PART 2

ABAE Clubmark Accreditation Programme

Resource Pack

ABAE CLUBMARK RESOURCE PACK

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

What is ABAE Clubmark Accreditation?

Sport England Clubmark

How do ABAE Clubmark and Sport England Clubmark work together?

The benefits of ABAE Clubmark accreditation

The commitment required from your club

Further information

How to use the ABAE Clubmark Resource Pack

Steps to take once ABAE Clubmark accreditation has been achieved

SUMMARY OF ABAE CLUBMARK CRITERIA

SECTION 1: DUTY OF CARE AND CHILD PROTECTION

Child protection

Codes of practice for coaches, officials and volunteers

First aid

Emergency procedures/ Reporting incidents and accidents

Keeping records; attendance and medical registers

SECTION2: THE BOXING PROGRAMME

Club coaching sessions

Competitive structures

Club staff

SECTION3: KNOWING YOUR CLUB AND ITS COMMUNITY

Sports equity policy and awareness

Being an accessible club

Code of conduct for parents and carers

Code of conduct for young people

SECTION4: CLUB MANAGEMENT

Insurance

National governing body affiliation

Club constitution

Communicating with parents/carers

Developing a membership category for young people

Club links

Action planning

SECTION5: GOOD PRACTICE – VOLUNTEERS

Volunteer management

Volunteer coordinators

Volunteer agreements

Information packs

SECTION6: TEMPLATES

Introduction: How to use the templates

Template 1 Code of conduct for club officials and volunteers

Template 2 Guidelines for dealing with an incident/accident

Template 3 Incident/accident report form

Template 4 Emergency Services contact details

Template 5 Club membership form

Template 6 Attendance Register and Coach to Boxer Ratio details

Template 7Sample coach role description

Template 8Volunteer agreement form

Template 9Coach insurance self declaration

Template 10Risk assessment form

Template 11Equity policy statement

Template 12Constitution

Template 13Code of conduct for parents/carers

Template 14Junior club rules

Template 15Introductory letter to parents/carers

Template 16Club partnership agreement

Template 17Club links – Sports development contacts

Template 18Club development plan

Template 19Equity Action Plan

APPENDICES

1Use of Resource Pack and liability

2Summary of Sport England Clubmark Criteria

3Useful contacts

4ABAE Health and Safety Standards in Clubs document (first published 22nd February 2003 and has now incorporated amendments as part of ABAE Clubmark Process)

FOREWORD

At the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) we recognise and value the commitment made by boxing clubs to develop high quality and welcoming environments for participants in our sport. The development of clubs that encourage people to take up sport, improve their talents and continue life-long participation in boxing is an essential part of the sporting infrastructure in England. Sport England developed Clubmark as an accreditation scheme for clubs with junior sections including certain criteria laid down by their national governing bodies (NGBs). This Resource Pack sets out and explains the issues which boxing clubs must address and the core criteria which they should meet in order to gain Clubmark accreditation as part of the ABAE Club Accreditation Programme.

We hope that your club finds the ABAE Resource Pack a valuable tool as it works towards Clubmark accreditation and we wish you success in your endeavours to achieve this quality standard. ABAE has taken great care in the preparation of this Resource Pack and in the incorporation of Clubmark criteria, however the safety at your club and the conduct of your activities remain entirely your responsibility; please read the notice in Appendix 1.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The ABAE is grateful to everyone who has contributed to the development of this pack, including:

Roger Eady – Boxing Development Officer, WesternCounties

Jim Atkinson – ABAE Director

Barry Jones MBE – National Child Protection & Equity Manager

David McElhinney – ABAE Director

Dr Tony Attwood – ABAE Medical Officer

Terry Edwards – ABAE National Coach

Helen Brooks – Lydney ABC

Steve Brooks – SecretaryWesternCounties & Lydney ABC

Kevin Howard – Lambton Street ABC

Nigel Moore –Sports Recreation Management Network

INTRODUCTION

What is ABAE Clubmark Accreditation?

ABAE Clubmark is the sign of a high quality boxing club with a junior section and is based on the Sport England Clubmark award criteria. It is awarded to boxing clubs that have achieved ABAE and Sport England Clubmark standards in providing a safe, effective and child friendly club environment and are part of the ABAE Club Network.

It brings together the key aspects of club development as the basis for boxing development, coaching and talent identification, with a particular focus on young people. It supports the creation of a network of school and community based boxing clubs that are appropriately trained and resourced to meet the challenge of integrating young people into a recognized boxing club structure.

ABAE Clubmarkwill help clubs to become better organized and more sustainable. It will also facilitate the provision of more school and community based boxing opportunities for young people and the development of local partnerships to increase levels of participation in boxing.

What is Clubmark?

Sport England has worked in consultation with a range of national governing bodies (NGBs) to develop core criteria that can be integrated into NGB accreditation programmes for clubs working with children and young people.

Over 20 NGBs now use Clubmark as part of their club accreditation programme and many other NGBs are also now intending to use Clubmark as it has become the leading national standard for club accreditation. The 4 key elements of Clubmark are:

  • Duty of care and Child Protection – focuses on raising awareness of good practice. It will help your club take responsible measures to demonstrate it is taking its duty of care seriously in terms of child protection and the delivery of quality assured activities.
  • The Playing Programme – ensures that the club has the means in place to deliver quality coaching and competition, in particular for young people.
  • Knowing Your Club and its Community – ensures that the club’s policies, practices and culture encourage all members to adopt an inclusive and child friendly approach to sport
  • Club Management – ensures that the club runs efficiently, keeps its finances in order, manages its volunteers, keeps its members well informed and develops links with other sports organisations.

Details of SportEngland criteria are at Appendix 2.

How do ABAE Clubmark and Sport EnglandClubmark work together?

ABAE Clubmark accreditation incorporates all of the Sport England Clubmark criteria, to ensure that ABAE standards are consistent with those of other NGBs and that boxing clubs can gain both local and national recognition. This means boxing clubs can gain Sport England Clubmark status by completing the ABAE Clubmark accreditationprogramme. Gaining ABAE Clubmark accreditationwill demonstrate that your club is committed to being a quality club, providing a safe, effective, child friendly environment.

Benefits of ABAE Clubmark accreditation

By creating a single, national standard, ABAE Clubmark accreditationhelps give all boxing clubs a structure and direction which provides a large number of benefits for clubs including:

  • Promotion of your club- Once accredited, your club will be listed on a national database and in other sporting directories which will help you attract new members and to grow.
  • Increased membership– the fact that ABAE Clubmark accreditationis a nationally recognized endorsement from the ABAE and Sport England demonstrates to parents that your club is committed to providing a safe, effective and child friendly environment.
  • Developing your club - the foundation for any club is its youth structure. So, by encouraging and attracting young members, you are building a stronger and more sustainable future for your club.
  • Resources – to support the delivery of regular programmes of structured coaching sessions for all boxers.
  • Training opportunities – for coaches, club officials and other volunteers.
  • Support from your regional coaching or development officer – to assist your club in focusing on its needs, accessing funding, sharing ideas and implementing best practice.
  • Creation of partnerships – between your club andlocal authorities (Community Sports Networks), County Sports Partnerships, schools and, of course, the ABAE to ensure your club has the support it requires.
  • Quality Coaching – having structured activities and a regular programme of competition will improve the experience of everyone involved.
  • Possible financial savings - many local authorities recognise the benefits of Clubmark and offer discounts on facility hire.

Commitment required from your club

In return for the benefits of ABAE Clubmark accreditation, including resources and support from the ABAE, a commitmentis required from your club to:

  • Participate in an ongoing programme of club development.
  • Complete the accreditation process and undertake to provide training for club coaches, officials and other volunteers as necessary.
  • Deliver a regular programme of structured coaching activities using ABAE qualified coaches.
  • Develop a programme of suitable competition for young boxers in your club.
  • Maintain a regular working relationship with the ABAE through your Boxing Development Officer (BDO) or Association.

Further Information

For information about Clubmark see Further sports club development is covered in Sport England’s ‘Running Sports’Programme Other key organizations, including sports coach UKand the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU),are also contributing to the ongoing development of sports clubs. Appendix 3 lists a number of useful contacts. Contact details for NGBs can be obtained from the Sport England website:

Terminology: Please note that the following terms have been used generically throughout the Resource Pack:

  • ‘Boxer’- any person (regardless of age, ability, membership) participating in a boxing related activity taking place at, or organised by, a boxing club (and which shall include members of other clubs/teams);
  • ‘Visitor’ - means any person, other than participants visiting, or attending events at premises owned or occupied by a boxing club (and which shall include parents/carers of participants and any spectators);
  • ‘Volunteer’ - means any person acting as an officer of a boxing club or otherwise providing services to or on behalf of the club (including coaches, team managers, administrative and catering staff) or assisting a club (whether or not financially remunerated).

How to use the ABAE Clubmark Resource Pack

The resource pack is arranged in six main sections.

Sections 1-4 describe the four key areas your club must address in order to achieve ABAE Clubmark accreditation:

• Duty of Care and Child Protection

• The Boxing Programme

• Knowing Your Club and its Community

• Club Management.

Section 5 focuses on good practice in volunteer/staff management and does not have any criteria for Clubmark. However, it is an area of development that can help your club to achieve and sustain on-going development.

Section 6 sets out templates that your club can use to assist in the development of their policy, procedures and practices – electronic versions of each template can be found on the ABAE website.

The appendices in this pack aim to help you build up your resource bank of information on club development.

  • Appendix 1 Use of Resource Pack and Sport England liability
  • Appendix 2 Sport England Clubmark Criteria
  • Appendix 3 Useful contacts
  • Appendix 4 ABAE Health and Safety Standards in Clubs document (22nd February 2003)

Steps to take once ABAE Clubmark accreditation has been achieved.

Once your ABAE Clubmark accreditation has been confirmed, you should promote your club’s success as widely as possible and it is recommended that your club should:

  • Obtain a quote from your club chairperson – this can be put into the information sent to the local press and club members. This should include what the chairperson thinks accreditation will mean from the club, its’ members and the local community.
  • Inform all club members either by letter, email, club newsletter or website.
  • Inform the local press and send them details of the club, information on ABAE Clubmark and how it was achieved, and what it means for the club and its members.
  • Host a presentation evening to celebrate the club’s success. Invitations for this event should be sent to:
  • ABAE Representative
  • ABAE Regional and Divisional Representatives
  • Local press, including photographer
  • Regional Sport England representative
  • County Sports Partnership representative
  • A VIP eg Mayor, MP, a boxing champion
  • Your club members
  • Your club’s sponsor(s), if applicable

Your BDO or Association Secretary will ensure the details of your club’s accreditation are placed on the ABAE website.

ABAE CLUBMARK ACCREDITATION SUMMARY

This part of the ABAE Club Development Accreditation resource pack summarises the criteria that your club has to meet to become an ABAE Clubmark Accredited club as well as identifying information / resources available to assist you to meet the criteria. The ABAE criteria are based on the Sport England Clubmark criteria, but modified to reflect boxing requirements.

As you complete the evidence for each criteria you can check off the completed document on the checklist and place a copy of the evidence in the Evidence Folder.

Where templates exist to help your club achieve the criteria it will be referenced in the resources column under the prefix of ‘T’ (eg T1 is Template 1). Where further information is available in an appendix, it will be referenced in the resources column under the prefix ‘A’ (e.g., A is Appendix 1).

Moredetail about each of the criteria, including a rationale and templates, are included in the relevant sections.

Section 1: Duty of Care and Child Protection

ABAE Clubmark Accreditation programme criteria requires the club to:

Criteria
(Minimum Standards) / Resources
(to assist completion of pack) / Evidence Provided
(How each criteria is assessed)
Child Protection
1.1 Adopt The ABAE’s policy and procedures for the protection of children and vulnerable adults and implement the procedures laid down within and appoint a Club Welfare Officer and deputy who will promote and implement the policy. / ABAE Child Protection Policy.
ABAE Club Child Protection Policy.
Recruitment and Training of Staff and Volunteers (T1).
Coach and Volunteer Application Form (T2). / Documentation from Club minutes that it has adopted the ABAE’s Child Protection Policy & Club CP Policy.
Copy of Club CP Policy.
Procedures for the safe recruitment and training of coaches and volunteers.
Contact details of designated and appropriately trained Club Welfare officer and deputy.
1.2 Ensure that the Club Welfare Officer, Deputy Welfare Officer and at least one coach (who could also be a welfare officer) have attended accredited Safeguarding and Protecting Children Workshop and stay up to date with policies and procedures. / Safeguarding and Protecting Children Workshop.
Also additional information from NSPCC & sports coach UKif required. / Certificate of attendance on accredited Safeguarding and Protecting Children Workshop for:
  • Club Welfare Officer
  • Deputy Club Welfare Officer
  • A Coach.

Code of Conduct for Coaches, Officials and Volunteers
1.3 Adopt a code of conduct for all coaches, club officials and other volunteers working with young people. / ABAE Child Protection Policy.
ABAE Club Resource Code of Conduct Template (T3). / Documentation from Club minutes that it has adopted the ABAE’s Best Practice Guide.
First Aid
1.4 Have access to first aid equipment at all boxing sessions. / Health & Safety Executive website
Template 4: First Aider details and location of first aid kit. / Completed T4 with location of First aid kit.

Section 1: Duty of Care and Child Protection

Incidents and Accidents
1.5 Have emergency procedures for dealing with serious injuries and accidents, including telephone number of emergency services. / Illness and Injury Report (T5).
Guidelines for dealing with accidents and emergencies (T4). / Emergency services contact details (T6).
Copies of emergency procedures, identifying location of telephones, assembly point in the event of fire or bomb threat and club welfare officer contact details.
Keeping Records: Attendance and Medical Registers
1.6 Have contact details of parents/carers and emergency/ alternative contacts and keep a register of attendance at each coaching session. / Club membership Form (T7).
Attendance Register (T8). / Club membership registration forms.
Evidence that the club collects contacts for parents / carers and emergency / alternative contacts for all members.
Example of an attendance register (T8).
1.7 Have information on the health of club members regarding medical conditions that may affect that person’s ability to participate in cycling activities. Your club should have a system in place of notifying coaches of such medical conditions where appropriate. / Data Protection Act.
Club membership Form (T7). / Secure but accessible procedures on relevant individual medical conditions for coaches on a need to know basis.
Example club membership registration form with section requesting relevant medical information and conditions.
System to ensure disposal of personal information in compliance with Data Protection Act.

Section 2: The Boxing Programme

Criteria
(Minimum Standards) / Resources
(Provided to assist completion of pack) / Evidence Provided
(How each criteria is assessed)
Club Coaching Sessions
2.1 Use suitably ABAE qualified coaches when delivering sessions to participants. / ABAE Health & Safety standards in clubs (A4). / Copies of ABAE coaching certificates of all coaches working in a paid or voluntary capacity in the club.
2.2 Ensure the Coach : Boxer ratio during coaching activities does not exceed ABAE recommendations. / Coach : Boxer ratio template
(T8).
ABAE Best Practice Guide. / Signed self – declaration Coach : Boxer ratio template (T8)
2.3 Provide a structured coaching programme, which promotes recreational boxing as well as supports ABAE talent identification and development programmes. / ABAE Coach resources.
National Boxing Awards.
ABAE Women’s Boxing Guidelines.
Sample Session Plan (T9). / Club boxing programme setting out recreational and competitive sessions.
Description of each coaching activity.
Completed session plan.
Competitive Structures
2.4 Develop a suitable competition programme in accordance with ABAE guidelines. / ABAE Rules of Boxing.
ABAE and appropriate regional championship calendars. / Description of the club’s competitive activities and evidence of the club staging at least one boxing show per season.
Evidence of club show.
Coaching Staff
2.5 Use role descriptions, with clear roles and responsibilities, assigned when engaging coaches (who must be ABAE qualified), club officials and volunteers. / ABAE Child Protection policy and procedures.
Sample coach task descriptions (T10).
Example volunteer agreement form (T11).
sports coachUK workshops.
ABAE Best Practice Guide. / Details of club staff CRB checks from Regional Registrar.
Details of appointed club officers.
Confirmation of use of role descriptions.
2.6 Ensure all coaches delivering club activities are ABAE qualified and hold appropriate professional indemnity and public liability insurance. / Coach insurance information on ABAE Website.
sports coach UK. / Details of registered club coaches.
Self declaration of insurance (T12).

Section 2: The Boxing Programme