LETTERKENNY TENNIS CLUB
Junior Safety Policy
Introduction:
Letterkenny Tennis Club wishes to allow Junior members appropriate access to the Club facilities, consistent with ensuring their safety and encouraging suitable behaviour. To this end we have developed this Safety Policy.
The over-riding principle behind this policy is that the parents of junior members accept that they have the MAIN responsibility for the BEHAVIOUR and SAFETY of their children whilst at the Club.
The Club has a responsibility to operate a reasonable framework of rules and procedures, which are likely to ensure the safety and good behaviour of junior members whilst at the Club.
The Committee has organised coaching sessions on Thursday evenings with the Club Coach Peter Fryer for 3 different age groups. Whilst these tennis sessions are supervised to provide a safe environment for juniors to play tennis, it is not possible to ensure that the older juniors do not leave the premises of their own accord. Parents of very young children are encouraged to stay and watch during these sessions.
Definitions
Junior members are Club members who have not yet reached their 18th birthday.
Promoted Juniors are junior members who by virtue of their behaviour and standard of tennis have been invited to participate in Adult Tennis sessions.
Safety Policy for Juniors
Club Policy is that parents must accept that they are responsible for the BEHAVIOUR AND SAFETY of their children whilst at the Club.
Parents are asked to take this responsibility very seriously, and to comply with the following recommendations.
1) Up to age 12, juniors should never be at the Club unless supervised by a parent or another adult appointed by a parent or a Club member or coach.
2) Up to age 14, juniors should never be at the Club after dusk, unless supervised by a parent, or another adult appointed by a parent or a Club member or coach.
3) Up to age 16 a single junior should never be at the Club on his/her own. This prohibits juniors using a ball machine alone.
5) Juniors under 16 will not be allowed a Clubhouse swipe card and must not borrow from anyone else. Therefore, unless an adult card holder is present, juniors will not have access to the Clubhouse facilities. Therefore when the last adult card holder leaves the Club, all juniors must leave the Clubhouse. This is for their own safety and parents are asked to plan accordingly.
6) Parents must signify acceptance of their responsibility and of this Safety Policy Document by signing the Junior Member Application Form.
Promoted Juniors
Juniors who are 13 years old or over can be promoted on the recommendation of the Coach and approved by the main committee. Promoted juniors may join in Adult social sessions and tournaments. Promoted juniors are NOT automatically entitled to attend men or ladies match practice sessions; this is a separate matter attendance dependant on the team captain’s approval.
Safety on Court
Safety on court is mainly a matter of common sense, but a few specific points below:
(a) Clear all loose balls from the court to avoid stepping on one when running, and then tripping over.
(b) Do not take any glass onto court which could be broken and cause injury.
(c) Do not deliberately hit a ball at another member, even in fun, as this is dangerous, particularly if a ball hits a member’s eye.
(d) During organised play on court when there are more than 4 players, take particular care to give the player hitting the ball plenty of space to swing the racket.
Junior Visitors
Please note that the above policy applies equally to any visitors which junior members may bring to the Club and such visitors should be made aware of this policy.
PLEASE SIGN ACCEPTANCE ON ANNUAL
SUBSCRIPTION FORM.
April 2008