Safety First

DUTY OF CARE

Cricket Blast Coordinators have a duty of care to all Cricket Blasters. This means taking the steps required to create a safe environment. 

The Following tips can help.

Cricket Australia recommends that the Marsh Sport Game Day Checklist is completed before each session.   

Before You Start

• Check the facilities for things that may get in the way of you running your sessions – blocked doorways, tripping hazards, steps.
• Remove or block off hazards and report any maintenance requests to the facility you’re using.
• Plan and set out your activities at the start of the session – you want to avoid setting up near windows when Cricket Blasters are hitting balls for example.
• Check your equipment for recommended ages.
• Talk through any risks with your Cricket Blasters, parents & the other volunteers.
• Make sure everyone knows where the fire exits are, and what to do if you need to evacuate.
• Clearly explain the safety tips behind each activity before the Cricket Blasters get involved.

During the Session

• Check gear isn’t being misused.
• Modify games to decrease safety risks and cater to all abilities.
• Use the ‘Change it Up’ section of activity cards to or get creative - keeping safety first.
  
  

Oh No – Something WENT WRONG!

Don’t panic, injuries can sometimes happen. That’s why Cricket Australia advises all Cricket Blast Coordinators to train in basic first aid including all procedures relating to children.

We’ve also put together a few tips to help when things don’t go perfectly to plan.

• Evaluate the injury - check out the DRSABCD.
• If you feel your Cricket Blaster can’t continue, contact their parent or guardian.
• With consent from the parent or guardian use your first aid to help your Cricket Blaster - i.e. RICER.
• Complete the Cricket Australia Incident Report in this document.

 

Insurance

All registered participants in the Cricket Blast program are eligible to be covered under the National Cricket Risk Protection Program.  If a participant is injured, medical costs that do not attract a Medicare rebate may be reimbursed. Parents should be referred to the Marsh Sport website for information about how to make a claim or find out more about the program.   

 

Weather

HEAT

We all know the Australian Summer can be a scorcher. But did you know that kids sweat less than adults? This makes them more prone to heat stress.

Kids are usually pretty good at listening to their bodies, so allow kids to exercise at their own pace, especially in hot weather.

Heat Stress Symptoms Include:

• Unsteadiness or obvious fatigue.
• Confusion.
• Pale skin.
• Dizziness or lightheaded.
• Nausea.

If you think one of your Cricket Blasters is showing signs of heat stress, take these steps:

1. Remove them from the area of play.
2. Lay them in a cool, shaded place.
3. Raise their legs to improve blood pressure.
4. Remove any excess clothing.
5. Cool them by wetting their skin or fanning them.
6. Apply ice packs to the groin, armpits, or neck.
7. Give them cool water.

This should see them recover quickly. If they remain ill, confused, are vomiting or show signs of altered consciousness call 000 immediately and seek medical help.

EXTREME WEATHER

Australia’s climate can vary significantly and with that comes exposure to more extreme conditions for Cricket Blast Sessions. Keep an eye on the weather forecast in the lead up to the session.

Wet conditions can mean slippery playing surfaces, and lightning, smoke pollution and high winds pose a risk to everyone when you are running sessions outside. 

Extreme weather? Before you cancel, consider these…

• Can you move your session indoors?
• Run some cricket trivia or info sessions?
• Modify activities to do them in the sheltered space you have.
• Look at the BOM and Department of Health for smoke pollution guidelines.

 

Child Safety

Kids play an important role in our game. THEY’RE THE NEXT generation, and it’s our job to keep them safe.

To help we’ve created Australian Cricket’s Framework for Safeguarding Children and Young People: supporting everyone in cricket to help create a child safe environment.

We do this by…

• Helping kids to understand their rights and how to get help.
• Helping parents and guardians understand this too.
• And supporting those delivering cricket with a framework, and resources to bring this to life.

All Woolworths Cricket Blast centres need to have the policies in place that make up this framework. To check out these policies and learn more, visit our website.

The right people working with children.

As detailed in the Looking After Our Kids Action plan available at www.cricket.com.au, ensure your volunteers have the right attitudes and capabilities to work with children by:

Recruiting: interviews and reference checks should be considered for certain roles, especially when people are joining from outside the club.

Screening: all volunteers working with children must have a Working with Children’s Checks, Blue Card, or if necessary, police check (as per the relevant state/territory laws).

Induction: all volunteers working with children should receive education about their role, and the expected behaviours, under Australian Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children and Young People and the Looking After Our Kids Code of Behaviour.

 

Australian Cricket - Looking After Our Kids

Everyone within our sport plays a role in protecting children and young people. In the event of an incident, disclosure, complaint, allegation or suspicion of child abuse, follow these important steps.

Child Welfare Departments

This document provides a list of all of the different state welfare departments.

Safety and Injury Prevention

This document provides the steps to RICER.

DRSABCD Action Plan

This document provides the steps to DRSABCD.

Cricket Australia - Incident Report Form

If an incident – or even a near miss – occurs across Australian Cricket please let us know. Incidents may be as small as a child tripping over a bag of bats, or a coordinator getting a ball to the eye – please download the document below and use the QR to report any mishaps.