NORTH ADELAIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Sports Policy
The community at North Adelaide Primary School encourage the widest possible involvement in, and appreciation, of organised sports. The focus of all sporting programmes is the enjoyment and participation of many children rather than the prowess of a few, and the school’s resources are used towards this end.
The Community at North Adelaide Primary School encourage the widest possible involvement in and appreciation, of organised sports. As an over-riding influence, the significance and influence of the Junior Sports Policy is recognised, and the school’s sporting programme will be conducted and organised in accordance with this policy. Changes will be negotiated through the Sports Committee particularly if a result of specific variations agreed to by an Association.
OBJECTIVE 1 / Teachers, coaches and supervising adults with knowledge and skills to provide an appropriate, structured sporting programme.Policy 1.1 / All coaches should be encouraged to have at least a Level ‘O’ Coaching Certificate or take a coaching course during the season.
Actions / The school will refund relevant coaching courses and allocate an amount of money in its budget each year for this purpose.
The school will encourage team managers and prospective coaches to undertake Level ‘O’ Courses and other specific training courses by publicising the dates that they are held.
The Sport Sub-committees will prepare a ‘Coaches Kit’ to make prospective coaches aware of the school’s organised sports programme and the requirements of the individual sports.
Where necessary knowledgeable/experienced coaches will be employed to support students – cost to be sustained by individual sports.
Policy 1.2 / Sport in the school will be conducted where applicable in accordance with the Junior Sports Policy and in accordance with the Codes of Behaviour for students, coaches, parents, spectators, umpires and officials.
Actions / The school will provide to each sport coordinator copies of this Sports Policy. The Junior Sports Policy will be available for further consultation.
Each sport, when seeking and selecting coaches, should make them aware of the implications of the School Sports Policy and the Junior Sports Policy.
The school will inform coaches of the Codes of Behaviour and the school’s approach to behaviour management, in order to assist in the management of children at practices and matches.
The school will provide a copy of the School Sports Policy, on request, to parents of children playing organised sport.
Only children who are at least eight, or turn eight during the year of competition, may play competitive sport. Special circumstances will be negotiated with individual clubs.
Policy 1.3 / The nomination of coaches is the responsibility of the clubs, but each coach must be ratified by the School Council.
Actions / The clubs will notify the School Council through the Sports Committee, of its selected coach(s).
OBJECTIVE 2 / The establishment of links with community club sport.
Actions / The school will continue to make opportunities for introductory coaching sessions by a variety of sporting bodies, to be held as part of the school sporting programme.
The school will build and maintain strong links with local sporting clubs and assist children to progress to club based sport, by publicising a list of local sporting clubs and contacts in a simple brochure form.
OBJECTIVE 3 / Involved and informed parents.
Policy 3.1 / Parents are strongly encouraged to support their child’s participation in their selected sport(s).
Actions / Consent/medical forms for participation in the particular sport will include a list of the duties involved with that sport and a clear indication that by agreeing for the child to play, there is a commitment on the part of the parent to assist in performing some of those duties.
Team managers and organisers will establish rosters for the various duties associated with that sport where needed. Parents will need to manage their own transport arrangements.
Policy 3.2 / Each sport should establish a clear administrative structure and hold regular meetings to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of what is happening.
Actions / Each sport should have an initial meeting with coaches and team managers to establish the season’s programme, determine associated costs, outline their responsibilities and provide information regarding codes of behaviour and appropriate coaching techniques.
Coaches should attend sport meetings to ensure they are kept informed.
Each sport is to have representation on School Council’s Sports
sub-committee.
Minutes to be presented for School Council.
Policy 3.3 / Each sport should publish results of games in the school newsletter, with a one line positive comment if warranted.
OBJECTIVE 4 / The provision of quality equipment and a safe environment.
Policy 4.1 / Each sport is responsible for its equipment during the season.
Actions / Equipment is to be stored where it is safe from theft and deterioration by the weather.
At the end of each season, the equipment is to be stored at the school.
Each sport will assess its equipment needs annually and submit its budget application to the Sports Committee, which will assess the sport’s application and report to the Finance Committee.
To assist with budget applications, each sport should:
- keep a list of current uniforms, the year of purchase, life expectancy and approximate replacement cost
- the running costs of the sport, including affiliation and registration fees, umpires’ fees, equipment replacement, first aid and entrance fees
- the number of children playing the sport and the approximate cost per child.
Policy 4.2 / Equipment of an appropriate quality and size shall be available for all teams.
Actions / The standard of equipment shall be similar for all teams.
A range of protective equipment should be available for all children, in a range of sizes, so that it can be safely worn. Protective equipment shall be worn, as agreed by the sport.
Children engaged in outdoor sports in Terms 1 and 4, or when out in the sun for long periods, are to wear approved caps/hats as per school policy, and put on sunscreen at training and matches.
Practices for outdoor conditions will be cancelled if estimated temperature is 350C or over as per predicted by an early evening news service.
Each team will have a first aid kit, maintained up to date, and be on hand at training/practice and games.
OBJECTIVE 5 / The provision of quality programmes for the engagement and participation of both sexes.
Policy 5.1 / Children of all skill levels should be provided the opportunity to participate in a wide range of sports.
Actions / The school will take advantage of the introductory coaching offered by the different sporting bodies in school time.
The school will encourage the attendance at skills clinics for those children who are not eligible to compete in regular competition.
The school will continue to explore and implement methods to ensure that the recent growth in opportunities for girls to participate in sport continues.
Where there are enough players for two teams in the one grade, those teams should be, as far as practicable, of equal ability. Obviously there are other factors that may also determine team selection, eg friendships, accessibility to venue. The coaches of the respective teams need to meet to ensure the team combination is acceptable to all parties.
Children should generally play in their year level. Year 7’s should generally play in the highest grade unless there are clear reasons, such as a risk of injury because of low skill level, where this would present a safety problem.
To ensure that there are enough players for teams throughout the season, sports should set a minimum number of confirmed players before entering a team or teams. The inclusion of children from other schools should always be considered an option. However, these children and their parents need to be aware of the School Sports Policy.
OBJECTIVE 6 / A high level of participation and commitment
Policy 6.1 / Each child shall be given equal opportunity to participate in sport and improve their skills.
Actions / Coaches must ensure that all players, including players from other schools who are representing North Adelaide, are given equal amount of playing time and the opportunity to play in a variety of positions, with varying degrees of responsibility. This is best done by the coach and team manager preparing a roster system, and making all players and parents aware of what it is and why it is being used.
Results of competitive matches need to be monitored to ensure that students are participating in an ‘equal’ competition so that interest is maintained.
A participation trophy will be provided to students at the end of the year to acknowledge participation.
OBJECTIVE 7 / A clear administrative structure.
Policy 7.1 / The School Sports Policy will be maintained and implemented by the School Council through the Sports Sub-Committee.
Actions / The sub-committee will:
- monitor and discuss developments in junior sport
- regularly review the School Sports Policy and report annually to the School Council, seeking ratification of the policy
- provide a forum of clubs to discuss matters relating to school sport and the School Sports Policy
- provide advice to the Finance Committee regarding purchase of sports equipment and the funding of sport
- prepare a report for the school community, to be presented at the AGM
- one School Council representative
- a nominee of the Principal
- a representative of each sport
- other representative of the school community who wish to nominate.
Policy 7.2 / Grievances should be settled by the particular sport.
Actions / Any matters relating to the running of each sport or team should first be raised with the particular sport coordinator.
Where the problem remains unresolved, the school’s regular grievance procedures are to be used and brought to the attention of the Sports Committee or the Principal/delegate.
Policy 7.3 / The establishment of a new sport in the school needs the approval of School Council.
Actions / When introducing a new sport, negotiation with the Sports Committee needs to take place, considering
the canvassing of interest
awareness of Sports Policy
age levels
gender of teams
affiliation with established community clubs/associations
funding support
The Sports Committee forwards its recommendation to introduce a new sport to School Council.
K:\CLERICAL\Policies\Sport Policy.doc