Sevenoaks Hockey Club has a duty of care to safeguard its members, and its Health & Safety Policy forms a vital part of that process. Its general policy is:

To provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our sporting activities.
To consult with all who are working on behalf of the club on matters affecting their health and safety.
To provide and maintain a safe playing environment and equipment.
To provide information, instructions and supervision of coaches and other volunteers.
To ensure that coaches and other volunteers are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training.
To prevent accidents.
To maintain safe and healthy working conditions.
To review and revise this policy as necessary.

Risk Assessment

In order to discharge its responsibilities, individual coaches and other volunteers working for Sevenoaks Hockey Club will endeavour to assess the risks at the place of activities (at each home venue), using the following five steps:

Look for the hazards.
Decide who might be at risk.
Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done.
Record the findings.
Review the assessment and revise it if necessary.

Good Practice for Coaches

It is good practice to:

Have a first aid box with you at all times, and know how to use it for minor injuries and where to summon help for major injuries, as stated in the Club’s First Aid Procedures document.
Always have access to a mobile phone for contacting the emergency services.
Familiarise yourself with any emergency procedures appropriate for the particular venue.
Check the facilities you use meet safety standards, that the area is safe and free from obstacles or other dangers such as glass, animal excrement, etc.
Make sure that players are appropriately dressed for the activity (shin pads, mouth guards, tracksuit) and surface (boots/trainers). Pay special attention to goalkeepers.
Improve your competency by attending sports specific and generic training courses.

In respect to the Junior Section:

Maintain a register of attendance, together with medical information and emergency contact details.
Check that facility equipment and personal equipment is kept in a good state of repair and is suitable for the age and ability of the players.
Establish participants’ previous experience, and schedule the frequency and length of practice and games to take into account the age and ability of players.
Raise ongoing concerns with the Club Child Protection Officer in order that preventative action can be determined and the procedures revised.