Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding Policy
1. Policy Statement
The Coventry Blaze Junior Ice Hockey Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people involved in our sport. Every young person — regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation — has the right to feel safe and protected from harm.
This policy outlines how the Academy creates a secure and inclusive environment, responds to concerns, and promotes best safeguarding practices.
2. Purpose and Scope
This policy applies to:
All coaches, staff, volunteers, officials, Trustees, and committee members
Parents and carers
Children and young people participating in club activities
Sponsors and any other guest of the academy
It aligns with:
Children Act 1989 and 2004
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)
Keeping Children Safe in Sport (NSPCC)
England Ice Hockey (EIH) Safeguarding Policy
3. Definitions
Child/Young Person: Anyone under 18.
Adult at Risk: A person aged 18 or over who is vulnerable due to disability, illness, or mental health.
Safeguarding: The proactive approach to protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm.
Abuse includes:
Physical
Emotional
Sexual
Neglect
Bullying (including online abuse)
4. Roles and Responsibilities
Trustees/Committee Members
Hold strategic responsibility for ensuring the club’s safeguarding measures are effective and embedded in club culture.
Act as an alternative reporting route for any safeguarding concern.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Lead on safeguarding practices and policies.
Be the primary point of contact for concerns.
Maintain confidential safeguarding records.
Liaise with statutory agencies and EIH.
Coaches, Volunteers, Managers and Officials
Promote a safe, inclusive environment.
Complete safeguarding training.
Report concerns appropriately and without delay.
Parents and Carers
Engage with the Academy’s safeguarding measures.
Report concerns and communicate openly with the club.
Children and Young People
Treat others respectfully.
Speak up if they feel unsafe or worried.
5. Safer Recruitment
All staff and volunteers working with children must:
Undergo an Enhanced DBS check
The Academy reserve the right to request references
Complete safeguarding induction and training
Understand their safeguarding responsibilities
6. Training and Awareness
The Academy requires all coaches, volunteers, and staff to:
Complete safeguarding training approved by EIH and/or NSPCC
Renew training at least every 3 years
Attend briefings or workshops when new risks or guidance emerge
7. Reporting Concerns
What to Report
Concerns might include but not limited to:
A child being harmed or at risk of harm
A child disclosing abuse
Inappropriate behaviour by another adult or child
Unsafe practices during club/league activities
Who to Report To
We understand that raising a concern can be difficult. It is more important that a concern is reported — rather than necessarily who it is reported to.
Concerns may be reported to:
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Any Academy Trustee/Committee Member
Any trusted adult involved with the club
All reports will be taken seriously and acted upon in line with statutory and club procedures. The welfare of the child is always the primary concern.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
How to Report
Speak directly to a DSL, Trustee, Manager or Coach
Submit concerns via email to a Trustee/Committee Member or the DSL
Contact the NSPCC or Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Important: The club’s standard 24-hour internal reporting rule for operational issues does not apply to safeguarding. Safeguarding concerns should be reported immediately, no matter the day, time, or circumstance.
Reports will be managed sensitively and confidentially.
8. Whistleblowing
The Academy supports an open environment where staff, volunteers, and members feel confident to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.
If someone is unable or unwilling to raise a concern through usual channels, they can:
Report directly to an Academy Trustee/Committee Member
Contact the EIH Safeguarding Team as a whistleblower
Use the NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline: 0800 028 0285
9. Code of Conduct
All adults working with young people in the Academy must:
Maintain clear professional boundaries
Be role models for respectful and safe behaviour
Never use abusive language or intimidation
Avoid one-to-one situations unless necessary and risk-assessed
Report any breach of conduct they observe
10. Online Safety and Social Media
To safeguard players in digital spaces:
Coaches and staff must not privately message players of any age
Communication should go through parents/guardians where possible
Social media content involving children must be approved and appropriate
Consent must be obtained before sharing player images or personal information online
11. Changing Room and Supervision Guidelines
Changing areas can present safeguarding risks, especially with a mix of age groups. The following standards apply:
General Guidelines
Males and Females may use the same changing rooms provided players are wearing skins
Separate changing rooms can be arranged at the request of any player
Always supervised by a responsible Enhanced DBS checked adult
Supervising adults must remain near the doors of the changing room and to proceed to the main area unless an emergency
Adults must not change or shower with players
Phones and recording devices are prohibited
Players are expected to behave respectfully and appropriately
Players must never be left in a changing room without a responsible adult either in or just outside the room.
No adult who does not hold an Enhanced DBS is permitted in the changing rooms whilst young people are there.
17 and 18-Year-Olds Sharing Facilities
Players aged 17 and 18 may share changing facilities as part of the same junior team
Club staff must remember that 17-year-olds are still legally children
Any 17-year-old who is uncomfortable may request to change separately — this will be accommodated discreetly
Coaches must ensure no younger player is left alone with an adult or older peer in the changing area
The club maintains a duty of care for all players in mixed-age and mixed-gender environments
12. Transport and Trips
Parents/carers are responsible for normal travel to/from games and training
If the club organises transport, written consent will be required
Staff and volunteers must not transport children alone in private vehicles
13. Photography and Filming
To ensure respectful use of player images:
Parental consent is required for any photography or filming
Photos/videos must be appropriate and never taken in changing rooms
Shared images will not include identifiable personal information
13.1 - Personal Devices and Coaching
The Coventry Blaze Junior Ice Hockey Academy prioritises the safety, privacy, and wellbeing of all players. To minimise risks, the use of personal devices for coaching purposes is not permitted, except in exceptional circumstances where written permission has been granted by the Club Chair.
General Rule
Coaches, volunteers, and managers must not use personal devices (phones, tablets, laptops, cameras, or wearable tech) to photograph, film, or store images/videos of players without prior approval.
Direct one-to-one communication with players under 18 via personal devices — including calls, texts, messaging apps, and social media — is strictly prohibited.
Exceptional Use with Permission
Written permission from the Club Chair must be obtained before using a personal device for any recording or photography.
Permission will only be granted for specific, time-limited purposes where no club device is available.
Parental/carer consent must be in place before any recording is made.
All content captured must be transferred to a secure club system as soon as possible and deleted from the personal device immediately after transfer.
Rationale
This controlled approach ensures:
All media and communications are managed transparently
Safeguarding and data protection requirements are upheld
Players, coaches, and volunteers are protected from inappropriate use or allegations
Breach of Policy
Any unauthorised use of a personal device for coaching purposes will be treated as a safeguarding concern and may lead to:
Disciplinary action by the club
Withdrawal of coaching responsibilities
Referral to safeguarding authorities if necessary
13.2 - Game Day Filming & Photography Policy
The Coventry Blaze Junior Ice Hockey Academy allows photography and filming of games from designated spectator areas, provided it is done safely, respectfully, and in line with safeguarding principles.
Notification
The club will make all members aware at the start of the season that games may be filmed or photographed for personal and club use.
Notices will be displayed at games stating:
“Photography and filming may take place during this event. Please speak to the Team Manager or Designated Safeguarding Lead if you have any concerns.”
Opt-Out Requests
Any parent/carer of the away team who does not wish their child to be filmed or photographed must inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Team Manager, who should in turn notify the Academy Team Manager.
The club will follow the filming consents for the academy players obtained at the start of the season unless notified otherwise.
The club will take reasonable steps to ensure the child is not filmed or photographed during games.
Where filming is not permitted the announcer will make the below announcement:
“A quick reminder to all spectators: photography and video recording are not permitted at this game. This is to ensure we meet our safeguarding responsibilities and protect the privacy and welfare of all players on the ice. We kindly ask that you put away cameras, phones, and any recording devices for the duration of the game. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation — and let’s enjoy a great game of hockey!”
Where and How Filming Can Take Place
Filming and photography are permitted only from designated spectator areas.
Filming from the bench, penalty box, changing rooms, or other restricted areas is strictly prohibited.
Live streaming is permitted only via official club channels.
Sharing Content
Parents may share images or video of their own child but must not post identifiable images of other children without permission.
The club reserves the right to request removal of any content that breaches safeguarding or privacy rules.
14. Review and Monitoring
This policy will be:
Reviewed annually by the DSL and Trustee Board/Committee
Updated following serious incidents, new guidance, or significant changes to activity
Shared with all coaches, staff, and volunteers
Available to parents and carers upon request
15. Contact Information
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Jay Bearman
safeguarding@coventryblazeacademy.co.uk
Academy Chair
Cheryl Brookes
admin@coventryblazeacademy.co.uk
NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000
https://www.nspcc.org.uk
Emergency Services
Call 999
16. Creating a Safe Culture for Parents and Carers
At Coventry Blaze Junior Ice Hockey Academy, we are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to keep young people safe. We recognise that parents and carers are key safeguarding partners who know their children best and may be the first to notice when something isn’t right.
We actively encourage parents to:
Raise concerns, however small they may seem
Ask questions about safeguarding procedures or decisions
Speak to any coach, DSL, Manager or Trustee/Committee Member if they feel something isn’t right
No parent should ever feel that they will be judged, blamed, or dismissed for bringing up a safeguarding concern.
If a parent or carer feels uncomfortable speaking to their child’s coach, they are welcome to speak directly to the DSL, another trusted adult in the club, or a Trustee/Committee Member. Concerns raised by parents will be handled with the same level of seriousness, respect, and care as any other safeguarding concern.
17. Creating a Safe Culture for Coaches, Managers, and Volunteers
We recognise that coaches, team managers, and volunteers are often on the frontline of safeguarding. They may be the first to spot a concern or receive a disclosure from a child. We are committed to ensuring that every adult in a position of trust at the Coventry Blaze Junior Ice Hockey Academy feels safe, supported, and protected when raising safeguarding concerns.
We actively promote a safeguarding culture where:
Raising a concern is always the right thing to do — regardless of who it involves
Staff and volunteers are never made to feel like they are overreacting or being disloyal
Concerns about peers, parents, or senior individuals are taken seriously
The club protects whistleblowers from retaliation or negative treatment
Volunteers and staff are not expected to be “sure” of a safeguarding issue — they only need to report a concern or worry, and the club will take the appropriate next steps.
18. Reporting Unsafe Game Environments or Officials
Unsafe Game Situations
If a player, coach, volunteer, manager or parent believes that a game is unsafe, they should report the concern as soon as possible.
Examples include:
Dangerous play not being addressed
Unsafe ice conditions
Aggressive behaviour from spectators or players
Inadequate supervision
How to Report Unsafe Game Situations
Immediately notify the team manager, coach, or DSL present
If the issue continues, escalate it post-game to the DSL or a Trustee/Committee Member
Do not interrupt anyone who is actively involved in the running of the game.
Do not approach anyone on the bench.
Note: There is no 24-hour waiting rule for safeguarding. Concerns should be raised immediately.
Concerns About Referees or Officials
Examples of concern:
Failing to stop repeated dangerous play
Using inappropriate language or tone
Ignoring bullying or violent conduct
Biased or intimidating behaviour
How to Report Officials
During a game: Report to the coach, team manager, or DSL if present. Do not approach anyone who is actively involved in the running of the game.
After the game: Report to the DSL or Trustee/Committee member (Noting Section 7, “Who to report to”)
If required: DSL may escalate to the league or EIH Safeguarding Lead
All concerns about officials will be treated seriously and confidentially.