Sports Safety Guidelines

SPORTS SAFETY GUIDELINES
for users of Manly Council sporting facilities

In the interests of community sports safety and injury prevention, Manly Council has developed the following Sports Safety Guidelines for all users, both permanent and one-off, of Manly Council's sporting facilities.

The purpose...
To ensure that all users of Manly Council's sporting facilities:

  • adopt good sports safety practices and
  • are aware of how they can make participation in their sport as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Manly Council expects all users to abide by the minimum requirements. The additional recommendations should be implemented to the best of the user’s capacity.

Induction and Training Workshops
Manly Council will conduct an Induction and Training Workshop for sports user groups/clubs at the start of each sporting season.

At least one representative from each user group/club is required to attend this workshop. Council will also hold, or be able to refer users to, a range of sports safety and injury prevention resources and training to help users to comply with these guidelines.

Please note:

  • failure to comply with the minimum requirements may result in the suspension of the user’s access to grounds and facilities
  • Manly Council will conduct occasional audits of user’s compliance with these requirements to monitor their implementation.

Need more information?
For further information about sports safety and how your club can ensure safe and enjoyable participation in sport, contact:

Thank you for your cooperation and help in making participation in community sport in Manly safer.

SPORTS SAFETY MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

All users of Manly Council sporting facilities must adhere to the following sports safety requirements. In addition, users MUST adhere to the Safety Policies and Guidelines (including Codes of Behaviour) recommended by the governing body for their specific sport.

1. Nominate a Contact Person

Provide council with contact details of a representative at the start of every season who will be the nominated contact person for the length of the season. The person will be responsible for ensuring that the Sports Safety Guidelines are implemented by the group/club.

This person will be expected to:

  1. attend (or nominate a proxy to attend) an Induction and Training Workshop at the start of each season
  2. report any significant incidents or injury to Manly Council
  3. be available to liaise with Council about safety and ground/facilities maintenance and management issues as required.

2. Maintain Public Liability Insurance

  • ensure the user group/club maintains a current Public Liability Insurance Policy for a minimum of $10,000,000.

3. Conduct Safety Inspection of Playing Surface and Facilities

  • remove minor safety hazards before use
  • ensure all fittings and fixtures are safe before use
  • notify Manly Council’s Contractor of safety hazards requiring Council attention
  • DO NOT use the grounds/facility if safety hazards cannot be rectified, or if the inspection indicates the ground/facility is unsafe to use

4. Weather

  • comply with Manly Council wet weather line Ph: 9976 1699
  • suspend or cancel play during adverse weather conditions, including electrical storms and excessively heavy rain

5. Have an Emergency Action Plan

  • ensure access to a telephone at all times
  • ensure designated clear and unlocked access for emergency vehicles at all times
  • have appropriate strategies for dealing with head and spinal injury
  • notify Manly Council of any significant injuries or other incidents.

6. Child Protection

  • comply with all relevant Child Protection legislation in NSW

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

It is strongly recommended that users of Manly Council sporting grounds ensure the following:

  1. A fully stocked First Aid Kit, including ice packs, is on site and available at all times
  2. A qualified First Aid Provider (with knowledge of CPR) is in attendance at all competitions and training
  3. Referees, Umpires, Coaches & Officials have appropriate and up to date qualifications
  4. Players wear appropriate protective equipment and/or clothing at all competitions and training. This equipment should be properly fitted and comply with relevant standards
  5. Bleeding injuries are promptly and appropriately managed to prevent or minimise the spread of infection
  6. Players complete adequate and appropriate warm-up, stretching and cool-down exercises at all competitions and training
  7. Clean drinking water and individual drink containers are always available
  8. Spectators are adequately separated from the playing area
  9. Relevant medical and injury history information is collected from players at the start of the season and is updated throughout the season. Coaches and officials should be made aware of any players with specific medical or injury conditions (eg. asthma, epilepsy, infection, back injury, etc)
  10. Appropriate action is taken to protect players, spectators and officials from over-exposure to the sun
  11. Appropriate steps are taken to prevent the spread of infectious diseases
  12. People under the influence of alcohol or drugs are not permitted to participate in any activity on Council grounds or facilities

Important contacts

WET WEATHER LINE 9976 1699
MANLY COUNCIL (General) 9976 1500
MANLY COUNCIL’s CONTRACTORS
Luhrmann Environment Management 0410 411 215
Around the Grounds 0419 924 053 (LM Graham)
EMERGENCY 000
MANLY HOSPITAL 9976 9611