Administrators - What to do now

Administrators are integral to developing a welcoming and supportive culture in their club or sporting organisation. At a practical level this means being proactive and looking at ways of including people whose needs may differ from the mainstream.

If there are concerns about your club’s uniform requirements

• Keep an open mind.
• Explain any safety concerns you may have and, if necessary, contact your state sporting organisation for advice.
• Discuss if modifications can be made so that clothes worn during practice/matches are safe and complement the club’s uniform (e.g., the hijab is fastened with Velcro rather than pins or sharp objects and the headscarf or loose fitting clothing are in the team’s colours).

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If there are concerns about a player wearing a hijab during matches

• Discuss the club’s uniform policy if it has one and explain possible modifications that can be made to allow people to safely participate. This should be possible for most sports if the hijab is tied/fastened with Velcro and complements the team’s colours.
• Reinforce the club’s commitment to creating a supporting environment free from harassment and discrimination and refer to your Member Protection Policy (if you have one) or club policies.
• If necessary, stress that all club members are expected to treat each other with respect and accept racial, cultural and religious and differences.

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If there are concerns about males coaching female players

• Talk to the person about the reason for their concern. It may be that they are worried about physical contact or fear that the coach may enter the women’s change rooms.  If this is the case, the matter may be resolved by:
  • reassuring the family/young woman that this won’t occur and that the male coach will be sensitive to their needs
  • ensuring the coach understands the concerns and is clear about the parameters (e.g., not touching the young person when demonstrating a skill).
• Explain the situation to your coaches and ask if they can help find a solution.
• Explore the possibility of providing a female coach – this will need to be discussed with your coaches – or appointing a female team manager.

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If there is a request to observe religious days and/or special occasions

• Be aware that different religions have different practices that may be very important to the player or the player’s family.
• Talk with the person and/or their family in order to develop an understanding of how the particular ceremony, occasion or custom may impact upon their participation.
• Consider what practical steps can be taken to meet their needs:
  • Whilst it’s not reasonable to change match dates for one individual, it may be possible to change practise times/days.
  • Treat the request as you would any approach from a team member to alter the time.
• Try and accommodate a place for prayer if this is requested. Ask the person for their ideas on a suitable location.

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