This resource has four main sections:

Supervision and Welfare of Students Engaged in Sport and Physical Activity
Student Protection
Outdoor Recreation Guidelines
Guidelines for Specific Activities

The target audience for the information in each section is:

Supervision and Welfare of Students Engaged in Sport and Physical Activity:
Principals
Sport coordinators and teachers

Student Protection
Sport coordinators, teachers and coaches
Parents, students

Outdoor Recreation Guidelines
Sport coordinators, teachers in charge of activities, leaders and students

Guidelines for Specific Activities
Sport coordinators and teachers

Supervision and Welfare of Students Engaged in Sport and Physical Activity

Target audience:
PRINCIPALS
sport coordinators
teachers in charge

Principals and sport coordinators will find the information in this section relevant to them when approving sports and organised physical activity. These activities may occur during teaching and learning activities and whole school activities and involve:

• specific sports and outdoor recreation pursuits
• activities conducted under the auspices of the school
• carnivals, gala days and walkathons
• activities out of school hours
• camps conducted by the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation
• billeting situations

This section also contains information that teachers, appointed to supervise, instruct or coach
groups of students, will need to be aware.

Student Protection

Target audience:
sport coordinators
teachers
coaches
students
parents

The second section alerts teachers to relevant Departmental memoranda concerning child protection and improper conduct, describes key injury prevention measures and provides practical advice in the critical areas of student protection.

Information on the key strategies which is critical to injury prevention is described and includes the areas of education, injury management and rehabilitation, personal protective equipment, playing equipment, stretching and warming-up, training and conditioning, rule modifications, playing conditions, minimum competencies for coaches and leaders and participation of students with medical conditions.

Schools are encouraged to integrate these key strategies and concepts into their PDHPE lessons and sports programs. Schools may also consider utilising this information in staff development activities and programs.

Additional protection measures concerning the use of starting guns, marking of grounds, use and installation of fixed playground equipment, sun protection measures and infectious diseases control are also described.

Outdoor Recreation Guidelines

Target audience:
PRINCIPALS
sport coordinators
teachers in charge/leaders

This section outlines the mandatory procedures and appropriate standards for schools conducting an outdoor recreation activity or program. The guidelines aim to minimise the danger inherent in some activities and promote safe practices relating to the management of students in often remote, rugged or potentially hazardous urban, water and bush environments.

A number of outdoor recreation activities have additional potential hazards and risks associated with them, for example, extended wilderness expeditions involving overnight stays. In these cases, the principal is advised to conduct a risk assessment of the activity prior to approval being granted.

This section also contains risk management procedures and a checklist to assist schools in the activity assessment and planning process.

Guidelines for Specific Activities

Target Audience:
sport coordinators
teachers in charge
students

Safety guidelines for the vast majority of the activities conducted as part of the school's sport program, physical education or outdoor recreation program are listed in this final section.

Each set of guidelines includes a reference to teacher/instructor qualifications, supervision, equipment, venues and safety in a comprehensive summary of the most relevant matters to be considered.

The guidelines are designed for the ready use and reference of supervising or instructing teachers. They may be copied and attached to activity rolls.

Note:

Updates and additional guidelines will be posted on the School Sport Unit website at www.sports.det.nsw.edu.au/spguide  from time to time either on request or as new developments are recognised.