Conisbrough Cricket Club is committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our children so they can train and play in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our club. If bullying does occur, all children should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a TELLING club. This means that anyone who knows the bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff and officials.

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.

Bullying can be:

Emotional : being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (eg hiding kit, threatening gestures)

Physical : pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence

Racist : racial taunts, graffiti, gestures

Sexual : unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments.

Homophobic : because of, or focusing on the issue of sexuality

Verbal : name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing

Cyber : All areas of internet, such as e-mail and internet chat room misuse. Mobile threats by text messaging and calls. Misuse of associated technology, i.e. camera, camera phone and video facilities.

The Importance of Responding to Bullying

Bullying hurts. No-one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Children who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving. All Cricket Clubs have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.

Policy Objectives

All officials, coaching and on-coaching staff, children and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.

All officials, coaching and non-coaching staff should know what the club policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.

All children and parents should know what the club policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.

As a club we take bullying seriously. Children and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.

Bullying will not be tolerated.

Signs and Symptoms

A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:

Says they are being bullies
Changes their usual routine
Is unwilling to go to the club
Becomes withdrawn, anxious, or lacking in confidence
Comes home with clothes torn or belongings damaged
Has possessions which are damaged or go missing
Asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)
Has unexplained cuts or bruises
Is frightened to say what is wrong
Gives improbable excuses for any of the above.

In more extreme cases, the child:

Starts stammering
Cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares
Becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
Is bullying other children or siblings
Stops eating
Attempts or threatens suicide or runs away.

These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated.

Procedures

Report bullying incidents to the Club Welfare Officer.

In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be reported to the ECB Child Protection Team for advice via the County Welfare Officer.

Parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem.

If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted.

The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly.

An attempt will be made to help the bully (or bullies) change their behaviour.

In cases of adults reported to be bullying cricketers under 18, the ECB must always be informed and will advise on action to be taken.

Prevention

As and when appropriate, the Club will use KIDSCAPE methods for helping children to prevent bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include:

Writing a set of club rules
Signing a behaviour contract
Having discussions about bullying and why it matters.