Galway City Harriers is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of all of its members. We will provide an environment, which will allow them to perform to the best of their ability, free from bullying and intimidation.

We will strive to create a positive environment whilst encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle through our sporting activities.

Each member of the club will at all times, show respect and understanding for the rights of others, their safety and welfare and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles and guidelines of the club and as contained in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport.

Leaders should familiarize themselves with the Governing Bodies Code, in particular the Code of Conduct.

• Leaders should read below and agree to abide by these terms. Leaders should update the self-declaration question annually.

As a Leader in the Galway City Harriers I agree that I should:

• Be positive during training sessions and competitions, praise and encourage effort as well as results.
• Put welfare of young people first, strike a balance between this and winning/results.
• Encourage fair play and treat participants equally.
• Recognise developmental needs, ensuring activities and appropriate for the individual.
• Have experience relevant to working with young people or hold up-to-date qualifications and be committed to the guidelines in this Code.

• Involve parents where possible and inform parents when problems arise.
• Keep record of attendance at training and competitions.
• Keep a brief record of injury(s) and action taken.
• Keep a brief record of problem/action/outcome, if behavioural problems arise.
• Report any concerns in accordance with this Code’s reporting procedures.

Where possible I will avoid:

• Spending excessive amounts of time with children away from others.
• Taking training sessions alone with an athlete.
• Taking children on journeys alone in my car.

Sports Leaders should not:

• Use any form of physical punishment or physical force on a child.
• Exert undue influence over a participant in order to obtain personal benefit or reward.
• Take children to their home.
• Engage in rough physical games, sexually provocative games or allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any kind, and/or make sexually suggestive comments about, or to a child. This includes innuendo, flirting or inappropriate gesture and terms.

• Take measurements or engage in certain types of fitness testing without the presence of another adult.
• Undertake any form of therapy (hypnosis, etc.) in the training of children.

• Be a role model for your child and maintain the highest standards of conduct when interacting with children, other parents, with officials and organizers.
• Always behave responsibly and do not seek to unfairly affect the competition or training your child is participating in.
• Never intentionally expose any young participant to embarrassment or disparagement by the use of flippant or sarcastic remarks.
• Always recognize the value and importance of the volunteers who engage in sporting/recreational opportunities for your child. Do not publicly question the judgment or honesty of officials, coaches, organizers, or other athletes.
• Encourage your child to participate within the rules. Teach your child that honest endeavor is as important as winning and to do all they can to encourage good sportsmanship.
• Set a good example by applauding other participants. Encourage mutual respect for individual competitors, team mates and all participants in specific events.
• Parents should support all efforts to remove abusive behavior and bullying behavior in all its forms.
• Parents should never be seen to actively coach their child during competition either inside or outside of the track or cross-country course.