Appendix B: Guidelines on Use of Photographic and Filming Equipment at Competitions[6]

The WTA recognises the potential risk posed to young children through the use of photographs on web sites and publications. There is evidence in sport in general to show that photographs have been used:

• to identify children that places them at risk from those who wish to groom children for abuse
• used or adapted and placed on child pornography sites.

For these reasons, the following WTA guidelines for children's events have been drawn up:

Professional photographers/filming/video operators wishing to attend WT/BT events must:

• be given a clear brief
• wear identification
• not be given unsupervised access to athletes
• not be allowed to take photos outside the event (e.g. a child's home or school).

Any other spectators (e.g. amateur photographers, parents) wishing to film or take photographs using any form of telephoto lens must:

• register their name and address at the designated point
• wear identification.

Videoing as a coaching aid: there is no intention to prevent club coaches and teachers using video equipment as a legitimate coaching aid. However, triathletes and their parents should be aware that this is part of the coaching programme and care should be taken in the storing of such films.

In any promotional material or publications:

• consideration should be given to using images, models and illustrations rather than photographs
• only images of suitably dressed athletes should be used (focus on the activity not a particular child; avoid full face and body shots)
• permission should be sought in writing from athletes (and their parents) before using their image
• remember that if the athlete is named, do not include a photograph; if a photograph is used, do not name the athlete.

Appendix C: Definitions of Abuse and Bullying

Abuse can occur wherever there are young people or vulnerable adults of any age[7]. The effects of abuse can be so damaging and if untreated, they may cause serious problems in adulthood including the possibility of difficulty in maintaining stable, trusting relationships, involvement with drugs or prostitution, attempted suicide or even abuse of a child. Someone may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. Children can be abused by adults or other children; there is growing evidence to suggest that peer abuse is an increasing concern for young people. In addition to bullying, four main categories of abuse are recognised:

• Neglect: This is where adults fail to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs and is likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development (e.g. failure to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.) It may also include refusal to give children love, affection and attention. Neglect in sport could include a coach failing to ensure children are safe, exposing them to undue cold, heat or to unnecessary risk of injury.
• Physical abuse: This is where someone physically hurts or injures children by hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, biting, or scalding, suffocating, drowning or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child for whom they are caring. Examples of physical abuse in sport may occur when the nature and intensity of training and competition exceeds the capacity of the child's immature and growing body; where drugs are used to enhance performance or delay puberty.
• Sexual abuse: This is where girls and boys are abused by adults or other children (both male and female) who use children to meet their own sexual needs. This could include full sexual intercourse, masturbation, oral sex, anal intercourse and fondling. Showing children pornographic material (books, videos, pictures) is also a form of sexual abuse. In sport, coaching techniques that involve physical contact with children could potentially create situations where sexual abuse may go unnoticed. The power of the coach over young performers, if misused, may also lead to abusive situations developing.
• Emotional abuse[8]: This is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child's emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. It may involve causing children to feel frightened or in danger by being constantly shouted at, threatened or taunted which may make the child very nervous and withdrawn. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment of a child. Emotional abuse in sport may occur if children are subjected to constant criticism, name
• calling, sarcasm, bullying, racism or unrealistic pressure to perform to high expectations consistently.
• Bullying: This may be bullying of a child by an adult or another child. Bullying is defined as deliberate hurtful behaviour, usually repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those bullied to defend themselves. It may be physical (e.g. hitting, kicking, theft), verbal (e.g. racist or homophobic remarks, threats, name calling, graffiti, gestures), emotional (e.g. tormenting, ridiculing, humiliating, ignoring, isolating from the group) or sexual (e.g. unwanted physical contact or abusive comments).

Appendix E: Specification for Club Welfare Officers

The role of the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) is to:

• help the club follow the guidelines laid down in the WT/BT Good Practice and Child Protection Policy and Procedures documents
• ensure that new initiatives and information from WT/BT are communicated to the club and its members
• ensure that Good Practice and Child Protection is an item on the club committee meeting agendas
• ensure that all club personnel working with young people have received child protection training.

The role of the CWO does not require them to be the recipient and solver of all club problems. Young athletes will talk to the person with whom they feel most confident. It is essential that someone in your club take on the CWO responsibility as outlined above. If you wish to nominate your Club Secretary to fulfil this role, this is quite acceptable but the BT needs to know of your decision. This officer will be required to attend a recognised 3-hour good practice and child protection workshop. The BT will provide training and support and details will be sent out to nominated CWO. We have asked for two signatures from your club to validate that this is the person to whom information should be sent.

Appendix F: Feedback Forms

Following every training camp or team competition, all team managers and head coaches will be required to provide feedback on the event, the provision made to safeguard children and the practice of all those involved. In addition, all participants will be required to complete anonymously a questionnaire that will ascertain their perceptions about the event. This will be collated by the Team Manager and submitted to British Triathlon or fed back directly to the British Triathlon Child Protection Officer in a sealed envelope.

Appendix G: Responding to Disclosure

Coaches often share a very close and trusting relationship with their athletes and this might result in the coach being just the sort of person to whom a child might disclose that s/he is being abused. Although false allegations of abuse do occur, they are rare, and if a young person says or indicates that he/she is being abused, or information is obtained which gives concern that a young person is being abused, action must be taken immediately (see Section 4.2 for reporting procedures).

Actions to Take
The person receiving the disclosure should:

• react calmly so as not to frighten the child
• tell the child he/she is not to blame and was right to tell
• take what the child says seriously
• keep questions to the absolute minimum to ensure a clear and accurate understanding of what has been said
• reassure the child but do not make promises of confidentiality that cannot be kept
• make a full record of what had been said, heard and/or seen (fact and not opinion) as soon as possible.

• panic
• allow expressions of shock or distaste to show
• probe for more information than is offered
• speculate or make assumptions
• make negative comments about the alleged abuser
• approach the alleged abuser
• make promises or agree to keep secrets.

Appendix H: Reporting Procedures

Reporting Procedures for People involved in Triathlon:

• See Flowchart.

Reporting Procedures for Club Welfare Officers and National Child Protection Officers:

• See Flow Chart.

Where there is a complaint of abuse against an employee or volunteer, there may be three types of investigation:

• Criminal in which case the police are immediately involved.
• Child protection in which case the social services (and possibly the police) will be involved.
• Disciplinary or misconduct in which case the WT/BT will be involved.

Appendix I: Disciplinary and Appeals Procedures

In order to protect children and young people participating in triathlon, duathlon and related activities, specific powers of suspension are vested in the CEO. These powers relate to any one or more of the offences contained in Schedule 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and any other offence that reasonably causes the CEO to believe that the person accused of the offence is or may be a risk or potential risk to children or young persons.

On receipt by the CEO of:

• notification that an individual has been charged with an Offence OR
• notification that an individual is subject to an investigation by the police, social services or any other authority relating to an Offence OR
• other evidence that causes the CEO reasonably to conclude that an individual may have committed an Offence the CEO may impose upon the individual interim suspension from any event or activity promoted or authorised by the Association or any body directly or indirectly affiliated to the Association wherever held.

In reaching his/her determination as to whether an interim suspension should be imposed, the CEO shall give consideration, inter alia, to the following factors:

• Whether the child or children or young person(s) are or may be at risk
• Whether the allegations are of a serious nature
• Whether a suspension is necessary or desirable to allow the conduct of any investigation (by the Association or any other authority or body) to proceed unimpeded.

Where an individual shall have been convicted or have been the subject of a caution in respect to an offence, the CEO shall have power to impose summarily either or both of the following penalties: