Important Information For Senior Players

The ECB issued a directive that by April 2005 every club must appoint a Club Welfare Officer who is responsible for child protection for young people. Your cricket committee appointed me in February 2004. St.Annes Cricket Club has adopted all the ECB polices and procedures relating to child protection and hence the need for everyone who comes into contact with the under 18 age group to be aware of what is required of them.

My role as Club Welfare Officer is to be first point of contact for any person in this cricket club who has a concern about child welfare and protection. I will assist in the raising of awareness of others in the club in respect of child protection i.e. the other sections associated with the club. At present there are a number of people who are being prosecuted for abuse against children in the Lancashire Cricket area and consequently we must take child protection very seriously indeed.

The under 16-age group is well catered for with the new procedures we have adopted for the Junior Section. Some under 18s play in the senior teams and the forms their parents complete cover them for playing alongside adult players in the senior teams. Those players aged between 16 and 18 who play in the senior teams need their parents to complete a “player profile” form and a form relating to changing facilities. These are available from team captains.

An important part of the new ECB guidelines which you as players need to be aware of is that it is recommended that adults should not change or shower at the same time using the same facility as young people. If adults and young people need to share a changing facility, the Club must have consent from their parents. If young people are uncomfortable changing or showering with adults, no pressure should be placed on them to do so. They should be encouraged to do this at home. This is something that you as adults need to be aware of.

Cameras or camera phones must not be used in the changing rooms by anyone and any breach of this rule will be taken very seriously indeed.

Anyone who is due to turn 18 during the coming season will need to complete a “player profile” form as a junior and also a “Self Declaration form” which the adult players are being asked to complete.

The ECB requires every adult player who is a member of this club to complete a self-declaration form (sent to each senior player on 24th January 2006). This is to be returned to me in the envelope provided as soon as possible please. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence. This can be posted back in the envelope provided or handed to your team captain for passing on to me. CRB checks are not being carried out on players at this time (except team captains) unless you declare something on this form, which may require such a check to take place. All speeding offences must be disclosed. If you have a query/question relating to the form please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

As a Club we need to adopt “good practice” with our youngsters and everyone can play their part in that. We have a good junior section here and we hope that the senior players will help with the development of these youngsters.

I will liase with all the senior team captains during the season and hope that they and all senior members will take the responsibility for keeping an eye (player mentoring) on the youngsters on a week-by-week basis.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Gerry Thomas

Note: All senior playing members were sent a form on 24th January 2006 along with the annual Winter players letter. If any player has not got a form please contact either Gerry Thomas or Russ Bradley.