Part of the Do's and don'ts – how to keep children and young people safe series.
Supervision is a key aspect of ensuring that children and young people’s safety is protected. Adults must be alert to and aware of risks and hazards and the potential for accidents and injury throughout training and competition, and not just in their immediate area.
Watch the supervision video
Do
- Ensure supervision is constant, active, and diligent, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. Where possible, ensure you are able to observe each child or young person.
- Know the location of each child or young person if direct supervision is not possible, and ensure you can respond to individual needs and immediately intervene if necessary.
- Ensure there are appropriate supervision ratios based on the sport, age and gender of the children and young people and the size of the group.
- Keep trainings, competitions or events open to observation by parents and carers – this creates an environment of transparency and safety.
- Ensure any treatment by a medical practitioner or health professional is performed under the supervision of an approved person or relevant person.
- Avoid one-to-one unsupervised contact with a child or young person, except in an emergency. If this occurs, immediately report it to your sporting club management within 24 hours of the incident occurring
Don’t
- Leave children or young people unsupervised during official sport trainings, competitions or events.
- Engage in unnecessary conversations with another adult that may distract from effective supervision of the group.
- Text, talk or browse on a mobile phone when supervising children and young people.
- Exclude parents and carers from attending training sessions.
