Guidelines for Specific Sports and Physical Activities

Foreword

It is important that student's school experiences in physical activity are conducted in a safe and supportive environment. Schools which create safe and supportive environments will not only protect students from injury but will encourage their lifelong participation in regular physical activity.

Schools are responsible for the provision of safe, relevant and well-structured sport and physical activity programs. These Guidelines for the Safe Conduct of Sport and Physical Activity in Schools are designed to support teachers implementing, leading and supervising a range of sport programs and physical activities.

The conditions for ensuring safety outlined for the specific sports and activities listed in this document apply whether the activity is taken as part of school sport, physical education, organised recreational games and activities, outdoor adventure programs or school camps and excursions.

The New South Wales Sporting Injuries Committee has joined with the Department of Education and Training in the production of this document. The Committee administers the Supplementary Sporting Injuries Benefits Scheme which is a non-contributory, government financed initiative providing benefits for school students who are seriously injured while participating in organised school sport. Details of the scheme's benefits provisions are outlined for the information of members of the school community.

Schools must ensure that sport and physical activity is safe and enjoyable for all students. I commend this document to you as a valuable and practical guide for the safe conduct of school sport and physical activity programs.

Jozefa Sobski
Deputy Director-General
(Development and Support) October, 1999