The following information will be added to by the occasional update, either regarding any relevant changes to England Hockey policy or any events we may be likely to face. This will include a specific email or in person session regarding LGBTQ+ opportunity and acceptance in sport (in line with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces Campaign).

What is welfare? How does welfare relate to what we do?

Welfare is the process in which we ensure our members and volunteers feel safe and supported. In achieving this we must consider both their physical and mental wellbeing.

Welfare should also extend beyond just our members, and we must ensure that any visitors are equally safe and supported.

What challenges do we face?

As a club we could face many different challenges over the next year. These can genuinely be placed into one of two categories – external or internal.

These categorisations are vague, and challenges can often belong to one of either category depending on the circumstance, however there are slightly different processes for each one.

An internal challenge is one which is raised or relates to one specific member of the club or a group within the club (1).

(1) A group can be either; A) a subset of the membership, such as a specific team or age cohort; or B) people belonging to a protected characteristic as prescribed by the Equality Act (2010).

Internal challenges must relate to the conduct of the club or that of a member, representative or otherwise related individual. All challenges will be dealt with by the club, following the clubs disciplinary or safeguarding processes.

An external challenge relates to either; A) an allegation made by a member of the club regarding a member of another club, the league or any organisation outside of the club; B) an allegation made by a member of another club, the league or any organisation outside of the club pertaining to Harrow HC and/or any related individuals; or C) a policy or procedure implemented by the league, England Hockey or any other relevant organisation.

In case A the club must contact the other organisation and relate the matter to them. The club committee may then decide to take further action, however this is at the club’s discretion.

In case B the club committee will deal with such allegations in line with the club’s disciplinary and safeguarding processes.

In case C the club committee will review the policy or procedure and ensure that any necessary actions are taken, in line with the club’s responsibilities.

This can be confusing but if you are unsure or want this clarified don’t hesitate to message the Club Welfare Officer.

What can we do to minimise our risks as a club?

As a club we can minimise our risks by ensuring:

A) All member data is stored correctly and securely, in line with any relevant legislation.

B) DBS checks are completed for all coaches and relevant volunteers.

C) Training sessions and groups are relevant for the age and ability of players.

D) Coaches and Volunteers are appropriately qualified and maintain any training or qualification related to their role.

E) Any suspicions of bullying, poor practice, abuse or likewise inappropriate conduct are escalated to the club, England Hockey, the Police or any other relevant authority as appropriate.

F) All equipment (including the pitch) is checked and safe for use. I will send a document to the club’s goalkeepers outlining kit safety regulations in the coming days.

G) The club’s Welfare Officer is readily available at club events and on match days and easily contactable at any time. (Potentially Welfare@HarrowHC.co.uk)

H) There is a qualified first aider at each match and training session.

I) All communications are made through relevant and appropriate channels in appropriate ways and at appropriate times.

J) Any information shared by Coaches, Volunteers or the Committee is shared within confidentiality rules and guidelines.

Information for Coaches, Captains, and Volunteers:

As the new season begins, I will reiterate some of the standards all coaches, captains and volunteers are expected to uphold. As such we should all:

A) Respect umpires, coaches, players and spectators.

B) Respect the spirit of fair play. This is more than playing by the rules. This incorporates concepts of friendship, respect and participating with the right spirit.

C) Professional Standards: Have the participants’ best interests at heart and ensure all decisions are made in line with them.

D) Professional Standards: Never use any illicit, foul or prejudiced language or gestures.

Any Coaches, Captains and Volunteers who fail to uphold these standards may be subject to the club’s disciplinary procedures.

Coaches, Captains and Volunteers of the Junior Club must also ensure these values are followed by their teams, to the best of their ability.

Are there any changes in policy we need to be aware of?

There are two main changes for people to be aware of moving into the new season.

These are:

A) Players are permitted to wear any item of kit, irrespective of gender, provided it is the same colour as the kit worn by the rest of their team. At Harrow Hockey Club this should be purchased through the club shop to ensure conformity.

B) Any player is permitted to play for a team representing the gender with which they identify. Any transitioning, gender non-confirming or non-binary individual is permitted to play for the team with which they identify or wish to represent. Their gender should be accepted and they should be identified in the same way as that of any other player. This is the current policy. It is under review, with it expected to be updated for Autumn 2024.

WhatsApp and Communications:

To clarify a point raised at committee these are the current recommended WhatsApp guidelines:

A) Ensure that all WhatsApp groups are administered by a club official who has been DBS checked.

B) Inform group members as to what should and shouldn’t be communicated on WhatsApp.

C) Ensure all members are aged 16 or over.

D) Ensure all members aged between 16 and 18 have parental consent to be in the group chat(s).

E) Ensure the parents of those aged 16-18 are in any group chat(s) their children are in.

F) Ensure all members aged 16-18 know who to contact should a member make inappropriate or unsolicited contact with them through WhatsApp.

G) Ensure the group chat is used only for hockey or club-oriented purposes. Any additional usage must be agreed to by the administrator(s) of the group chat.

H) Ensure the group chat is not the sole source of information. There may well be people who do not use or regularly monitor WhatsApp. As such WhatsApp communications should not replace Spond or email communications.

I) As a club we cannot police the action of every member. Once someone has been added to a group chat their details are accessible to everyone on that group chat. We cannot control or track the use of anyone details and as such urge parents/guardians to seriously carefully consider this before allowing their child to join WhatsApp. If a parent/guardian, member or anyone else has any concerns they should contact the club Welfare Officer in the first instance. If they fear the young person is in immediate danger, they should call 999 immediately.

Goalkeepers and Goalkeeping Kit:

As the new season prepares to start it’s a good time to take stock of our goalkeeping kit and ensure it’s all in working order. I have separated out the different sorts of kit below, and included a quick checklist to ensure each part is suitable for use.

Helmets:

All helmets must meet the following requirements:

A) There is no pitting, deforming or any other sort of damage to the external surface (outside) of the helmet.

B) The helmet must have a face grill/mesh that is suitably affixed to the helmet (almost all helmets come with this as standard. Just ensure any players using Bauer/Reebok Ice Hockey Helmets have their grill/mesh screwed in securely)

C) Ensure the interior of the helmet is in good condition and that there is no damage to the protective lining – this is typified by swollen bumps or lumps in the lining and can be easily seen/felt.

D) Ensure all fixings and straps are in a good condition.

E) Ensure the helmet has a CE sticker and a CN sticker with a 9 digit code so as to ensure it meets safety requirements. Most OBO, Slazenger and Mercian helmets less than 10 years old will meet this standard. Whilst England Hockey has no clear policy it is recommended by medical professionals that helmet’s are replaced every 6-7 years in order to ensure players are adequately protected from concussion.

If there is a gap larger then 5 cm between the bottom of the helmet and the top of the keepers chest plate it is strongly recommended they use a neck guard. These are available online.

Chest, elbow and neck guards; Padded shorts:

A) Ensure they are in good condition, without any large tears, holes or other such damage.

B) Ensure they fit properly. Generally this means that they must stay in place whilst a goalkeeper dives, jumps or runs without needlessly restricting their movement.

C) Ensure padded shorts are covered to prolong their useful lifespan – this can be done using shorts a size larger than the ones you usually wear and placing them over the padded shorts.

Leg Pads and Kickers:

A) Ensure they are not damaged. Normal wear and tear is permitted, provided it is no deeper than 5mm and the structural integrity is not compromised.

B) Ensure all straps are in good condition and all clips/clasps work properly.

C) Ensure the player is able to suitably adjust these themselves if playing at U-12 level or higher.

D) Ensure kickers fit correctly. The toe of the players shoes should be at the front of the players kicker, with the heel not extending beyond the end of the kicker.

Hand Protectors:

A) Ensure both fit comfortably. The left hand ‘paddle’ should be secure when a player waves their hand vigorously. The right hand ‘protector’ should fit snugly and cover the entirety of a players hand.

B) There should be no damage to either protector. Splitting can be common with Slazenger ‘paddles’. Check for this by pushing the exterior edges of the pad apart and seeing if the material stretches or fails.

Pelvis Guards:

A) Ensure they fit well and stay in position when the player moves and dives.

B) Ensure the straps are in a good condition – many are Velcro so ensure the Velcro is not overly worn.

Any other kit used should be in a good condition, without any obvious damage. It should also fit in a way that does not restrict movement nor cause undue risk to the goalkeeper or a fellow player.