Safeguarding
As with all sports and physical activities, being involved with netball activity as a participant, coach, official or spectator, carries a degree of risk. The risks vary depending on the type of session, fixture, or event, where it is taking place and who is taking part.
All players, coaches, officials, facility operators and competition organisers have a shared duty to participate in environments that are as safe as practically possible for everyone involved. This duty is referred to, in the eyes of the law, as the ‘duty of care’.
Safeguarding Information
- Netball Clubs with any juniors need to have a safeguarding policy (we recommend the England Netball template for clubs to adopt) Safeguarding-Children-and-Young-People-In-Netball-Policy-Jan-2024-1.pdf
- Clubs with any junior members are required to have a Safeguarding Officer on your committee, this individual should have a volunteer DBS check with England Netball (£17.25 ). The fee is for the processing of the documents at the Post office meaning that you don’t have to send away any important documents, just take them to suitable post office to be verified ENGLAND-NETBALL-DBS-GUIDANCE-Sept-2024.pdf
- It is important that all members / parents of the juniors know who their safeguarding officer is.
- Your safeguarding officer should also attend a Sports Coach Uk Safeguarding Young People Course (virtual 3 hour course - £42.00) or Time to Listen Course to support them in the role and to be able to deal with any scenarios that may arise. (The Safeguarding and DBS checks need renewing every 3 years). WORKSHOP - UK Coaching
- You will find useful documents on the England Netball website to support Safeguarding Officers England Netball | Safeguarding Policies and Guidance
- All active Level 2 coaches who deliver sessions to any juniors should also have a DBS check ( if they are volunteering it’s £17.25 if they are self employed it is £55.24) and attend a Sports Coach UK Safeguarding Young People course, along with an in-date first aid course. These are all valid for 3 years, your coach should already have these as it will have been a requirement to be able to gain the qualification.
Research from Women in Sport shows that 64% of girls drop out of sport by the age of 16, while ASICS, in partnership with Inclusive Sportswear and Mind, found that up to 70% would be more likely to take part if they felt comfortable in their kit.*
With 3 million players annually, netball has the reach and responsibility to act. As a sport built by women, for women, it is working to remove the barriers that push girls out of the game.
England Netball Chief Executive Officer Fran Connolly said:
"We want netball to be somewhere that everyone can belong, flourish and soar and, as the sport continues to grow at all levels, there is no doubt that the question of kit is an important one. Mandating our inclusive kit guidance as policy is an important step in removing perceived barriers to participation and ensuring our sport is inclusive and open to all.
"Importantly, the policy does not ban the use of dresses, which remain a proud and recognisable part of our sport's history, but it does act to ensure that the dress is never the reason that someone feels they don't belong in the sport, removing kit policy as a potential barrier to participation in netball."
EN Members can read more about the policy in the E-News letter, or please head over to the NSW Website to view the full guidance and policy.
#netball #gameforlife #onandbeyondthecourt
With 3 million players annually, netball has the reach and responsibility to act. As a sport built by women, for women, it is working to remove the barriers that push girls out of the game.
England Netball Chief Executive Officer Fran Connolly said:
"We want netball to be somewhere that everyone can belong, flourish and soar and, as the sport continues to grow at all levels, there is no doubt that the question of kit is an important one. Mandating our inclusive kit guidance as policy is an important step in removing perceived barriers to participation and ensuring our sport is inclusive and open to all.
"Importantly, the policy does not ban the use of dresses, which remain a proud and recognisable part of our sport's history, but it does act to ensure that the dress is never the reason that someone feels they don't belong in the sport, removing kit policy as a potential barrier to participation in netball."
EN Members can read more about the policy in the E-News letter, or please head over to the NSW Website to view the full guidance and policy.
#netball #gameforlife #onandbeyondthecourt
Centenary Celebrations continue across the South West! 🥳
Huge thank you to Mireille from SDNA for sharing this brilliant event and some of the lovely words she shared on the day with us.
'Your dedication to the growth of netball for all ages has been instrumental in providing amazing opportunities for huge numbers of girls, boys and ladies across the county and Swindon. You were the trailblazers, drivers, setting up clubs, providing the coaching, umpiring and offering a service to your communities. You laid the foundations for others to take over the helms and continue to drive netball developments and the value of the work that you have all initiated as volunteers with a love and passion for netball cannot be truly measured. The impact that you have all had on so many athletes over so many years cannot be truly measured but is often realised in conversations and reflections that we have with one another
The impact and imprint you have all had over decades is a testament to the wonderful people that you all are. Years of selfless service to support and develop netballers of all levels and abilities and provide inclusive opportunities.'
Huge thank you to Mireille from SDNA for sharing this brilliant event and some of the lovely words she shared on the day with us.
'Your dedication to the growth of netball for all ages has been instrumental in providing amazing opportunities for huge numbers of girls, boys and ladies across the county and Swindon. You were the trailblazers, drivers, setting up clubs, providing the coaching, umpiring and offering a service to your communities. You laid the foundations for others to take over the helms and continue to drive netball developments and the value of the work that you have all initiated as volunteers with a love and passion for netball cannot be truly measured. The impact that you have all had on so many athletes over so many years cannot be truly measured but is often realised in conversations and reflections that we have with one another
The impact and imprint you have all had over decades is a testament to the wonderful people that you all are. Years of selfless service to support and develop netballers of all levels and abilities and provide inclusive opportunities.'
