Karate Union Code of Conduct The Karate Union of Wales has adopted the Welsh Karate Governing Body's Code of Conduct and Child Protection Policy. The complete document can be downloaded from the WKGB website http://www.wkgb.org.uk

Code of Conduct

1. Coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person and treat everyone equally within the content of their sport.
2. Coaches must place the well being and safety of the performer above the development of performance. They should follow all guidelines laid down by their sports Governing Body and hold appropriate insurance cover.
3. Coaches must develop an appropriate working relationship with performers, especially children, based on mutual trust and respect. Coaches must not exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
4. Coaches must encourage and guide performers to accept responsibility for their own behaviour.
5. Coaches should hold up to date Nationally recognised Governing Body Coaching qualifications.
6. Coaches must ensure the activities they direct or advocate are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the individual.
7. Coaches should at the outset clarify with performers, and where appropriate their parents, exactly what is expected of them and what performers are entitled to expect from the coach.
8. Coaches should co-operate fully with other specialists e.g. other coaches, officials, sports scientists, doctors and physiotherapists in the best interest of the performer.
9. Coaches should always promote the positive aspects of their sport e.g. fair play and never condone rule violations or the use of prohibited substances.
10. Coaches must consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance.

This charter is reproduced by courtesy of Sportscoach UK. For more information on guides for sports visit http://www.sportscoachuk.org

Child Protection Policy

1.1 Introduction
Everyone who participates in Karate is entitled to do so in an enjoyable and safe environment. The Karate Union of Wales, have a moral and legal obligation to ensure that, when given responsibility for children, coaches and volunteers provide them with the highest possible standard of care.

The Karate Union of Wales is committed to devising and implementing policies so that everyone in sport accepts their responsibilities to safeguard children from harm and abuse. This means to follow procedures to protect children and report any concerns about their welfare to appropriate authorities.

The aim of the policy is to promote good practice, providing children and young people with appropriate safety/protection whilst in the care of the The Karate Union of Wales and to allow staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues. A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (Children's Act 1989)

1.2 Policy Statement

The The Karate Union of Wales is committed to the following:

• The welfare of the child is paramount.
• All children, whatever their age, culture, ability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity should be able to participate in Karate in a fun and safe environment.
• Taking all reasonable steps to protect children from harm, discrimination and degrading treatment and to respect their rights, wishes and feelings.
• All suspicions and allegations of poor practice or abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
• All The Karate Union of Wales employees who work with children will be recruited with regard to their suitability for that responsibility, and will be provided with guidance and/or training in good practice and child protection procedures.
• Working in partnership with parents and children is essential for the protection of children.
  
  Child Protection Policies should be reviewed every 3 years or whenever there is a major change in the organisation or in relevant legislation.

1.3 Legal and Procedural Framework

The practices and procedures within this policy are based on principles contained within UK and International legislation and Government guidance. (See Appendix 16)

• The Children Act 1989.
• The Protection of Children Act 1999.
• Working Together to Safeguard Children and Young People (1999).
• ³Caring for the young and vulnerable² Home Office guidance for preventing the abuse of trust (1999).
• Criminal Justices and Court Services Act (2000).
• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Human Rights Act (1998).
• The Data Protection Act (1998).

Promoting good Practice

2.1 Introduction

To provide children with the best possible experience and opportunities in Karate, everyone must operate within an accepted ethical framework such as ³The Coaches Code of Conduct² and an Equity Policy (See appendix 1 & 2).

It is not always easy to distinguish poor practice from abuse. It is therefore NOT the responsibility of employees or participants in Karate to make judgements about whether or not abuse is taking place. It is however their responsibility to identify poor practice and possible abuse and act if they have concerns about the welfare of the child, as explained in section 4.

This section will help you identify what is meant by good practice and poor practice.

2.2 Good Practice

All personnel should adhere to the following principles and action:

• Always work in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets).
• Make the experience of Karate fun and enjoyable: promote fairness, confront and deal with bullying.
• Treat all children equally and with respect and dignity.
• Always put the welfare of the child first, before winning.
• Maintain a safe and appropriate distance with players (e.g. it is not appropriate for staff or volunteers to have an intimate relationship with a child or to share a room with them).
• Avoid unnecessary physical contact with children. Where any form of manual/physical support is required it should be provided openly and with the consent of the child. Physical contact can be appropriate so long as it is neither intrusive nor disturbing and the child's consent has been given.
• Involve parents/carers wherever possible, e.g. where children need to be supervised in changing rooms, encourage parents to take responsibility for their own child. If groups have to be supervised in changing rooms always ensure parents, coaches etc work in pairs.
• Request written parental consent if club officials are required to transport children in their cars.
• Gain written parental consent for any significant travel arrangements e.g. overnight stays.
• Ensure that if mixed teams are taken away, they should always be accompanied by a Male and Female member of staff.
• Ensure that at away events adults should not enter a child's room or invite a child to their rooms.
• Be an excellent role model, this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of children.
• Always give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
• Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of the child and do not risk sacrificing welfare in a desire for club or personal achievements. This means avoiding excessive training or competition and not pushing them against their will.
• Secure written parental consent for the club to act in loco parentis, to give permission for the administration of emergency first aid or other medical treatment if the need arises.
• Keep a written record of any injury that occurs, along with details of any treatment given.

2.3 Poor Practice

The following are regarded as poor practice and should be avoided by all personnel:

• Unnecessarily spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others.
• Taking children alone in a car on journeys, however short.
• Taking children to your home where they will be alone with you.
• Sharing a room with a child.
• Engaging in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.
• Allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form.
• Allowing children to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
• Making sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun.
• Reducing a child to tears as a form of control.
• Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.
• Do things of a personal nature that the child can do for themselves.

Where a case arises, where it is impractical or impossible to avoid certain situation e.g. transporting a child in you car, the tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of the parent/care and the child involved. (See Appendix 3 & 4).

If during your care you accidentally hurt a child, the child seems distressed in any manner, appears to be sexually aroused by your actions and/or if the child misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done, report any such incidents as soon as possible to another colleague and make a written note of it. Parents should also be informed of the incident.

2.4 Physical Contact in Sport

Many sports, by their nature, require a degree of physical contact between adults and children. Physical contact can be used appropriately to instruct, encourage, protect or comfort. The aims of guidelines relating to physical contact are to provide adults and children with appropriate types and contexts for touching.

Physical contact between adults and children should only be used when the aim is to:

• Develop sports skills or techniques.
• Treat an injury.
• Prevent an injury.
• Meet the requirements of the particular sport.

Physical contact should:

• Not involve touching genital areas, buttocks or breasts.
• Meet the need of the child and not the need of the adult.
• Be fully explained to the child and with the exception of an emergency, permission should be sought.
• Not take place in secret or out of sight of others.

Records of injuries should be fully recorded.