Policy for dealing with Children

Celtic acknowledges its responsibility to all young people attracted to the game of football.

Celtic is conscious of the role that sport and role models can play in a young life, and the capacity for transmitting life skills such as cooperation, acceptance of the rules self-discipline and teamwork.

The objectives of Celtic in the Community are to attract and retain young people to the game, develop their understanding and appreciation of it, improve their techniques and enhance their physical, psychological and social development.

Celtic in the Community aims is to promote the fun, drama and excitement of the game in a safe environment conducive to the child's development.

The degree to which a child enjoys football, and benefits from it, is dependent wholly upon the type of adult with whom the child is involved.

Implicit in this are the values and ethics conveyed by the coach.

Instructions to coaches

Celtic intends its work with young people to be based upon core values concerning children and sport. Coaches working with children should adhere to the following.

Do

Promote fun and enjoyment, encourage an environment where each individual treats all others with respect;
Children's sport experiences must be guided by what is best for children and to secure maximum benefit for each child;
Adults interacting with children in sport should do so with integrity and respect for each child;
Be aware of issues such as overuse, types of injury, maturation rate;
Project a positive role model;
Encourage an open environment and enlist the help of parents or others;
Take the stress out of the game, encourage fair play and skill development;
All children should be treated in equitable and fair manner regardless of age, ability, religion or social and ethnic background;
Create an environment where children are enabled to express any concerns they may have.

Do not

Use physical punishment to discipline a child;

Make sexually suggestive comments to a child even in fun;

Allow allegations made by a child to be ignored or be unrecorded;

Drink alcohol or use mind-affecting substances when working with young people;

Be left alone with a child or children, particularly within changing rooms;

With mixed teams, make sure a male and a female adult are in attendance;

Avoid unnecessary physical contact when demonstrating;

It is unwise to spend time alone with children anywhere: e.g. the car, the changing room, walking home. If these circumstances are unavoidable, they should only occur with parental or carer consent. It would be expected of caring coaches that circumstances involving horseplay, sexual remarks or suggestions, inappropriate language, touching, or any other activity which society regards as unacceptable when dealing with children, should be avoided.