Labrador Hockey Club administration is aware of the importance of providing a healthy and safe playing and spectating environment for all members and guests. All members will have access to this policy via the Club web site and copies held in the clubhouse. All members are responsible for observing this policy.

General

1. Club uniforms are designed appropriately for safe participation and must be worn at all games. Minkey participants are exempt.
2. Suitable sports shoes must be worn at all times at training and games. Leather upper shoes afford greatest protection from possible impact injury.
3. Wearing of shin guards is very strongly recommended at all skills training sessions and games.
4. Wearing of mouth guards is very strongly recommended at all skills training sessions and games.
5. Participants are required to provide their own full water bottle at all training sessions and games for fluid replacement before, during and after these activities. Coaches will insist on appropriate fluid replacement at all training sessions and games. Sharing of water bottles must not be allowed.
6. The Club and its coaches promote appropriate warm up and stretching before as well as cool down activities after all training sessions and games.
7. Goalkeepers must wear (and be provided with) hockey approved helmet, kickers, leg guards, abdominal & pelvic protector and hand protectors during all skills training sessions and games as a minimum personal protection requirement.
8. Senior players and junior player’s parents are to advise their coach and manager at their earliest convenience of any medical condition or medical history that may affect their participation along with appropriate first aid requirements that may need to be administered.
9. Participants recovering from illness or injury are encouraged not to return to playing until fully recovered.
10. Any participant suffering concussion or a head injury is not to return to training or playing until cleared to do so by a doctor.
11. Hockey Queensland limited player insurance is incorporated into membership fees. Adequate public liability insurance is in place.
12. Playing surfaces, structures and surrounds will be adequately maintained to provide a safe playing and spectating environment.
13. Ice and a first aid kit are available at the clubhouse at all times for the administering of basic first aid.
14. Change rooms and toilets will be kept clean, hygienic and well maintained.
15. Appropriate Codes of Conduct for senior and junior players, coaches and parents are issued to all members. They are encouraged to act as safe sport role models at all times.

Drugs in Sport

1. The Club will address misuse of drugs or substances.
2. The Club will support elite athletes who are eligible to be drug tested.

Smoke Free Environment

The Club administration recognises that smoke free environments protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of environmental tobacco smoke and contribute to reducing tobacco consumption levels.

1. The Club will not sell tobacco products.
2. All areas inside the Club’s leased area (wire perimeter fence) will be a totally smoke free area.
3. Players, team officials and coaches will not smoke or permit smoking in any playing areas, dugouts and change rooms.

Responsible Alcohol Consumption
The Club administration recognises that consumption of alcohol can lead to negative social and health effects, especially among young people.

1. The Club will
   • provide non alcohol alternative drinks at its licensed premises.
   • serve alcohol in accordance with the requirements of the liquor licensing act
   • not allow the sale or supply of alcohol to people under the age of 18 years
   • not allow the sale or supply of alcohol to an intoxicated person nor the sale or supply to the point of intoxication.
   • serve alcohol in standard size drink portions.
   • not allow participants under the influence of alcohol to participate in training or games. Coaches and managers must abide by this requirement.
2. Our Club strongly discourages the consumption of alcohol before, during and immediately after participation.

Blood and Infectious Diseases
Sports Medicine Australia blood and infectious diseases policy has been adopted. View the full policy.
The following policy recommendations are of particular importance.

1. All open cuts and abrasions must be reported and treated immediately.
2. The practice of spitting or urinating on the field or team areas must NOT be permitted.
3. All clothing, equipment and surfaces contaminated by blood must be treated as potentially infectious. Equipment and surfaces should be cleaned immediately if soiling or spills occur.
4. When cleaning up blood and body substances:
   • gloves must be worn,
   • if the blood spill is large, confine or contain the spill,
   • remove the bulk of the blood and body substance with absorbent material, eg paper towels,
   • place the paper towels in a sealed plastic bag and dispose with normal garbage.
   • clean the spill site with a detergent solution,
   • wipe the site with disposable towels soaked in a 1:10 solution of bleach.
5. Sharing of towels, shaving razors, face washers and drink containers must NOT occur.
6. Those attending to bleeding players should wear non-utility gloves, ie disposable latex or vinyl gloves which must never be reused.
   • These must be worn when: direct contact is anticipated with blood or body substances, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin, as when attending to first aid of a bleeding player or handling items or contact surfaces contaminated with blood or body substances.
   • Gloves must be changed and discarded: as soon as they are torn or punctured, after contact with each player.
7. If a bleeding wound occurs the individual’s participation must be interrupted until the bleeding has been stopped and the wound is both rinsed with plenty of water and if dirty, washed with soap and covered with a waterproof dressing.
8. Officials must report all open cuts and abrasions at the first available opportunity.
9. All contaminated clothing and equipment must be replaced prior to the player being allowed to resume play.
10. If bleeding cannot be controlled and the wound securely covered, the player must not continue in the game.

Sun Safety

1. Where possible, training will be conducted at night.
2. When playing in daylight participants are encouraged to:
   • wear a hat that protects your face neck and ears.
   • apply plenty of SPF 30+ sunscreen and reapply every 2 hours.
   • wear sunglasses when not participating in the game.
   • cover up with cool lightweight clothing including a shirt with a collar and long sleeves if possible.
   • stay in the shade when not playing on the field.

Participating while Pregnant

Please refer to SMAs Pregnancy Statement. Other recommended reading is on SMAs policy link for Active Women, including the article by Dr Marg Torode “Guidelines on the participation of the Pregnant Athlete in contact and collision sports”.

Sports Medicine Australia and Labrador Hockey Club strongly urges all women who are considering exercising during pregnancy, especially those who wish to participate in competitive sport, to discuss the benefits and risks with their treating medical practitioner. Women should consider the benefits and risks, so that they can make informed decisions about participation.

Hot Weather Guidelines

Sports Medicine Australia’s Preventing Heat Illness in Sport Policy has been adopted. View the Heat Policy.

1. As a general guide, ambient temperature above 30 degrees exercise intensity should be limited to less than 60 minutes. Above 35 degrees, postponement or cancellation is to be considered.
2. Children’s activity should be closely monitored at 30 degrees or above. Children have greater difficulty getting rid of heat than adults. They should be allowed to participate at their preferred intensity and if they appear distressed or complain of feeling unwell, they should stop participating.

Harassment

Labrador Hockey Club has adopted and complies with Hockey Australia’s Member Protection Policy. This policy outlines procedures to be followed in dealing with harassment and other forms of inappropriate behaviour. View the policy in full.