PREFACE
The Sandpoint Lacrosse Club is committed to treating all people with respect, dignity and fairness. These values, along with the basic right of all Lacrosse members to participate in an environment that is enjoyable, safe and healthy, has resulted in the Sandpoint Lacrosse Club developing specific objectives to create a safer and more tolerant sporting environment.
Lacrosse is not immune to acts of discrimination, harassment and abuse and in fact shares the common features of most sporting environments where close physical and emotional relationships can develop and inappropriate or unlawful behavior can take place.
The Sandpoint Lacrosse Club is both ethically and legally responsible to prevent discrimination and more specifically harassment from occurring in Lacrosse. The adoption of the Sandpoint Lacrosse Club Member Protection Policy reflects our commitment to serving and protecting its members and participants throughout all levels of the sport. This Policy is only one component of the overall strategy and the implementation and enforcement of this Policy will require ongoing commitment.
LEGAL NOTICE
The Sandpoint Lacrosse Club does not give legal advice to individuals. The information contained in this document is not and should not be considered as legal advice.
This Member Protection Policy covers issues that are the subject of federal and state laws. Every effort has been made to comply with relevant federal and state laws. It is important to obtain independent legal advice about any breach of this Policy.
The Sandpoint Lacrosse Club does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions contained in this Policy, or loss or damage however caused (including by negligence) which an organization or any of its members, employees or agents or any other person, may directly or indirectly incur that arises out of or in connection with the use of or reliance on this Policy.
1. Purpose of this Policy
This Policy aims to ensure our core values, good reputation and positive behaviors and attitudes are maintained. It assists us in ensuring that every person involved in our sport is treated with respect and dignity, and is safe and protected from abuse. This Policy also ensures that everyone involved in our sport is aware of his or her legal and ethical rights and responsibilities.
The Policy attachments provide the procedures that support our commitment to eliminating discrimination, harassment, child abuse and other forms of inappropriate behavior from our sport. As part of this commitment, the Sandpoint Lacrosse Club will take disciplinary action against any person bound by this Policy if they breach it.
This Policy has been endorsed by the Sandpoint Lacrosse Club Management Committee and copies of the Policy and its attachments can be obtained from our website at www.sandpointlacrosse.com or the WLC Secretary.
2. Who this Policy applies to
This Policy applies to the following, whether they are in a paid or unpaid/voluntary capacity:
Individuals sitting on committees and sub-committees;
Volunteers;
Support personnel (e.g. managers, sport trainers, scorers);
Coaches and assistant coaches;
Athletes and players;
Referees, umpires and other officials;
Members, including life members;
Parents, guardians, spectators and sponsors to the full extent that is possible.
This Policy will continue to apply to a person even after they have stopped their association with the Sandpoint Lacrosse Club if disciplinary action, relating to an allegation of child abuse against that person, has commenced.
3. Organizational Responsibilities
The Sandpoint Lacrosse Club must:
Adopt, implement and comply with this Policy;
Publish, distribute and otherwise promote this Policy and the consequences for breaching it;
Promote appropriate standards of conduct at all times;
Promptly deal with any breaches of or complaints made under this Policy in an impartial, sensitive, fair, timely and confidential manner;
Apply this Policy consistently without fear or favor;
Recognize and enforce any penalty imposed under this Policy;
Ensure that a copy of this Policy is available or accessible to the persons to whom this Policy applies;
Appoint or have access to appropriately trained people to receive and handle complaints and allegations and display the names and contact details in a way that is readily accessible; and
Monitor and review this Policy at least annually
4. Individual Responsibilities
Individuals bound by this Policy are responsible for:
Making themselves aware of the Policy and complying with the standards of conduct outlined in this Policy.
Consenting to a National Police Check if the individual holds or applies for a role that: Involves direct and unsupervised contact with people under the age of 18 years; Involves working with people under the age of 18 years; Involves regular contact with people under the age of 18 years
Complying with all other requirements of this Policy;
Co-operating in providing a discrimination, child abuse and harassment free sporting environment;
Understanding the possible consequences of breaching this Policy.
Policy Position Statements
The Sandpoint Lacrosse Club is committed to the safety and well being of all children and young people accessing our services. We support the rights of the child and will act without hesitation to ensure a child safe environment is maintained at all times. We also support the rights and well being of our staff and volunteers and encourage their active participation in building and maintaining a secure environment for all participants.
The Sandpoint Lacrosse Club places the safety and welfare of children above all other considerations. The Sandpoint Lacrosse Club requires that any child who is abused or anyone who reasonably suspects that a child has been or is being abused by someone within our sport, to report it immediately to the police or relevant government agency or the Sandpoint Lacrosse Club representative.
All allegations of child abuse will be dealt with promptly, seriously, sensitively and confidentially. A person will not be victimized for reporting an allegation of child abuse and the privacy of all persons concerned will be respected.
Refer to our procedures for handling allegations of child abuse.
If anyone bound by this Policy reasonably suspects that a child is being abused by his or her parent/s, they are advised to contact the relevant government department for youth, family and community services in their state/territory.