Gymnast Welfare, Club Policies & Procedures

Pastoral Care at NCGTA

The welfare of all of our gymnasts is a priority for the team.

Our goal at NCGTA is to help both children and adults reach their goals in the world of gymnastics. From recreational classes for children who just enjoy the classes, learning new skills and meeting new friends, to our Squad gymnasts who train hard to go on to compete at Regional, County and National events.

The key for us making things work, is creating a safe, warm and welcoming environment.

All of our Coaches work hard to not only teach the children; but to also make them feel comfortable and let them know that they can come to them at any point.

Code of Conduct – Gymnasts

  • Please be ready for your session 5 minutes before you are due to start, (please make sure you have been to the toilet before)

  • If you are more than 10 minutes late you may not be able to join your class as the warm up would have already started.

  • Hydration is essential during sport so every gymnast must bring a drink to every session. Still water or juices are preferred to energy drinks or fizzy drinks.

  • Do not bring any food, including chewing gum, to eat during sessions.

  • Remove all jewellery, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. Please wear earring tape; we do not provide this. If you do not have earring tape, you will not be able to participate.

  • Hair is to be tied back securely – in a bun.

  • Clothing: leotard and shorts for girls and boys. Or shorts/sports leggings and t-shirts. If you are not wearing suitable clothing you will not be able to take part in your session. Squad gymnasts wear a club training leotard as well as a separate leotard for competitions.

  • You are not permitted on any equipment until your coach has advised you to do so.

  • Please listen to your coach at all times and follow their instructions.

  • All members are expected to maintain a good standard of behaviour at all times and must treat all coaches & fellow gymnasts with respect. Should poor behaviour be displayed on a regular basis the coach will contact the parent / carer to ask that they are collected. Should this behaviour continue the participant will be asked to leave the club.

  • Failure to attend your class on a regular basis without a valid reason and prior notification will result in losing your place.

  • Any injuries that have occurred within the gym must be reported to a coach in order that the relevant accident forms are completed.

  • Any discipline matters or concerns should be discussed with the gymnast’s coach or alternatively with Head Coach at a mutually convenient time.

  • No mobile phones in the gym. Please leave them at home or with your belongings at your own risk.

Code of Conduct – Parents

  • Parents are not permitted to enter the gym.

  • If you wish to watch your child train, please watch in the designated viewing area on the mezzanine floor, and watch on the monitor. 

  • If you need to get a message to your child ask a member of staff and they will ensure that your child is advised.

  • During 1-1 private lessons parents are not allowed in the gym.

  • Leave the coaching to the coaches; the coaches need to have the full attention and concentration of all their gymnasts at all times so that the gymnasts can perform to their best and correctly understand instructions.

  • Parents should not pressurise their children or offer coaching advice, but should be supportive of their child and be patient with the child’s progress as every child will improve and mature at different times.

  • Coaches will not discuss the progress or decisions made regarding any other gymnast apart from your own. Please do not ask to save embarrassment. Coaches decision is final.

  • If your child has sustained an injury at home please inform your child’s coach before the session. If your child is not going to be attending a session because of illness or injury or they cannot make it for any other reason, please contact the NCGTA office to inform us.

  • Payment for recreational classes needs to be made in full. Your child will not be able to attend until this payment has been made. Cancellation terms are half a term’s notice.

  • All fees for Squad members will go through direct debit to pay for their child’s attendance. Any difficulties with this please contact finance@cotswoldclubhouse.co.uk. Cancellation terms are one month notice.

  • Any competition entered by a squad or recreational gymnast will not be refunded if they leave the club or can’t attend due to illness or any other circumstance. 

  • Any competition or hand made leotard ordered will not be refunded if the gymnast leaves or if they do not want the item. The club will help resell the item for the full price if not worn and will give the sales money to the leaving gymnast.

  • If you know you will be late paying your fees please advise the finance director or direct email to finance@cotswoldclubhouse.co.uk.

  • If you are experiencing financial difficulties please inform Caroline Gill or finance@cotswoldclubhouse.co.uk (this will be kept completely confidential)

  • Your gymnast will need to be ready for their session 5 minutes before their class starts having already been to the toilet and have a drink with them or a snack for longer training sessions.

  • Please allow plenty of time to gain entry through the door due to change over classes.

  • Photography is not permitted at any time.

  • It is not acceptable to be abusive or rude to any member of staff at any time. This will result in immediate cancellation of membership.

  • Inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated in the Club. Any Parent/Guardian receiving 3 separate warnings will be asked to leave and may result in cancellation of membership.

  • Gymnasts must be collected on time. We are unable to let gymnasts leave the building without a suitable adult / parent collecting them. In order to safeguard our gymnasts, we are required to contact the Local Authority if your child is either, not collected regularly, or more than 20 minutes late.

  • If you have any complaints or concerns please email caroline@cotswoldclubhouse.co.uk and Caroline will respond within working hours only and at her earliest convenience. Please do not call or text mobile her personal mobile, she will not respond.

  • All Members must adhere to NCGTA Policies and Procedures which are located on our NCGTA website and a present copy in our Gym folder.

Anti-Bullying

Our club ethos is to provide all our members with a happy, safe and fulfilling experience when attending our gymnastic club. We hope to help all our gymnasts achieve their potential by raising their self-esteem, giving positive feedback and ensuring all our sessions are structured and fun. Our aim is that all participants work as a team, especially our squads. Although we do encourage healthy competition, we ensure that gymnasts respect each other’s development as every gymnast is unique and learns at different paces.

There are different sorts of bullying, but the three main types are:

  • Physical hitting, kicking, taking or hiding belongings (including money)

  • Verbal name calling, teasing, insulting, writing unkind notes

  • Emotional abuse: being unfriendly, excluding others, tormenting, spreading rumours and nasty looks.

Bullying is an anti-social behaviour which will not be tolerated in our club; it undermines the confidence, self-esteem and happiness of the victim and can lead to lack of concentration, depression and in some cases leaving the club.

Gymnasts, parents, coaches must not post unfavourable, personal or disrespectful comments regarding gymnasts, coaches or club staff on social/public networks.

Any concerns regarding bullying can be reported directly to the manager or Head Coach. Concerns will be dealt with immediately. We will listen to ‘both sides’ in private and record information to report to the parents of the children involved. We will involve the parents and children in deciding the outcome and any sanctions which may need to take place to ensure the bully changes their behaviour.

In cases where bullying continues after warnings and sanctions, the bully will be asked to leave our club.

  • All Members must adhere to NCGTA Policies and Procedures which are located on our NCGTA website and a present copy in our Gym folder.

Complaints and Grievances

North Cotswolds Gymnastics & Trampolining Academy places the welfare and safety of its members as its highest priority.

The Club is bound by the British Gymnastics Procedures for complaints, disciplinary issues, membership suspensions and expulsions. Copies of the British Gymnastics Complaints Procedure (and all other procedures) are available from British Gymnastics.

Any major problems please contact the club owner by email: caroline@cotswoldclubhouse.co.uk

  • All Members must adhere to NCGTA Policies and Procedures which are located on our NCGTA website and a present copy in our Gym folder.

Safeguarding policy

NCGTA’s policies have been adapted from the British Gymnastics Health and Safety and Child Protection Policies. This code of ethics was written with specific reference to parents and gymnasts. However, most aspects of this code are also applicable to other people involved in the sport.

NCGTA Safeguarding Children Commitment Statement:

“In a situation where a child is at risk of significant harm or has been harmed in connection with their involvement in gymnastics, the parent/carer should contact the club Welfare Officer who has the responsibility of referring any concerns of possible abuse to Children’s Social Care Service/Social Services and/or the Police and informing British Gymnastics. Alternatively, the parent/carer can contact Children’s Social Care Service/Social Services and/or the Police direct. It is requested that where a parent/carer has made a direct referral to the Children’s Social Care Service/Social Services and/or the Police, that the British Gymnastics Safeguarding and Compliance Officer and, if appropriate the club welfare officer is provided with the details of the concern as soon as possible so that any necessary action can be taken to safeguard all children in the sport”

The welfare officer is available via telephone or email.

Title Welfare officer

Name Caroline Gill

Contact 01451 263130

email caroline@cotswoldclubhouse.co.uk

NCGTA  ask that if you wish to know more about the Child Protection Policies please read the following documents on the British Gymnastics website.

– Health and safety documents https://www.british-gymnastics.org/ >Ethics and Welfare>Downloads>Health, Safety and Welfare Documents>Health, safety and welfare policy.

– Child protection https://www.british-gymnastics.org/ >Ethics and Welfare>Downloads>Child Protection Policy Documents>Safeguarding and Protecting Children Policy.

Social media:

Coaching staff who are over the age of 16 are not permitted to communicate directly with any gymnast under the age of 18 outside of the club. Through: text, internet chat rooms, social networks.

  • Communication to gymnasts under the age of 18 must be through parents or through the club email.

  • We advise that coaches over the age of 16 have private social media accounts to protect their privacy. It is important to be aware of the content you may be sharing on social networks and to maintain your professionalism at all times.

  • Gymnasts, parents, coaches must not post unfavourable, personal or disrespectful comments regarding gymnasts, coaches or club staff on social/public networks.

If you become aware that the above is occurring, please contact the club welfare officer, Caroline Gill on caroline@cotswoldclubhouse.co.uk.

Clothing

Your child cannot be taught, due to safeguarding reasons, if they are wearing a crop top with their midriff showing.

Transport Policy

NCGTA request that all gymnasts are on time for each session and that parents are on time to pick their children up. As part of the British Gymnastics Safeguarding Children Policy the coach is required to stay with the gymnasts until they have all been returned to their parents. If for some reason you are going to be late or someone else will be picking them up, and the children do not know about it, please contact the coach to inform them during the session. The coach is not allowed to take a child in a car without another appropriate adult present and without parental consent.

We are unable to let gymnasts leave the building without a suitable adult / parent collecting them. In order to safeguard our gymnasts, we are required to contact the Local Authority if your child is either, regularly collected late or collected more than 20 minutes late without notice.