Vetting:
It is statutory for all individuals who work with children to be vetted. This must be completed every 3 years. Vetting is completed via Access NI, with the support of the club’s Children Officer. Please find more information in the links below.
Safeguarding 1:
Every individual who works with underage children must complete Safeguarding 1. This can be completed as follows;
- A three-hour face-to-face workshop hosted in our club or other local GAA clubs. These workshops are organized by either our Children’s Officer or Coaching Officer via our County Board.
- A three-hour online workshop hosted by Ulster GAA. These courses will be sent out periodically via email to the club’s Children’s Officer who shall inform members via the club app enabling them to individually register via Tobar.
- Safeguarding must be completed every three years. Having completed one of the three-hour workshops as above individuals only need to complete a 1.5 Hour online refresher course in their own time. Then three years later they must complete the three-hour workshop again.
Tobar and Foireann
All members must have a Tobar and Foireann Account – set up using the same email address which will allow both accounts to be linked so information can be synchronized to both.
Tobar is the Learning Management System that the GAA uses to deliver courses (Link below). Rather than giving out paper certificates, they are now issued electronically.
Link: https://learning.gaa.ie/lms/?redirect=0
All members should be encouraged to have a Tobar account. They will see all completed courses etc and it will have a record of all courses attended etc.
You can create your account on the GAA LMS Site (Link Above) and it then has a record of every single course that you complete. E.g. SG1, Coaching Coach or Upskilling Workshop.
Foireann is the GAA online process for registration and at the moment member register online for their club. Going forward members will see their last valid access NI and into the future their SG1/2/3 completion dates and their coaching awards etc.
Link: https://www.foireann.ie/
The benefit of Tobar is that it will start speaking to Foireann and both will update automatically.
Safeguarding Coaching Session Guidance:
Abide by a minimum ratio of 2 adults to 10 children, (2:10). This ratio level requires at least one qualified coach and at least one other responsible adult to be present at all times.
Groups of 10-20 children must have a minimum of 3 adults present at all times.
In the case of an all-female team, at least one of the two adults must be female, and similarly in the case of an all-boys team, at least one of the two adults must be male.
Where a team or training group consists of both boys and girls, the supervision/coaching personnel, must also comprise both male and female personnel.
Clubs may choose to appoint suitable persons to the role of Supervisor, i.e. Supervisor of Children. A supervisor is not a coach, but a person appointed to assist in normal supervisory roles which could include access and entry to club grounds, registration, dressing room duties, supervision at away trips etc. A Supervisor must be a member of one of our Associations, must be an adult, and is required to be vetted and have attended relevant Child Safeguarding Training.
Code of Behaviour
The Association and its sister organisations recently launched the updated online version of Code of Behaviour (Underage). This Code has been agreed between the GAA, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, the Camogie Association, GAA Handball and GAA Rounders. All club members and visitors to our club please make yourself familiar with our associations code of behaviour via the link below.
Risk Assessment Statement
Please see attached our clubs up to date Risk Assessment Statement
Tackling Bullying
The GAA aims to create a supportive environment where any form of bullying is unacceptable. Please see attached some helpful information explaining what bullying is, how to prevent bullying and how to deal with bullying should it arise – Tackling Bullying
If you require any further information, please email: childrensofficer.grangestcolmcilles.armagh@gaa.ie
Designated Liaison Officer: chairperson.grangestcolmcilles.armagh@gaa.ie