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PROMOTING GOOD PRACTICE
All children have a right to be safe and to be treated with dignity and respect. False allegations of abuse are rare, however, the ETTA is committed to safeguarding children, coaches, volunteers, staff, officials and the sport. The ETTA's policy of good practice includes monitoring the following areas:
Coach/volunteer recruitment
Anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and it is important that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. It is essential that the same procedure be used consistently whether the person is paid or unpaid, voluntarily, part time or full time. When undertaking pre-selection checks the following should be included:
It is possible to reduce situations of possible abuse and to protect coaches and volunteers by promoting good practice. The following are examples of care that all coaches and volunteers should take when working in table tennis:
- Always be publicly open when working with children. Avoid all situations where a coach/volunteer/members and individual child are unobserved.
- If any form of physical contact is absolutely necessary, it should be used openly. Care is required - where possible always ask the child 'if they mind'. Some parents are becoming increasingly sensitive about this and their views should always be carefully considered. If possible avoid all physical contact.
- Where possible parents should take the responsibility for their children in the changing room. If groups have to be supervised in the changing rooms, always try and work in pairs. Encourage an open environment (i.e. no secrets).
- Where there are mixed teams away from home they should, ideally, be accompanied by both a make and female coach.
- Do not spend excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others.
- Do not take children alone on car journeys however short.
- Do not take children to your home where they will be alone with you.
NEVER
- Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games including horseplay.
- Share a room with a child.
- Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching.
- Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
- Make sexually suggestive comments to a child even in fun.
- Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded, or not acted upon.
- Do things of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves.
- Invite or allow children to stay with you at your home unsupervised.
It may sometimes be necessary for coaches or volunteers to do things of a personal nature for children, especially if they are young or have disabilities. These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of the parents and the children involved. There is a need to be responsive to a child's reactions - if a child is fully dependant on you, explain what you are doing and give choices where possible. This is particularly necessary if you are involved in dressing or undressing, or where there is physical contact whilst lifting or assisting a child to carry out particular activities.
If you accidentally hurt a child and they appear distressed in any way, appears to be sexually aroused by your actions or misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done, report any such incident as soon as possible to another club member and make a brief written note. Parents should be informed of the incident.
Appendix A: Myths and facts about abuse
Appendix B: Sample forms
Appendix C: Useful information
Appendix D: Protecting children from abuse leaflet
APPENDIX A - MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT ABUSE
Very often when a child or youth is sexually abused, concerned friends, family members and professionals tell those people affected by the abuse many things. It is not unusual for people to become confused about what to believe or not to believe. The following is a list of some of the more common myths and facts about child sexual abuse.
MYTH |
FACT |
| Children make up stories or lie about sexual abuse | hile children do make up stories they seldom lie about sexual abuse - children who have not been abused do not usually have explicit knowledge of intimate sexual behaviour. |
| Abuse is most often committed by strangers | Most abuse is committed by someone the victim knows and trusts |
| Offenders often look sleazy, cruel or unusual | Offenders come from all walks of life and look like ordinary people. They can be fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, babysitters, coaches, teachers etc. |
| The child is at fault for allowing the sexual abuse to happen | Adults are responsible for their own behaviour - a child is never responsible for behaviour displayed by an adult. |
| Children are sexually abused because their parents/carers neglected to care for, or supervise them properly | Offenders use a range of tactics to gain access to their victims and alone are responsible for what they do many are experts in manipulating both the victim and their parents/carers. |
APPENDIX C - USEFUL INFORMATION
Department of Health Consultancy Service
Room 133, Department of Health, Wellington House,
133-135 Waterloo Road, London DE1 8UG.
Sportscoach UK
114 Cardigan Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3BJ.
Tel: 0113 2744802
The NSPCC,
National Centre, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH.
Tel: 020 7825 2775 or e-mail: infounit@nspcc.org.uk
Home Office (disclosure of criminal records)
Home Office, F2 Division, Room 531, 50 Queen Anne's Gate,
London SW1H 9AT.
Education Department (for checking against List 99)
STPP, Department for Education and Employment, Mowden Hall,
Staindrop Road, Darlington, Co. Durham DL3 8BG.
English Table Tennis Association,
National Equity Officer, Queensbury House, Havelock Road,
Hastings, E.Sussex. TN34 1HF.
Tel: 01424 722525 or e-mail: admin@ettahq.freeserve.co.uk
Children in Sport Protection Unit,
3 Gilmour Close,
Beaumont leys,
Leicester LE4 1EZ
Tel: 0116 234 7278 or e-mail: cpsu@nspcc.org.uk
BOOKS AND ARTICLES
Crouch M (1995) - Protecting Children - a guide for Sportspeople
Boocock S (2002) - Journal of Sexual Aggression
Sportscoach UK - Code of Ethics and Conduct for Sports Coaches
WEB RESOURCES
www.sportprotects.org.uk
www.nspcc.org.uk
www.childline.org.uk