Hot Topics & Latest News

2011

Sports stars declare: ‘Sport is for everyone and everyone starts with you’

A new community service announcement video produced by Play by the Rules, which features some of Australia’s elite sportsmen and women, has been launched to promote messages around safe, fair and inclusive sport for all. To see the video go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It_aogZApvc

The video features messages from a range of stars across various sports, including: Liz Ellis (former captain of the Australian netball team and current sports media commentator), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith Panthers NRL and QLD State of Origin legend), David Pocock (member of the Australian Wallabies rugby union team), Kyah Simon (member of the Matildas Australian women’s soccer team), Preston Campbell (Gold Coast Titans NRL player and NRL Indigenous Ambassador), Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans AFL player) and Adam Ashley-Cooper (member of the Australian Wallabies rugby union team).

Play by the Rules Co-chair and new federal Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Helen Szoke, said: “As we gear up for the NRL/AFL finals, the Rugby World Cup and the Matildas playing for Olympic qualification, it is the perfect time for our sport stars to reinforce a clear message to everyone involved in sport, from the professional to grassroots level, that it should be fun, fair and inclusive”.

 

End of season partying: keep it fun and safe

Whether celebrating a win or commiserating a loss - when it comes to end-of-season partying, how do we ensure that things don’t get out-of-hand?

Poor, offensive or dangerous behaviour is unacceptable at any time of the year, but the risk of it occurring increases dramatically at season-end when passions are at their highest and partying is often on the agenda.  When a player or supporter’s enthusiasm for the game is also influenced by drugs or alcohol, the consequences can be very serious and all parties could be called into account for the actions of one team or club member.

So how do we get the balance right? How do we keep the celebrations fun, but still safe and legal?

Where does your club stand?

For starters, club administrators should examine their club’s position on alcohol and drugs and review how they affect the organisation’s culture.  You could start by asking the following questions:

·         Is your club’s approach to alcohol risking members’ safety and enjoyment of sport and social activities? 

·         Is it affecting the club’s reputation or compromising business and sponsorship opportunities? 

·         How does it affect junior members and their views about alcohol and drugs, now and in the future?

·         Is your club fostering a link between sport and alcohol (i.e. does it encourage a ‘drinking culture’?)

Following this, develop supporting strategies to position your club where it wants to be. These may include:

·         Organising alcohol-free social events for young people and families.

·         Establishing a peer mentoring and counselling program to encourage responsible alcohol use.

·         Discouraging end of season celebrations that could involve excessive consumption of alcohol or any drug use.

·         Participating in programs like Good Sports, which provide free resources, education and dedicated face-to-face support to sporting clubs that want to develop a positive and responsible approach to alcohol.

·         Forging links with local schools, health centres, community and support groups to conduct joint awareness and education programs, to enable your club to access additional support for club members affected by alcohol or drug issues.

It is important to know that clubs and associations may be held responsible for the behaviour of their staff and club members (this is called ‘vicarious liability’) unless:

·         it can be shown that reasonable steps were taken to prevent the behaviour from happening in the first place;

·         there are appropriate policies and procedures in place for dealing with the behaviour if it occurs.

Therefore, it is vital that relevant policy documents are in place and educated to members to support your club’s position and strategies. These may include:

·         alcohol and drug management policies that clearly outline your club’s position on alcohol and drug use

·         Code of behaviour and member protection policies which ensure that all members are aware of their responsibilities and the penalties associated with unacceptable behaviour.

Make sure all your members have access to the relevant policy documents and use social networking, the club website, newsletters, coaching sessions and team meetings to re-iterate important points as the finals approach.

 

Finals and fair selection

There are few things more likely to create drama in a sporting club than team selection - especially at finals time. So what can clubs and coaches do to make sure that those who are left on the bench are still on side?

Selecting a team for a sporting event is a big responsibility. It’s not always straight-forward and the added pressure of finals time makes the task even more challenging.

Even in the junior ranks team selection can be a serious issue, particularly if bench time could affect a player’s chances of representative selection. It can also be a big issue for clubs if players feel they ‘are forced’ to go elsewhere for their share of playing time.

Choosing junior teams involves balancing participation with skill development and the shift towards greater competition as children mature. For older, more experienced players, performance may be considered a greater factor when selecting a finals team.

Many problems with team selection arise because the club lacks a clear and consistent policy. The off-season is the perfect time to develop such a policy document, which outlines the various criteria for selection in a team.

The Play by the Rules website includes a toolkit with easy-to-use Team Selection Policy templates for open and junior grades. There is also practical advice about team selection, plus information about discrimination law and how it applies to the issue of team selection.

 

Play by the Rules/SportingPulse competition winner

We had a great response to the Play by the Rules/SportingPulse competition which was run over July. There were some fantastic stories, photos and video entries, but the one entry which really went to the heart of showing how sport is ‘fair and fun for everyone’ was from Georgia Harris from NSW.

As competition winner, Georgia will be off on a personal tour of the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in October. Thanks to everyone who entered – Georgia’s full story and a range of the best stories and photo entries are also featured below.

Winner: Georgia Harris

My name is Georgia, and this is a photo of me and my soccer team in the U/6's in 2001, which makes me 16 at the end of the year. I started playing football when I was five and want to play for the rest of my life, and someday let my dream come true which is to play for the Matilda's!

Firstly, I definitely miss the half-time oranges in junior soccer. This is probably a bad example of being fair, as the majority of us would race over to the oranges at half-time to get in quick before they all went. But to be fair, every player in the team had to have a turn of bringing in the oranges.

I think the best thing about it was that there were no subs! All of us were on at once. When we were buggered, we just ran off the field, and when we fell over or got hurt, mum or dad would always be there right next to us to give us a hand up. That was usually because dad was the coach or mum helped out being the ref.

The beauty of the game was that it didn't matter where we ran on the field, we just kept on running. There was only one ball, and by the end of the game, the ball really should have been dead. Wherever the ball went...so did we, like a swarm of bees.

We didn't have to worry about winning or losing because back then we didn't really know the difference. And the reason we didn't know the difference...was because we were always having fun. And that's why today, 10 years later, the scoreline still doesn't matter to me. As long as I'm out on the pitch and having fun, it’s all that really matters.

Highly commended: Sally Donnelly (Tasmania)

Kingborough Tigers Junior Football Club held their first ‘Under Lights’ event on 24 June 2011 at our home ground Kingston Beach Oval. It was a fantastic night with the emphasis being on bringing boys and parents from all age groups together to support each other. The curtain-raiser for the evening’s matches was the Under 8 Black vs Gold game. Twenty seven very excited boys ran out onto the ground through giant yellow and black banners made especially for the game by parents. They provided the large crowd with some great entertainment, teamwork and ever-improving football skills. The coaches were very proud of their boys.

The photo shows both teams together singing the club song after the game. Following their match, the Under 8's headed to the change-rooms to take the Under 13’s through their warm-up drills in preparation for the main event of the night - the Under 13 Black vs Gold clash.

Dean Callaghan (Northern Territory)

My name is Dean, and my family and I are AFL umpires. On weekends I umpire matches in the Northern Territory communities. Umpiring is a sport for everyone, man or woman, young or old. Keeping the match fair and under control is our main priority. Being an umpire can also take you places, and for some people, it's their full-time job. It's good to get out and have a bit of fun, keeping fit and getting paid for it.

 

Players behaving badly

Some days the news seems full of headlines about sports stars behaving badly. Some criticise the players, others say we expect too much of our sporting idols, while some claim that clubs should have better policies and tougher penalties in place.

But we all know that poor behaviour is not restricted to elite athletes and, from time-to-time, players at all levels do or say things they may regret. So how do we encourage and teach players to behave appropriately? And what sort of policies should clubs have in place to manage and penalise those who cross the line?

How do we encourage good behaviour?

There is a lot we can all do to encourage a culture of respect and positive behaviour among players at club level. Following are some simple suggestions:

Develop an effective club policy: Obviously clubs can’t produce a policy to cater for every possible situation. Rather, guidelines should be developed to outline the minimum standards of behaviour for all participants.

Play by the Rules has developed a Code of Behaviour template that has been used by many clubs throughout Australia. It is short, easy-to-use and broadly caters for all the examples listed above and more. Simply insert your club logo or use it as the basis to develop your own policy document.  Also check with your sport’s governing body, your relevant state or territory sport department or the Australian Sports Commission for some more useful templates.

Go one step further: Develop policies that deal specifically with issues often directly related to bad behaviour in players (e.g. an Alcohol Policy or a policy on drugs). Identify the types of behaviour that are most likely to occur and create a list of penalties to match. That way everyone knows the rules and what the consequences are if they are breached.

Make your policy live: Policies means nothing though if they are not promoted, implemented and enforced. Get all players to read and sign the document each new season. Make sure coaches and officials also read and understand it, and highlight parts of the code in newsletters and online.

Find role models or mentors: Young players tend to idolise elite sportspeople, but it’s the older athletes and coaches within the club structure that can offer a more direct and powerful positive influence, particularly to those that may get into trouble from time-to-time.

By implementing these policies and following some clear processes, hopefully we will only see our players in the papers and on the TV for all the right reasons.

 

Interactive scenarios on key issues in sport

Play by the Rules has produced a range of short interactive scenarios on topical challenges in sport, aimed at raising awareness and providing information to assist sports to respond positively to issues.

The scenarios include:

• Disability inclusion    
• Girls playing in boys teams
• Homophobia and sexuality discrimination
• Over Training or Suspicion of Harm
• Pregnancy and participation
• Religious inclusion
• Restricted access (sex discrimination)
• Sexual harassment
• Team selection (junior sport)
• Verbally abusive coach

Each scenario provides a range of hypothetical scenes which include: several options for you to choose at each stage on what action to take; advice on the correct action, and; resources to follow up to gain further information. The information is particularly relevant for administrators and coaches, although it would be useful to anyone involved in sport.

 

Beware of the dangers: photographing children at sporting events

New technologies have transformed the way we communicate, but also present a genuine threat to the privacy, safety and security of our children.

Let us be clear, it is not illegal to take photographs of other people’s children at a club, school or other public events. However, it is illegal to take indecent photos of any children or young people under the age of 18, including your own, or to involve a child in any material which exploits them.

The DO’s and DON’Ts of photographing children

DO ask permission from the child and their parents/carers before taking any photographs. Also make sure you gain permission from the club, as there may be strict procedures to follow in line with club policy.

DO make sure everyone knows how the photo will be used, for how long and where.

DO use appropriate images of children, relevant to the sport or activity.

When publishing information online DON’T use the child’s full name. If you must use a name at all, make it either the first OR the surname.

DON’T publish any other information about the child with the image (e.g. residential address, email address, telephone numbers etc.). Even personal information like hobbies, likes and dislikes can potentially be used to ‘groom’ a child.

DON’T photograph children in any position that may be considered compromising. Images of children participating in sports where clothing is minimal (e.g. swimming) potentially could be misused.

How many of us still have a stash of childhood photos featuring winner’s grins and shiny trophies? Like us, our children want to have a visual record of their proudest sporting achievements. Let’s just make sure that the policies and procedures are in place so they can enjoy and reflect on their memories without any threat of abuse.

The Play by the Rules Club Toolkit includes a Member Protection Policy that has a section about taking images of children. Use it as a template to develop your club’s policy or to create a more specific Child Protection Policy or Policy for the Photographing of Children.

 

Online policy templates – free, easy and saves you time

Need to update some old club policies?  Not sure if your club has all the policy and guideline documents it needs? 

Play by the Rules can help. Our Club Toolkit includes 10 templates for some of the most important club policy and guideline documents, these include: Code of Behaviour, Member Protection policy, Guidelines for Working with Children and a Spectator policy, to name a few. Just add your club logo and you’re set. It couldn’t be easier.

You can also help us to improve the Play by the Rules Club Toolkit:

·        Do you have any ideas for templates that could be added to the Toolkit?

·        Has your club developed a new innovative document (like a social media policy) that could be useful to share with other clubs? 

·        Has your club used one or more of our templates? If so, which ones have been the most useful?

We'd love to hear from you - just send us an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Together we can keep sport safe, fair and fun.

 

When interests collide at your club

Mum and dad volunteers are the backbone of grassroots sport in Australia. They lead our sporting clubs and are usually heavily involved in other areas of the community. As a result, the potential for conflicts of interest are common in the club setting and are sometimes impossible to avoid. 

For example: parents coach their daughter’s team and then attend evening committee meetings; referees can be local business owners; an official might be a club sponsor; or the Club President could also be the Town Mayor. Each of these people is in a position where potential conflicts of interest may arise. So, how can clubs manage these possible conflicts without preventing their volunteers from participating in official functions? To read the full article go to the Play by the Rules GameDay Advice page.

 

Victorian hockey clubs promote sexual and gender diversity

Four pilot hockey clubs in Victoria are focused on developing initiatives and resources to engage and educate hockey members, coaches, officials, players and spectators about sexual and gender diversity as part of the Fair go, sport! project.

The project is a joint initiative with Hockey Victoria, Hockey Australia and the Australian Sports Commission and managed by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Fair go, sport! aims to provide a model for tackling discrimination that can be transferred to other sporting codes. For more information visit: www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/fairgosport.

 

Racist abuse isn't part of the game

I have a confession to make – I love sport… and… I loathe it. You see sport is a chamaeleon. It is the beauty and the beast. It is both virtuous and ugly. And it has a way of bringing out the best and worst in everyone that is involved with it.

On the one hand sport offers an opportunity for different people and community groups to come together and interact on a social level. It breaks down barriers in a unique way that other areas of society simply cannot, by encouraging participation, social inclusion and community harmony. Instead of viewing 'others' based on their race, colour, ethnicity, gender or their religion, they are judged on their effort, courage, tactics and their teamwork. That's where the love comes in.

On the other hand, due to its competitive and combatitive nature, sport is not immune from acts of discrimination, harassment and abuse; rather it often provides an environment which can lend itself to this type of conduct - which is not only inappropriate, but also unlawful.

To read the rest of this opinion piece by Play by the Rules National Manager Paul Oliver, which was published on ABC's The Drum opinion page, go to: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2749880.html

 

Coaching kids - make it fun, safe and fair

Junior sport should be all about fun, but it also offers a host of other opportunities for children to gain social skills, build self esteem, learn about fair play, meet people from different social and cultural backgrounds, and develop physical skills.

Young athletes – from early childhood through to late adolescence – are constantly developing and changing, which means coaches need to also be adaptable and do more than simply deliver scaled-down versions of adult programs.

Junior sporting coaches should be aware of the different capabilities of each child and match training to their needs.  Following are some tips to guide you when coaching children:

·        Children need lots of opportunities for unstructured play, so plan a variety of activities to keep them engaged and give them plenty of time to learn new skills.

·        Cater for varying skill levels.

·        Focus on developing broad physical skills like balance, agility and coordination. Incorporate some sport-specific activities but only if they’re fun and they maximise participation.

·        Introduce new skills and ideas one at a time, keep instructions simple and don’t talk too much!  Children are much better doers than listeners.

·        Be supportive, praise them for the things they do well and give all children your time and attention, not just the most talented ones.

·        Encourage fair play, teamwork and cooperation. 

·        Be a role model.

You can find more tips on coaching children on the Australian Sports Commission website.

Coaches of young athletes also need to ensure that every child or young person who takes part in sport is able to participate in a fun and safe environment, and be protected from neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. To help ensure this happens, coaches should:

·        maintain appropriate boundaries

·        maintain control and avoid losing your temper

·        avoid transporting athletes and made sure parents are clear about collecting their children

·        plan for overnight and away trips

·        ensure qualified people attend to injuries

·        support participants with a disability

·        have clear guidelines for photographing children.

 

MEDIA RELEASE: Coaches should know the rules and abide by them (26 May 2011)

Coaches, parents and spectators should be aware that it is against the rules to run onto a sporting field during a game without the referee’s permission and that any foul play should be reported to officials for action, Play by the RulesNational Manager Paul Oliver said today.

“Recent reports in the media of ex-Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos running onto the field at a junior football match last weekend to assist with an injured player and then confronting an opposition player and runner about the incident does not send a good message to junior coaches,” said Mr Oliver.

“Incidences such as this demonstrate the need for all coaches to be aware of what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour on the sporting field and to abide by relevant codes of conduct.

“It is understandable that coaches may get emotional if they see one of their players get injured in an on-field incident; however the correct course of action is to let a qualified first aid person attend to the player. While if you see or suspect foul play, you should make a formal complaint to the referee or umpire at half-time or after the game and let them take the appropriate actions.

“Whether it is coaches, parents or spectators, charging onto the playing arena without the referee’s permission is not allowed and can only create further issues and heighten tensions.

“Inappropriate behaviour by coaches or parents can result in a range of negative outcomes, such as: children withdrawing from sport; reduced membership; and fewer people willing to volunteer for coaching, refereeing and official positions,” Mr Oliver said.

2011 Volunteer Grants Program

The federal Government’s 2011 Volunteer Grants Program has commenced. The program provides funding of $1,000-$5,000 to not-for-profit organisations to assist volunteers in a range of ways. For further information see: www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/volunteers/funding/Pages/volunteer_grants2011.aspx

PBTR workshop in Victoria

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission will be holding a half-day workshop on 30 June 2011 to help sporting organisations, clubs and schools recognise, prevent and deal with discrimination and harassment in sport and create and grow safe and inclusive clubs. The workshop will also introduce Play by the Rules. For information phone (03) 9032 3415 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

New Working with Children factsheet

The WA Working with Children Screening Unit in partnership with the WA Department of Sport and Recreation and the WA Sports Federation has updated the factsheet ‘Information for the Sport and Recreation Sector’. To download a copy of the factsheet, go to: www.wasportsfed.asn.au/downloads/WWC_Factsheet_11.pdf

WA EOC poll results show clubs are good sports

Results from a recent online poll conducted by WA’s Equal Opportunity Commission indicate that most participants think that their sporting club does not have a culture of sex discrimination, racism or harassment.There was one area of concern however, with 63 per cent of participants saying they did not know or were unsure about their club’s complaint process. This indicates the need for clubs to have a clear complaints process which is regularly promoted to club members.

Tasmania reaffirms the need to stamp racism out of sport

In the past month Tasmanian sport has attracted attention for the wrong reasons, with several media reports highlighting alleged racial abuse occurring at football matches. The Tasmanian Minister for Sport and Recreation, Michelle O’Byrne, and the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks, both expressed their concern and reaffirmed the need to take action to eliminate racially motivated abuse and promote welcoming and inclusive sport.

Ms O’Byrne encouraged Tasmania’s sports industry to work with Sport and Recreation Tasmania to stamp out racism and highlighted the role of their key partner (Play by the Rules), which has been rolled out to a number of Tasmanian sports and their clubs. See the Minister’s media release at: www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=32352

If it’s not positive, it’s pointless

Sport and recreation clubs in Queensland that sign up to the 2011 Positive or it’s Pointless campaign could be eligible for grants of up to $2000 (depending on the number of club members) to purchase equipment. The campaign promotes the principles of integrity, respect and fun, and encourages players and spectators to be good sports and foster an environment which is free from harassment and discrimination.

The campaign will be backed by four high-profile ambassadors: Wallabies player Will Genia; Brisbane Roar player Shane Stefanutto; Brisbane Lion’s mid-fielder Luke Power, and; Australian rugby league player Cameron Smith. For more information see: www.sportrec.qld.gov.au

Chance to win an iPod Shuffle by completing the survey

The NSW Commission for Children and Young People is conducting a survey on communicating with kids. By completing the survey you will go into the draw to win one of 10 iPod Shuffles. For more information and to see the YouTube promotional video go to: http://kids.nsw.gov.au/kids/kidzone/haveyoursay.cfm?itemID=259723D3E88962FBB2E15F40BF52858D#ixzz1O5F53J00

Bullying: no room for spectators

Sport is an emotional, competitive arena which is not immune from acts of bullying; in fact it often provides an environment which can lend itself to this type of behaviour.

As members of the community and as coaches, officials, parents, spectators and club administrators, we have a moral, and sometimes even a legal, responsibility to be more than just spectators.

What to do about it

·        Always take bullying matters seriously. Listen and discuss the options for dealing with the situation.

·        Determine a course of action and keep accurate and up-to-date documentation.

·        Talk to the young person’s parents and/or carers and consider enlisting the help of his or her school. The bullying may also be occurring there and schools often have very effective anti-bullying programs.

·        Follow your sports Member Protection Policy. It should detail a course of action and any disciplinary procedures against bullies.

·        Some forms of bullying constitute assault, harassment or discrimination and may be illegal - seek the advice of your state and national bodies or Play by the Rules. If the bullying involves threats of violence, abuse or blackmail, you may need to report the incident to the police.

Strategies to prevent bullying

·        Promote that your club will not allow or tolerate bullying.

·        Develop a Member Protection Policy that addresses bullying behaviours.

·        Form effective partnerships with parents and the wider community to implement and maintain anti-bullying initiatives and perhaps set up an anti-bullying committee.

·        Foster diversity and inclusion in your club and in the community, and encourage members to celebrate differences in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability and economic status.

·        Check out the following resources: Play by the Rules: Got an Issue? Bullying; Australian Sports Commission factsheet on Bullying; Bullying. No Way! website.

Take a proactive approach to bullying and your club will be a safe, secure and fun place for everyone.

When is training a health hazard

The health and well-being of every athlete can be adversely affected by too much training or by over-competing - causing physical injury, illness, burn-out and even depression.

So how much is too much? How far should a coach go to ‘bring out the best’ in an athlete and what should clubs do to protect children and young athletes from harm?

Coaches play a vital role in managing risk and should not use their position of power to force athletes to do something that may cause them harm.  As a club administrator, there are several key things you can do to help ensure the time each athlete spends with their coach is a positive experience, including:

·        Encourage all coaches to become accredited through the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS), which offers coaching education at various levels.

·        Facilitate opportunities for coaches to receive ongoing training so they can keep up-to-date with the latest coaching practices, and the principles of growth and development of young people.

·        Understand the different kinds of abuse that children and young people may experience, and ensure all coaches know what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour.

·        Evaluate coaching programs to ensure that styles and methods are appropriate for the age, maturity and skill level of the athletes.

Administrators should also take the time to review club policies and develop new strategies, including:

·        Develop a Member Protection Policy that addresses child protection issues, and clearly outlines the club’s expectations of its members and the procedure for dealing with complaints.

·        Implement detailed Junior Sport Codes of Behaviour.

·        Put strategies in place to create a child safe environment where young people feel safe and secure.

·        Know and implement your state or territory’s requirements regarding working with children. Some states have compulsory screening, others require a police check.

·        Take a look at the Play by the Rules interactive scenario dealing with ‘over-training’ or ‘suspicion of harm’.

In some states the reporting of suspected child abuse is mandatory. However, anyone who suspects, on reasonable grounds, that a child or young person is at risk of being neglected or abused, should contact their state or territory child protection agency.

New standards to improve access for people with disability

New Disability Standards for Access to Premises, which came into effect from 1 May 2011, will for the first time set minimum access requirements for people with a disability to publicly accessible buildings and significantly improve existing standards.

The standards are aimed at giving all Australians, particularly people with disability, better access to a wider range of public places, allowing people to participate more fully in public life. They will apply to any new public buildings or existing building upgrades when an application for building approval is made after 1 May 2011.

For information on how this affects sport and recreation clubs and facilities see a copy of the standards or go to FAQs at: www.ag.gov.au/premisesstandards. For further information see a free webcast of a seminar on Premises Standards at: www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/buildings/webcast.html or go to the Australian Building Codes Board website at: www.abcb.gov.au/

Deaf Sports Australia launches into cyberspace

Deaf Sports Australia has recently launched into cyberspace with an updated website, which includes a new online national participation database and an Auslan sign language video section.

Deaf Sports Australia hopes to build a more accurate picture of the size of the deaf sports community in the country through the introduction of the new database, which will capture more information about deaf and hard of hearing people participating in sport. See the new website at: www.deafsports.org.au

Increased community harmony through cricket

Cricket Victoria, through the support and funding of VicHealth, has developed a Harmony in Cricket Program to encourage people of all cultural backgrounds, abilities, gender and age to get involved and play cricket.

As part of the program, they have developed a video which features children from Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Gippsland playing cricket together – and having fun, getting fit and creating new bonds and understanding along the way. See the video at: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Publications/Video-Gallery/PICSAR-Harmony-through-Cricket.aspx

The program has contributed to a 39 per cent increase in the number of people playing cricket for the first time in Victoria, including a five per cent increase in grassroots club cricket participants.

VicHealth funds more than 60 organisations across Victoria under the Participation in Community Sport and Active Recreation (PICSAR) Program.

2011-12 Multicultural Youth Sports Partnership Program grants

Last month, the Minister for Sport, Mark Arbib, and Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship, Kate Lundy, announced the Multicultural Youth Sports Partnership Program. The program aims to create opportunities for young people from ethnically diverse backgrounds to engage with sport and forms a key part of Australia’s multicultural policy.

Part of the program is a special scheme, which offers grants between $5,000 and $50,000 per year to local community organisations to encourage young people from ethnically diverse backgrounds to engage with sport. The grants could be used to off-set costs such as membership fees, travel to sporting events, uniforms and coaching and officials’ costs. Applications for the grants close on 27 May 2011 and successful applicants will be notified in July. Click here for more information.

Let’s get serious!

Are your committee and board prepared if the unthinkable happens?

In most situations where a complaint is made in a sporting environment, the matter can be effectively managed and resolved within the club. However, there are situations when someone outside the club may need to be enlisted to help or when a serious matter needs to be referred to an external agency or the police. It’s important that administrators are able to identify serious issues when they occur and know when to make an appropriate referral.

Disagreements about rules, team selections, unfair treatment or complaints about committee decisions, are relatively speaking ‘minor issues’, and should all be dealt with internally. The club should have a Member Protection Policy and/or a Code of Behaviour in place that clearly outlines members’ rights and the process for dealing with such complaints. If your club doesn’t have any policies in place, your sport’s state or national governing body should be able to provide these and will be able to guide you through the process.

However, complaints regarding discrimination, harassment and victimisation could be serious enough to be referred to external agencies such as the Australian Human Rights Commission or a state/territory anti-discrimination agency.

In respect to abuse, anyone who has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a child or young person is being neglected, abused or needs protection should report it to the police or child protection authorities immediately.

To read the full article go to: http://sport.gameday.com.au/index.php?id=127 

New 'Swap It, Don't Stop It' campaign

The Australian Government recently launched the ‘Swap It, Don’t Stop It’ campaign to urge all Australians to make some simple lifestyle changes to become healthier.

For instance, sensible sporting participant and supporter swaps may include:

• swapping pies and chips with fresh sandwiches and salads
• swapping soft drinks for plain water
• swapping watching replays on TV for real life plays in the park
• swapping half-time sugary snacks for energy boosting fresh fruit.

A range of 'Swap It' resources to help people learn how to become a 'swapper' are available at: http://swapit.gov.au

What’s sex got to do with it?

Incidents of harassment and violence against women are generally under-reported and sport is a particularly vulnerable area due, in part, to its often physical and combative nature and the emotionally-charged relationships forged between players, their coaches and trainers. The consequences of any form of abuse can have disastrous and long-lasting consequences for those involved, especially for the victim. 

Sex discrimination is defined as treating someone unfairly because of his or her gender or because a woman is pregnant, may be pregnant or breastfeeding. If an act is considered unlawful, the club may be held liable if it has failed to take steps to prevent the incident occurring (known as ‘vicarious liability’).

Examples of sex discrimination may include:

·         A female coach is dismissed because the club wants the position to be filled by a man.

·         Female members are denied access to sporting facilities outside certain times.

Sexual harassment can take many forms: some are lawful, some are not. However, all types of harassment are unwelcome, unsolicited, not reciprocated and are likely to cause offense, intimidation or humiliation.

Examples of sexual harassment may include:

·         A spectator makes offensive gestures towards a referee.

·         A coach makes repeated sexual advances toward a player even though such advances have been previously rejected

·         A member sends obscene messages (e.g. via SMS, online or in writing).

To find out what you can you do to create a safe, secure and welcoming environment for women and girls go to: http://sport.gameday.com.au/index.php?id=127

Sporting legends promote safe, fair and inclusive sport

With the start of the winter sporting season now underway, it's worth reflecting on the fact that by the time the season comes to an end there will be many cases of clubs being kicked out of competitions, racist taunts, bullying, parents yelling verbal abuse at kids, fights, sexist behaviour, homophobic comments – the list goes on.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Sport can be such a vibrant and fun part of life – and something that the majority of participants and spectators enjoy in a responsible manner.

To help spread the message to keep sport safe, fair and inclusive, three of Australia’s elite sportspeople – rugby league great Petero Civoniceva, Australian Rules dual Brownlow Medal winner Adam Goodes, and international cricket legend Adam Gilchrist – have each recorded a radio Community Service Announcement for Play By The Rules which has been distributed to radio stations nationally to be played over the next month.

The Executive Director of Sport and Recreation in the Northern Territory and Co-chair of Play by the Rules, Steve Rossingh, welcomed the community service announcements. “These sportspeople are role models across some of the major sporting codes. Their messages of equality, inclusiveness and non-discrimination in sport will resonate with kids and adults alike across the sporting fields and recreation clubs around Australia.”

Commissioner at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and other Co-chair of Play by the Rules, Dr Helen Szoke, said: “It’s very important that we get messages like this out to coaches, officials, spectators, parents and players so they fully understand their responsibilities in giving everyone a fair go in sport.”

Administrators: responsibilities and rights

Your club’s AGM is over and you’ve just joined the committee. What now? Where do you start? What are your responsibilities as a club administrator and what are your rights?

Firstly, congratulations and thank you! People who volunteer their time as club administrators are the backbone of community sport in Australia. The job can be daunting to start with, but the experience can be very rewarding. You may even learn some new skills and discover hidden talents.

All members of your club, as well as those who have a non-member role (such as spectators, visiting teams, and some administrators) have personal rights that should be respected and upheld. These include the right to be free from abuse, discrimination or harassment, and to be treated with dignity and respect.

Club administrators also have responsibilities - the number one being: to create and maintain a positive, safe and healthy club environment.

It is also your responsibility to choose the right people to be involved with your club and ensure that coaches and other personnel meet child protection requirements (such as screening and working with children checks).

As a club administrator, you have the responsibility to develop and implement policies to protect these rights. To help achieve this, there are two key resources which all sporting clubs should develop and make available to their members.

Member Protection Policy

This is an important document which should include policies and practices that protect members (athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and volunteers) from harassment and abuse, as well as procedures for effectively dealing with issues and complaints.

Before developing a Member Protection Policy, check with your state, territory or national governing body as they may have specific policies your club is required to comply with. They may even have a document you can use as a starting point or you can download the easy-to-use Play by the Rules Member Protection Policy template.

Guidelines for working with children

All clubs should provide guidelines for working with children to help ensure the safety and security of child participants. The document also serves to protect coaches and other personnel from risk in their dealings with children. 

A good policy should outline the procedures to follow when dealing with complaints or more serious issues. You could start by taking a look at the Play by the Rules Working with Children Guidelines template.

Education and communication is the key

Sadly, many important policies and documents sit on shelves gathering dust or exist only on one person’s hard drive. Your responsibility to protect members does not stop with the successful development of an excellent policy. Use it, read it, promote it, and make it available for others to consult. Good communication and education is the key to a successful policy, you could:

·        - post policy documents on the club’s website or social networking page and invite discussion

·        - give copies to coaches and officials to read

·        - hold a workshop to discuss the key elements

·        - print summaries of the key points in the club’s newsletter.

The Play by the Rules website is packed with useful information for administrators:  templates, guidelines, interactive scenarios and links to additional resources, as well as a Club Toolkit, which includes 10 important templates specifically designed for sporting clubs. With this support and guidance you and your club are sure to succeed!

Cash 4 Clubs scheme to provide boost for clubs

Betfair has just launched a sports funding scheme, Cash 4 Clubs, which gives sports clubs the opportunity to apply for cash grants.

Any club registered with their sport's National Governing Body or local authority can apply for a grant under the scheme.

The money can be utilised to improve facilities, purchase new equipment, gain coaching qualifications or invest generally in the sustainability of your club.

The AFL's Community Facility Development Manager, Ken Gannon, Wests Tigers 2005 premiership winning forward, John Skandalis, and former Australian Test Cricket Captain, Greg Chappell, have been enlisted to judge the most worthy applications.

Clubs can apply for a Cash 4 Clubs grant of up to $1000 (three times per year), by filling out the Betfair online application form.

2011/12 Sports Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women

The Australian Sports Commission in partnership with the Australian Government’s Office for Women is once again running the Sport Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women program.

The grants provide development opportunities and training for women who are established in a paid or volunteer capacity in community sport and are available to coaches, officials and administrators. Successful applicants will receive a one-off sport leadership grant of up to $5000 for individuals and up to $10,000 for organisations.

The scholarships are aimed at women who are already established in sport to assist them in attaining prominent leadership roles within sporting organisations. The scholarships follow a pathway plan over three years, which develops and mentors the recipients. Successful applicants will receive up to $10,000 per annum for three years.

For further information got to: www.ausport.gov.au/participating/women/get_involved/grants_and_scholarships

Tassie grants for sport and recreation

In 2010-11, Sport and Recreation Tasmania will distribute around $4.6 million to state, regional and local organisations through six grant programs which aim to improve opportunities for Tasmanians to participate in sport and active recreation.

Under the Minor Grants Program, grants of between $500 and $10,000 are made to clubs, associations, local government and other not-for-profit providers of sport and active recreation. Eligible projects must benefit sport and active recreation clubs and may include basic equipment purchases, simple facility developments or upgrades, planning and research studies, participation projects and other development programs.

Guidelines and application forms can be downloaded at: www.development.tas.gov.au/sportrec/information_ for_organisations/grant_programs

New Working with Children laws in Northern Territory

From 1 July 2011, anyone employed or volunteering in ‘child-related’ work in the Northern Territory will be required by law to hold an Ochre Card, which is photo ID proof they have passed the Working with Children Clearance screening process and received a Clearance Notice.

This includes personnel at sport and recreation clubs, associations or movements with significant child membership or involvement.

The Clearance Notices have been introduced as one way to prevent and deter people who pose a risk to the safety of children from working with them, in either paid or volunteer work.

The change is part of a comprehensive range of measures introduced under the Care and Protection of Children Act to ensure that children in the Northern Territory are safe and well cared for.

Everything you need to know is contained in a Working with Children Clearance booklet available at: www.workingwithchildren.nt.gov.au/booklet.html

Report highlights issues around ethics and integrity in grassroots sport

A research report commissioned by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has identified important issues around ethics and integrity within grassroots sport in Australia.

The Ethics in Sport report, which was released late last year, outlines the comprehensive findings of a web survey of over 3700 players, coaches, officials and administrators at local, state and national levels.

Survey respondents were predominantly from grassroots community sport and were surveyed on issues including abuse and violence, inequity and harassment, and anti-social behaviours and attitudes.

The report from the project, which was conducted in April 2010, has identified verbal abuse, excessive pressure placed on athletes by coaches and parents and going beyond the spirit of the game, as the most notable issues currently facing local and community sporting clubs.

The findings of the survey will guide the development of a National Integrity in Sport Strategy, which will be led by the ASC in consultation with sporting organisations. The strategy will seek to ensure athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators participate in a responsible and safe manner. See the Ethics in sport report.

Complaints – a problem or an opportunity

From time to time, all sporting clubs must deal with complaints and issues of all types.

Dealing with these complaints, even small ones, can be quite stressful, so it may help to think of the positives that can come from the process.

It may sound like a cliché, but once a complaint has been made, an opportunity arises not just to fix the problem, but to improve the club for the benefit of all members.

If you or your club has received a complaint or become aware of an issue that worries you and you’re not sure what the next step is, try looking at the Complaint Handling Tool for Clubs on the Play by the Rules website. It’s a really informative, interactive tool that will guide you through the process, offer recommendations and provide additional resources.

Play by the Rules has also developed a comprehensive easy-to-use Member Protection Policy template. Simply add your club’s logo or use it as the basis to develop your own document or ask your sport’s governing body for a copy of its Member Protection Policy to utilise.

See this article and others on SportingPulse’s GameDay Advice page.

Marching to promote sexual and gender diversity in sport

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) and Hockey Victoria marched together in February in the 2011 Pride March, to promote sexual and gender diversity in sport.

VEOHRC Commissioner Dr Helen Szoke said the Commission was pleased to march with Hockey Victoria, who are partners in a 12-month program titled Fair go, sport!.

“Fair go, sport! aims to increase awareness of sexual and gender diversity in hockey and promote hockey clubs as safe, inclusive, respectful environments for all people – including gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, intersex and queer (GLBTIQ) people,” Dr Szoke said.

Click here for further information about the project or to get involved.

Back to school means back to sport

With the school bells ringing again and children back in the classroom following the summer break, it also signals back to school sport, and for many, after school sport.

The federal Government recently announced that up to 190,000 children in 3,162 schools and after-school care centres will be provided with free access to sport as part of the 2011 Active After-School Communities program.

 

The program, which provides primary school-age children with access to free sport and other structured physical activity programs after school, aims to help children to develop a love of sport that motivates them to join a local sporting club.

 

Schools and after-school care centres will receive $43.5 million in funding from the Government to assist in delivering the program and purchasing sporting equipment for 2011. Local sporting clubs in remote and regional areas will also have access to the funding to assist in the delivery of the program in remote and regional areas.

 

The Government also announced that Playing for Life kits (designed to engage traditionally non-active children in physical activities and to develop links between local community organisations and sporting and recreation clubs) and staff training would be provided to 2,200 Outside School Hours Care services.

 

See further information on the Active After-School Communities Program program. 

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Community participation in sport gets a big boost

Late last year, the federal Government announced funding of $11 million for national sporting organisations to boost sports participation in Australia.

The funding allocations went to 29 national sporting bodies and range from $50,000 to $750,000 per year. It is hoped that the funding will enable sporting bodies to introduce a range of new community programs and grassroots sporting initiatives, thereby boosting their participation rates, getting more families and children involved and building healthier, active communities.

Funding will also be used by national sporting organisations to increase participation in sport for Indigenous peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women’s sport development programs.

click here for further information and details on the funding allocations.

Call foul on bad behaviour

Spectators are often passionate about their sport, their team and their favourite players. They play a vital role in club and community sport, offering moral support and encouragement and often club income in the form of gate-takings, kiosk and merchandise sales. 

The enthusiasm and exuberance of a crowd can be the difference between winning and losing, but occasionally that support may become negative or over-powering. In extreme cases, spectators can be verbally abusive or physically aggressive, spoiling the game for everyone.

All clubs should have a Code of Conduct or Behaviour that clearly sets out what is expected of spectators, helping everyone to manage bad behaviour. The Code should include a policy that clearly explains which behaviours won’t be tolerated and how the club will respond to breaches. 

Play by the Rules has developed a ready-to-use Spectator Behaviour Policy template which can easily be implemented in your club.

For more information on spectator and parent behaviour go to the Play by the Rules Got an Issue section or search the Resources for guidelines, links and other useful tools.

 

2010

Media Release - Tips for Keeping Sport Cool This Summer - 28 October 2010

With sporting clubs around Australia gearing up for another summer, fair play in sport website Play by the Ruleshas produced an online toolkit for clubs to make it easy for them to maintain essential policies and guidelines to keep their sports safe and fun this summer.

The Executive Director of Sport and Recreation in the Northern Territory and Co-Chair of Play by the Rules,Steve Rossingh, said that clubs should have policies in place for their own and their members’ protection.  All clubs, at a minimum, should have:

-          A  Member Protection Policy
-          Working with Children Guidelines
-          A Spectator Behaviour Policy
-          Protocols for the pickup and drop off of children.

All of these templates, and more, are on the Play by the Rules ClubToolkit.

Where do you draw The Line? - 30 September 2010

The Line campaign is managed by the Australian Government and aims to help young people learn about respectful relationships and increase the incidence of positive behaviours in relationships, including open communication across genders; listening to and valuing others’ opinions; and trust, consideration, courtesy and respect.

The website provides information for young people, parents and teachers, a relationships advice line, FAQs and The Line Indigenous Campaign. It also gives individuals the opportunity to create their own opportunity to create their own personalised illustration showing how they feel when they've crossed The Line or had their line crossed. To check it out and to get drawing, visit www.theline.gov.au.

New Play By The Rules resources for Clubs - 9 September 2010

The Play by the Rules Club Toolkit contains template policies and guidelines that address common and important issues that arise on a day to day basis in most sports clubs. The documents are written in easy to understand language and are designed as a starting point for Clubs wanting to address a particular issue. Click here to check out the Toolkit.

PBTR Celebrating Diversity Competition Recipient Announced - 8 September 2010

Congratulations Corrine McLeish and Ashburton Soccer Club. Ashburton's competition entry was very inspirational and truly illustrated the spirit of inclusion and diversity. Next month Corrine and her two sons will be flying to Canberra, staying overnight and enjoying a personalised tour of all the facilities at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Congratulations once again to Corrine and Ashburton Soccer Club on winning the Competition. Corrine, we hope you have a fantastic time at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Positive Schools Conferences 2011 - 8 September 2010

Registrations are now being accepted for the Positive Schools Mental Health and Wellbeing Conferences taking place in WA and QLD. The WA Positive Schools 2011 Conference will be held from 12th  – 14th May at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle and the QLD Positive Schools Conference will be held in Brisbane on the 26th -27th of May 2011. For more information visit www.positiveschools.com.au

Communicating Using Key Word Sign - 17 August 2010

Key Word Sign Victoria has developed a fantastic resource for anyone that wants to communicate with a person with little or no speech about
Australian Rules Football. It contains 120 essential signs for all aspects of the game, including  all 16 teams with colour logos, popular grounds, common footy terms, food, numbers and much more. It is an ideal companion for any footy enthusiast but particularly for coaches, trainers, football players and parents. For more information on KeyWord Sign visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/centre/sed/makaton/

Breaking Down the Barriers: Tennis for People with Low or No Vision - 4 August 2010

A series of fun and exciting social tennis programs are available for people of any age or ability level with low or no vision in Victoria. The programs are a great way to meet people, have fun and be fit and active. Click here for more information and to see a new video on the program called 'Friends for Fitness', as well as other programs run by Tennis Victoria for people with a disability. 

Victoria Gets Tough on Conduct - 30 June 2010

Victoria have released a Code of Conduct for community sport to abide by.  The Code outlines behaviours that are expected of every person involved in community sport and active recreation, as well as identifying the types of behaviours that will not be tolerated.  Click here to find more information.

Socceroos Line up for Play by the Rules on the Eve of the World Cup - 9 June 2010

With the FIFA World Cup about to kick-off, three of our most prominent Socceroos have taken time out to stress the importance of good sportmanship, inclusion, and the role of parents in sport, in a series of radio Community Service Announcements for Play by the Rules.

We are excited to have on board Socceroos stars Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer, and Scott Chipperfield who have recorded messages to support fair play and positive culture in community sport and recreation clubs and encouraging them to visit Play by the Rules website to find everything they need to help make all sport safe, inclusive and fair.  Listen out for their messages on local and national radio over the next few weeks.

Touchy Issues in Sport - 8 June 2010

Sometimes attending to an injured athlete or demonstrating a skill if you’re a coach requires contact and can be a tricky issue particularly with a child or young person who may become quite uncomfortable and embarrassed by physical contact. Your actions may also be misconstrued by onlookers, parents and players.  Check out Play by the Rules article on GameDay with some handy tips and hints about how to safely interact for you and the athlete.

Homophobia has no place in sport - 27 May 2010

Following recent comments in the media about gay athletes Play by the Rules takes a serious look at the issue of homophobia in sport.

Homophobia is alive and well in Australian sport and it's no laughing matter. The experiences of gay men and women tell us that not 'coming out' is associated with sporting environments being hostile, intimidating and isolating.  These people could be our team mates, friends, partners, mums, dads, brothers, sisters and friends, do you think its fair to ostracise them? It isn't. Check out the full article on GameDay Advice

Come out to Play is the first comprehensive survey of the experiences of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transexual people in sport in Australia. The report makes recommendations about creating inclusinve and welcoming environments for everyone, and Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Dr Helen Szoke actively supported events around IDAHO Day (International Day Against Homophobia, 17 May 2010) and theTasmainian Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mr David O'Byrne, MP spoke out in support of IDAHO Day, saying there is no place for homophobia in any environment, including sport.  Read Mr O'Byrne's full statement here.

The AFL Players Association and Headspace, recently released a video to help get rid of homophobia in sport. See it on Youtube here.

Check out Play by the Rules short interactive scenario on homophobia in sport, plus Legal Stuff, a section that clearly answers your questions about anti-discrimination and equal opportunity laws.

Muslim Women Fight Bans in a Bid to Play Sport - 20 May 2010

Recently, the UAE women scored their greatest triumph, making their first appearance in a major tournament. Playing live on national television — and in front of a boisterous crowd of several hundred men.  Helped by families moving to the cities, better education and increased government support, Muslim women  are taking up sports in small but growing numbers.  Click here to read the full article.

Champions Support the Sport Community - 19 May 2010

Keep an ear out for Play by the Rules champions Michael Milton, Paralympic Gold Medalist in skiing and cycling and Gavin Wanganeen, former AFL captain for Port Power and Brownlow medalist who will be making community service announcements for Play by the Rules over the next few weeks.

Sporting Pulse and Play by the Rules Partner up - Media Release - 19 May 2010

The Play by the Rules and Sporting Pulse partnership will see Play by the Rules promoted through club website infrastructure and GameDay, a source of online advice for clubs on how they can improve club environment and athlete performance.

“We want sports clubs all across Australia to do our online training and use our resources to help them create fair and safe environments for everyone involved in their sport” said Steve Rossingh, Executive Director, Sport, Venues and Indigenous Development Division , Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport in the Northern Territory and co-chair of Play by the Rules. 

Click here to see the full media release.  To keep up to date with all the activities and advice on Sporting Pulse's GameDay website, the home of grassroots sport, go to www.gameday.com.au

Discrimination in Sport Costs the Community - 4 May 2010

When discussing a new toolkit released by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission for sporting clubs which deals with promoting positive behaviour, Commissioner Dr Helen Szoke said "Discrimination doesn't just affect the people involved, the impact of negative behaviour can be felt across the club and through local communities,".  Click here to see the complete article.  More information about the newly released Victorian Code of Conduct for community sport click here.