Celebrate Safeguarding in Judo … everyday
Safe Sport Day is a global initiative to embed child safeguarding principles in clubs, associations and practices across sports worldwide. Established by the supporters of the International Safeguards for Children in Sport, it takes place every year on the 8th of August.
This year’s theme is Stand Up, Speak Out, and Play your Part, actively working to encourage coaches and adult players who play and work alongside child and youth players become aware of the eight safeguards for Children in sport, and work to embed them in your dojos and Clubs.
These eight safeguards are:
- Have a safeguarding policy to establish your Club’s commitment to protecting children from harm. Laying out proper protocols and definitions helps coaches, athletes, officials and volunteers to safeguard kids in your Club.
- Know what to do if you are worried – a step-by-step process means your Club or organisation can respond quickly, properly and transparently to any concerns. Have procedures in place to help when they are needed.
- Provide advice and support to everyone. Make sure your entire Club – adults and children – knows what their safeguarding role is, and where to turn for information and guidance. Children with additional vulnerabilities will need additional support.
- Understand and address risk. Ongoing risk assessments for activities, transport and travel, accommodation and spaces around the dojo will help reduce the possibility for harm. Training for key personnel – coaches, nominated member protection officers – is also important.
- Agree what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Children’s sport should be carried out in a safe and encouraging environment. Creating and sharing codes of conduct for adults and children sets a safeguarding standard, encourages mutual respect and promotes best practice.
- Safely recruit and train staff. Safeguarding cannot rest on the shoulders of one club member – by developing a safe recruitment and staff development strategy, you can ensure all Club leaders learn and maintain the necessary safeguarding skills.
- Share safeguarding with your partners. Individuals pledging to uphold safeguarding in their sport should share the initiative with their partners, whether engaged in Judo or in other sports. Encourage and support your partners to make a commitment to safeguarding in their own sport, as well as support you in your own efforts.
- Monitor, Evaluate and Learn. Safeguarding isn’t a one-off process – build in time for reassessment to better understand what has been effective, and what could be improved.
Safeguarding in Judo is specified as an objective of the National Integrity Framework, and Judo Australia has a rich set of resources in this area. Our obligations are set forth in the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, and for practical application, try Sport Integrity Australia’s Safe Practices Do’s and Don’ts.
Online training and webinars are available from both Sports Integrity Australia and Safeinsport.org, which also asks those committed to safeguarding to Take The Pledge to make Judo – and all sports – safe for children.
