Junior Octopush Sessions (Issue 1.1) To: Parents/guardians of Junior members

To ensure that the high safety standards and training achievements of the British Octopush Association can be maintained, we would like to remind that supervision of Junior sessions is carried out by volunteers. You remain responsible for the conduct, behaviour and safety of your child during and after a session. To this end you are welcome to stay and watch the session.

So that everyone can enjoy themselves in safety, please ensure your child is aware of the following common sense guidelines - juniors:
• should wear a water-polo hat and thick glove when playing. A mouth guard is also strongly recommended; these are available from the BOA shop.
• should wash any borrowed masks and snorkels a) before putting them on and b) again at the end of the session (for hygiene).
• should not go unsupervised into the Store room to fetch equipment because: a) they are out of sight, b) there is often swarf/dirt on the floor. (We recommend purchase of personal equipment as soon as practical.)
• If you are borrowing equipment please arrive in good time to get kitted out. Arriving when a session has started distracts the supervisors from the other juniors.
• should not walk or run with fins on (in case they trip over). They should not throw items around the pool, nor drop pucks onto the bottom of the pool.
• should take part in the warming up exercises (to increase fitness and avoid muscle strains).
• should follow the session leader's instructions.
• should inform the session leader if they are leaving the poolside during a session (so we know where they are).
• should get out of the pool promptly when the session is over, rinse and return any borrowed equipment.
• should report any incidents to the session leader and to you.

For your information, the following guidelines are offered to session supervisors:
• Try to ensure that at least two adults are present at all junior sessions.
• Be aware of the different individual standards and abilities of the juniors. Younger / weaker players should be in shallower water with closer supervision.
• Concentration on one or two players reduces the safety, training and enjoyment of the others.
• If necessary ask another adult to assist one-to-one for the remainder of the session (e.g. if a junior is having trouble clearing snorkel or mask).
• Do not use verbal abuse, physical contact or any other action that could be misconstrued.
• Do not become involved in assisting juniors to change.
• Report any injuries or incidents to the pool management as soon as possible. If an injury or accident does occur, call the pool’s qualified first-aider. Remove the casualty from the water and stop the game - unless there are sufficient adults to continue.
• If you feel that a Junior cannot be allowed to continue, either for their own or anyone else’s safety then inform the parents and a committee member.