The Melton Centrals Cricket Club Inc has a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for all people associated with the clubs activities. In doing so, MCCC will take a positive role in educating and increasing the awareness of it’s registered players towards injury prevention and management and relevant health issues.
Background
The promotion of physical activities is an important issue for Australia’s health. Physical activity provides many positive health outcomes, however, increasing physical activity also brings increased risk of injury. Sporting injuries can be a barrier to participation in sport and physical activity. The prevention of these injuries is a key public health issue to be addressed in line with promoting increased physical activity.
Policy
1.0 General
The provision of safe environments is essential for all participants in club activities. It is therefore necessary that those conducting the activities:
1.1 Recognise the physical and emotional differences between participants.
1.2 Are sensitive to the long and short-term medical conditions of participants.
1.3 Insist that cricket facilities and equipment are appropriate and safe.
1.4 Insist that participants wear the appropriate protective equipment.
1.5 Create quality-learning environments by encouraging accreditation for coaches.
1.6 Encourage coaches and parents to learn and maintain current first aid qualifications.
2.0 Physiological Considerations
2.1 General
Warm up and cool down exercises should accompany all cricket activities. Repetitive training and endurance activities should be avoided, such as long distance running; to ensure that developing skeletal joints and muscles of young players are not injured.
2.2 Body Temperature Regulation
Younger people have a larger skin surface area to body mass ratio than adults. Immature sweat glands are more susceptible to heat loss and/or gain. Training sessions should therefore be no longer than 30 minutes in duration in conditions of extreme temperature (over 30) and /or humidity (over50%). During matches guide lines set out by the competitions Associations should be followed.
3.0 Fluid
People do not instinctively drink enough fluids to replace the amount generally lost during physical activity. A regular pattern of fluid intake should be encouraged as part of all practise and playing activities. Heat stress and weight loss through dehydration can be extremely dangerous. The MCCC recommends that all participants bring their own drink bottles filled with water or mineral replacements to all practise sessions and matches.
4.0 Stress
People experience stress in sport activities as a consequence of parent, coach and officials’ attitudes and expectations. Adults should not impose unrealistic goals on young participants, but instead offer support and encouragement.
Refer also to the Codes of Conduct adopted by MCCC.
5.0 Drugs and Sport
The use of drugs does affect sporting performance, general health and wellbeing. Education about the use/misuse of drugs should be made available to young people in order to develop appropriate attitudes and an understanding of the issues.
6.00 Nutrition
The nutritional needs of cricket participants are affected by their level of activity, and correlates to player performance.
7.0 Sun Exposure
Club Officials recognise the need for sun protection and offer shaded areas at venues and events for both players and spectators. Participants are encouraged to wear protective clothing, appropriate headwear and apply a minimum 50+ sunscreen on exposed skin. Juniors must wear wide brim hats during games.
8.0 Medical Considerations
Some people have medical conditions that may be affected by their participation in cricket. Coaches and officials need to be made aware, and be sensitive to the participants with long term conditions, such as asthma, epilepsy or heart and lung conditions and be able to deal with any emergency. Medical advice should be sought when the condition or fitness or performance of a participant is questioned or when recovery from Illness or injury is in doubt.
Refer also to the standard medical profile form to be completed by all players.
9.00 Facilities and Equipment
Coaches and officials of the MCCC should:
8.1 Maintain safe facilities and equipment.
8.2 Adequately supervise participants during training and matches.
8.3 Ensure that protective equipment is available for use during training and matches.
8.4 Insist that protective equipment is fitted correctly.
8.5 Cancel training, practise sessions and competitive matches where there is evidence of unsafe playing conditions.