury by act or omission, including acts of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse includes contacts or interactions between a child and another person when the child is being used as an object of sexual gratification. A child is abused regardless of whether this activity involves explicit force, whether it involves physical contact, whether it is initiated by the child, and whether there is discernible harmful outcome.

 

Guidelines

 

Adults should be positive role models for Minors, and act in a caring, honest, respectful and responsible manner that is consistent with the mission and guiding principles of the Organization.

 

"If you see something, say something." Every member of the Organization has an obligation to report immediately instances or suspected instances of the abuse of or inappropriate interactions with Minors. This includes information about suspected Child Abuse, neglect, or inadequate care provided by any of the Organization’s employees, directors, subcontractors, agents or volunteers who may have contact with, interaction with, or responsibility for Minors.

 

General supervision – Program leadership should regularly visit all programs to ensure that all activities are well-managed and that guiding principles of the Organization are observed by all in attendance.

 

Staff to child ratios – The following ratios are directly related to the goals and design of the Organization’s programs:

 

Participant Age Number of Staff Number of Participants
10 years and younger 1 10
11 to 14 years 1 20
15 to 17 years 1 20

 

Overnight activities – Parents and not the Organization’s staff should supervise Minors during overnight activities (e.g., weekend tournaments). In general, Minors should not be left unsupervised. It is the responsibility of those who bring Minors to an overnight activity to ensure appropriate supervision.

 

Bathroom activities – Minor participants should ask permission before using the bathrooms, so that staff and volunteers know who is going to the restroom and when. Staff and volunteers should randomly and periodically monitor bathrooms to ensure that Minors are not lingering there. It is important that staff and volunteers periodically check restrooms so that Minors know that an adult could walk in at any time.

 

Transition times – Parents are expected to bring Minors no earlier than the start of practice and to pick up Minors no later than the end of practice. In general, Minors should not be left unsupervised. It is the responsibility of those who bring Minors to the Organization’s programs to ensure appropriate supervision.

 

Other – Additional information can be found at the following websites: