CODE OF PRACTICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

As a junior member of Cheddar Tennis Club you are expected to abide by the following code of practice:

• All members must abide by the rules of the tennis club.
• All members must play within the rules of tennis and respect officials and their decisions.
• All members must respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of age, gender, ability, race, cultural background, religious beliefs or sexual identity.
• Members should keep to agreed timings for training and competitions, or inform their coach or team captain if they are going to be late.
• Members must wear suitable kit for training and match sessions, as agreed by the coach.
• Junior members are not allowed to smoke on club premises or whilst representing the club at competitions.
• Junior members are not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs of any kind on the club premises or whilst representing the club.
• Juniors will be given a racket tag which must be used on their racket as proof of membership.
• Juniors may play at any time the courts are free. If  others are waiting, maximum 20 minutes playing time is allowed to finish a game.
• Doubles takes priority over singles.
• Juniors must give way to seniors.
• Courts must be locked on leaving (a key is available for £5) - please contact the Membership Secretary, Kirsty Lewis, Email: membershipCLTC@gmail.com, Tel: 07711 944996
• Juniors and parents/guardians must conform to the club’s codes of practice.

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

As a parent or guardian of a junior member of Cheddar Tennis Club you are expected to abide by the following code of practice:

• Encourage your child to learn the rules of tennis and play within them.
• Dicourage unfair play and arguing with officials.
• Help your child to recognise good performance and not just results.
• Never force your child to take part in sport.
• Set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding good performances by all players.
• Never punish or belittle a child for losing or making mistakes.
• Publicly accept judgements made by officials.
• Support your child's involvement and help them to enjoy their sport.
• Use correct and proper language at all times.
• Allow your child to play in the Mini Tennis colour stage that is appropriate to them.  This will ensure they enjoy playing the game, develop their skills and gain confidence.
• Purchase balls and rackets that match the stage your child is at.
• Be patient. Steady progress is unusual in children; peaks and plateaus are common.
• Your first question following any match should be: "Did you enjoy it?" NOT "Did you win?"
• At no stage should you communicate with your child or interfere with the on-court helpers and referees during a match - just enjoy the game and let the officials take care of the rules!

CHEDDAR TENNIS CLUB

SUPERVISION OF CHILDRENS' ACTIVITIES

Cheddar Tennis Club is rightly proud of the welcome and support given to its Junior members of all ages. The Club encourages all members to make full use of its facilities as often as possible.

As part of the club’s obligations in regard to the protection of children the club sets out in this document the details of adequate adult supervision of junior members provided by the club.

The Club will ensure that Open Day's and Interclub/School Tournaments where children participate will be adequately supervised by adults including the Head Coach and Safeguarding Officer. If Safeguarding Officer is not available, then designated Committee Member will be present. Good practice dictates that more than one adult is present to supervise these activities. This will ensure the safety of the children as well as protect adults.

If a parent is unavoidably delayed they should contact the club or the Head Coach whose contact numbers will be provided to parents at the beginning of the event. In the event that no contact is made with the club the supervisor will attempt to contact the parent using the contact number(s) provided by them on the completed Consent Form. If there is no answer they will ask the child if there is another family member whom they can contact. If no contact can still be made the Head Coach will wait with the child at the club or venue until the child has been collected by a parent or other adult nominated by the parent.

Children attending for club-organised coaching should let one of the adult supervisors know when they have arrived at the club — it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that children do this. If a child suffers an injury or accident the parents/guardians will be informed and an Accident Report Form will be completed.

Attendance records and records of any incidents or accidents that occur will be kept safely by the club.

The club welcomes and indeed encourages parents who wish to stay and supervise sessions, (for safety and supervision, not necessarily for their 'technical' expertise!)

Parents should note that adequate adult supervision as described above is provided only at the following times:-

• During your child's allocated coaching period as part of the club's Junior Coaching Programme.
• During any of the internal junior activities organised and run by the Club Coach/Club.
• During any of the closed club tournaments run by the Club Coach/Club.

We wish to make it clear that while there may be adults present in the club premises at other times the club does not regard their presence as the provision of adequate adult supervision and it is not responsible for the safety and protection of your child outside of the specific activities listed above.

While the Club takes every reasonable measure to ensure the safety and protection of all its members including Junior members while they are on the premises such measures do not extend to the provision of adequate adult supervision other than for the activities listed above. In that regard it is the responsibility of each parent/guardian to ensure that their child is adequately supervised at all other times that they are on the club premises (including times when the child is receiving private coaching organised by the child's parents).

The parents of all children taking part in any of the activities organised by the club will be required to complete and sign a Parental Consent Form.

September 2022