Middlesex Cricket - Safeguarding Information for Captains of Open Age Cricket Teams
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Middlesex Cricket and the ECB actively encourages the development of children and young players and to help you, it is important you follow the guidance set out in Safe Hands, which is Cricket’s policy for Safeguarding Children and Young People.
We want as many children and young people as possible to transition into regular players for open age teams and become adult playing members. You can play an important part in this transition; the experience they receive when playing open age cricket for the first season could give them a life-time passion for the game or put them off completely.
Whilst it is appreciated these younger players (aged between 13 and 17) often want to be treated as adults, if they do not receive the right sort of understanding, encouragement, and support, many of them will leave the game.
You will no doubt be aware of your role as Team Captain pertaining to the actual game of cricket, but you also need to be aware of your safeguarding responsibilities as a Captain and this document sets out these considerations.
You have a duty of care, on behalf of your Club for the well- being of all under 18s in your team, and in the opposition’s team.
You must have a current ECB DBS disclosure. If you do not have one, ask your Club Safeguarding Officer to start the process for you. You will not be able to captain until the DBS is cleared.
- Take your responsibility seriously
- Make sure you know who your Club Safeguarding Officer is, and how to contact them
- Know how to respond to a disclosure from a child or young person
- Report any concerns or worries you have about a child or young person to your Club Safeguarding Officer or County Safeguarding Officer at [email protected]
- Always inform the Umpire and opposition captain about all Under 18s in your team – use player cards
- Ensure you have the emergency contact details and any medical conditions for any Under 18s in your team, remember this information is confidential
- Welcome new Under 18s in your team and tell them to come and talk to you about any concerns they have regarding their game
- Encourage good sportsmanship within your team, recognising good play both in your team and the opposition and recognising good performance not just match results
- Encourage good sportsmanship within your team, supporting the efforts of all the children and young players even when they are not successful – do not just recognise the most talented
- Provide an opportunity for children and young players to show their talents in an appropriate way – children and young people who are just used as fielders will not fully experience the game
- Treat everyone equally and not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, religious belief, class or social background, sexual preference, or political belief
- Challenge any form of bullying of Under 18s
- Only use parent, guardians/carers contact information for communication for all U16’s. Between 16 and 18 ask parents, guardians/carers permission to communicate and copy parents, guardians/carers in.
- Ensure you are aware of the transport policy in your club – ECB guidance is that all Under 18s/their parents, guardians/carers are responsible for arranging their own transport to and from matches (e.g. they take them themselves or arrange for their child to go with a friend or other member of the team) – the Club/You should not arrange the transport or provide this directly
- Ensure you are aware of the changing room policy in your club regarding Under 18s. Under 18s should change separately from over 18’s.
- Be aware that if Under 18s have to share a changing room with Over 18s, it is best for them to get changed early before batting starts, and for them to take their batting kit out with them to pad up.
- Ensure you are aware of your club’s policy for mobile phones in changing rooms:ECB guidance is that no mobile phones and other electronic devices are allowed to be used in the changing rooms for any purpose. This is because photos and videos can be taken and go viral in seconds or be used for other purposes that would cause safeguarding concerns. This means phones should not be used at all – including for playing music or checking texts and e-mails etc as it is not possible to ensure someone is not covertly taking photos.
- Do not engage in any form of sexually related contact with an Under 18 player including sexual innuendo, flirting or inappropriate gestures and terms.
- Do not allow bullying or swearing at children or young players (or indeed any players) or any behaviour they might find intimidating.
- Selecting under 18 players for your team – ECB guidelines state the minimum age is under 13 age group players, who are in year 8 age group and aged 12 on the 1st of September of the preceding year.
- Make appropriate provisions for young people and adults at risk for toilet facilities and access.
- Supervising Children at cricket sessions
- Ensure all mandatory protective equipment is used including Head Protectors
- Concussion fact sheets Click here for more information
- Fielding regulations and pitch lengths
- Fast Bowling Directives
- Junior players in open age cricket
- Girls playing in boys age group leagues and competitions
GAME SPECIFIC
A captain needs to be familiar with games specific national governing body guidance. These are available from County Safeguarding Officer at request. They are also accessible as downloadable PDFs on the ECB website:
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Club Safeguarding Officer, any concerns or incidents should be reported to the Club Safeguarding Officer immediately.
If you cannot contact your Club Safeguarding Officer, please contact the Middlesex Cricket County Safeguarding Officer, by emailing [email protected]
Reviewed: 30/11/23
Next Review: November 2024
