Guidelines for the Safe Conduct of Sport

Guidelines for the Safe Conduct of Sport
and Physical Activity in Schools

AWARENESS PRESENTATION

GUIDELINES FOR THE SAFE CONDUCT OF
SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN SCHOOLS


Why is this awareness presentation necessary?


This awareness presentation will alert staff to the
Guidelines for the Safe Conduct of Sport and
Physical Activity in Schools manual and its
implications for excursion planning, particularly
where physical recreation is to occur.

The presentation will indicate how the Guidelines
manual can be an effective tool in decreasing the
frequency and severity of injury associated with
sport and recreational activities, while promoting
healthy participation


To refresh staff involved in the conduct of sport and
physical activity in its various forms and excursions
involving planned activity, in awareness of, and use
of, the Guidelines.

It is important that all staff involved in, or likely to be
involved in, the conduct of sport and physical activity
are familiar with the Guidelines


Why is this support document an important
reference for school staff?


The support document:
Informs school communities in the planning and
implementation of safe sport, physical activity and
school excursions
Draws together advice from Departmental
memoranda which relate to the supervision and
welfare of students engaged in sport and physical
activity
Strengthens existing safety guidelines and
standards for over 60 specific sport and outdoor
recreation activities
Describes best practice in injury prevention


The safety conditions for specific activities apply
whether the activity is taken as part of school sport,
physical education, within school excursions, or any
other occasion where planned sport or physical
activity is to occur


Four main sections
Supervision and
welfare of students Student protection
engaged in sport and
physical activity Target audience:
Target audience:
•SportsCoordinators
Sport coordinators
Principals
Principals
•Sport Coordinators
•Teachers
Teachers
•Coaches in charge / leaders
Teachers
Sport coordinators
•Students
•Parents in charge
Teachers
Outdoor recreation
Guidelines for
guidelines
specific
activities


Safety guidelines for 60 sports and outdoor
recreation activities are listed in the manual. Advice
is provided for each activity concerning:
teacher/instructor qualifications and experience
supervision
equipment
venue
safety
As an example, safety guidelines for the sport of
hockey are included in your workshop booklet


How knowledgeable are you?

Please complete the quiz on page 2 of the Staff
Workshop booklet. Staff members may confer.


1. Guidelines cover organised and structured sport as well as
organised and structured recreational activities
True

2. The target group or audience for the guidelines is sport
coordinators (Ref: Guidelines page 7)
False

3. The teacher to student ratio for outdoor recreation activities is
1:30 (Many activities, particularly swimming and outdoor
False
adventure activities, have much lower ratios)

4. Where the wearing of protective gear is specified in the
guidelines, it must be worn (eg. the wearing of helmets for
True
batters and base runners in baseball)

5. Tobogganing can be undertaken with appropriate risk
management procedures in place (For reasons of safety and
False
the incidence of neck, head and spinal injury, tobogganing is
not permitted. Ref: Guidelines page 206)


6. Students with Down’s Syndrome should be medically screened
prior to their participation in contact sport (Atlanto-axial
True
instability exists in a small number of people with Down’s
Syndrome and is detected through an x-ray. Ref: Guidelines
page 49)

7. Hydrated lime, creosote or kerosene can be used to mark
playing fields (All present health and environmental risks. Ref:
False
Guidelines page 58)

8. A risk management process should be undertaken before any
outdoor adventure activity is conducted (Outdoor adventure
True
activities are those that potentially place students at a higher
risk than is usual at school because of the nature of the activity
or the area in which the activity takes place. Ref: Guidelines
page 71)


9. When epileptic students participate in a swimming activity there
must be one supervisor for each student (If an epileptic attack
True
occurs while the student is in the water, immediate assistance
is required. Ref Guidelines page 232)

10.Swimming in an inland waterway requires the same level of
supervision as swimming at patrolled beaches (Refer to
True
Swimming and Water Safety guidelines in the manual page
238)

11.Students assisting teachers appointed as carnival starters
must be trained in the use and storage of starting pistols and
False
caps (students are not to be appointed in this capacity because
of the risks associated with use of starting caps. Ref: Student
Protection section in the Guidelines page 56)


12.Portable soccer goals must be anchored (unanchored goals
may tip forwards if sufficient weight is applied to the crossbar.
True
Where these goals are of sufficient size and weight they are a
potential hazard and should be suitably anchored. Ref: Student
Protection section in the Guidelines page 59)

13.Cardio-vascular resuscitation qualifications need to be
updated every two years (Required each year because of the
False
need to include new requirements and procedures. Ref:
Guidelines- Swimming and Water Safety, page 232)

14.For swimming at a patrolled beach, the supervisor:student
ratio is 1:18 (1.10 applies as a minimum. Supervision may
False
need to be increased in many circumstances Ref: Guidelines-
Swimming and Water Safety, page 238)


In organising and implementing all manner of
school activities, members of staff will either
formally or informally, plan for the supervision and
welfare of students

Staff, in fact, are engaging in a risk management
process


What does risk management mean?


RISK MANAGEMENT MEANS :

identifying foreseeable hazards, risks and safety
issues

assessing the risks these hazards may cause

eliminating or controlling the risks

monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the
control measures for the identified risks.


A simple scenario:

The planning of a school walk-a-thon or fun run
has identified risks such as street crossings,
poorly maintained parts of the paths that
comprise the route and terrain that is too
onerous for the participants to use. These risks
have been minimised or avoided


However, on the day of the activity, the
temperature climbs to 38°C with very high humidity

Can the safety issues for the participants be
managed?

What is your decision?


Postpone!

The risk of dehydration (despite water stations),
over exertion by some competitive students and
exposure to the intense sun cannot be avoided


What are the critical elements of a risk management
plan?

To start, refer to the excursion scenario on page 3
of the workshop booklet.


Key questions to be addressed in the scenario
appear in your workshop booklet and are
displayed on the following slide

For responses to questions one and two, use the
sample risk management proforma on page 4 of
your booklet


List some of the major risks or hazards relating to the bushwalking and
swimming activities in the section headed Hazard/Risk Identification
on page 3 of your workshop booklet

On the same page, list some of the measures that can control the
identified risks in the section headed Elimination or Control
Measures

In noting the nature of the excursion activities, what specific areas of
expertise are required of staff appointed to conduct the bushwalking
and swimming activities?

List any special equipment or protective gear that may be required for
the bushwalk?

List current Departmental memoranda that relate to the organisation of
the activity?

SPORT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RISK MANAGEMENT FORM
Activity : Science Excursion Location: National Park
Hazard/Risk Identification Risk Management Plan
Elimination or Control Measures

Bushwalking
Risk of:
being separated from group Consult with National Parks personnel
Students briefed on bush safety
Appropriate clothing/footwear worn
Supervision ratio not to exceed 1:15

diabetic reaction Teacher carries insulin as per health plan

exhaustion or dehydration Regular rest periods taken
Water bottle carried by all participants

sprains, broken limbs First aid kit available

sunburn SPF30+ sun protection and wear hat
and long sleeve top

SPORT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RISK MANAGEMENT FORM
Activity : Year 9 Science Excursion Location: National Park
Hazard/Risk Identification Risk Management Plan
Elimination or Control Measures

Recreational
Swimming
Risk of:
drowning Students briefed in water safety

Supervision ratio 1:10

One teacher with current CPR cert

sunburn SPF30+ sun protection


What specific areas of expertise are required of
staff appointed to conduct, the bushwalking and
swimming activity?
Leaders of the bushwalk must be experienced
bushwalker (s) with current knowledge of the
proposed route and knowledge of search, rescue
and emergency procedures
For the swimming activity, a minimum of two adult
supervisors with current qualifications in rescue,
resuscitation and first aid must be present. For any
aquatic activity, a teacher must be present who has
current CPR and Emergency Care.


List any special equipment or protective gear required
for the bushwalk:

appropriate walking shoes
clothing for anticipated weather conditions
waterproof rain jacket with a hood
sunscreen
communication devices
medical kit


List current Departmental memoranda and other
documents that relate to the organisation of the activity
Excursions and Other Visits (97/137)
Revision of guidelines for Bushwalking (99/205)
Guidelines for the Safe Conduct of Sport and Physical Activity in Schools
99/490)

Additional documents are listed in your workshop booklet
on page 9. DET memorandums and policies may be
accessed at:
www.intranet.schools.nsw.edu.au/dse/D1.0/policies/index.html


The partially completed Risk Management
Form on page 4 of your workshop booklet and
the Risk Management Planning Form on page
5, provide examples of the type of information
that is sought to inform the activity approval
process.


For your information and future reference, examples
of risk management support materials are provided
in the workshop booklet:

a list of key questions for planning excursion
activities
departmental MEMORANDA AND DOCUMENTS
associated with excursion planning
safety guidelines for the sport of hockey
where to seek further advice

Guidelines for the Safe Conduct of Sport

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