Memorandum to

Clarence Valley BMX FAMILIES

All Riders or Parents and Guardians MUST read this memorandum and sign and return it to the club as soon as possible. 

If you wish to discuss any part of it, please arrange to see Taya or Marnie (not during race times). 

Contents

• Injury and First Aid Updates
• Volunteering with the club
• Club Communication
• Codes of behaviour
• BMX Australia Concussion Policy

Acceptance of Policy

Injury and first aid updates

With the release of the new Concussion Policy, the committee wishes to bring the new policy to the attention of all families, some other new policies introduced recently as well as remind you of the existing code of behaviour for the club. 

The Concussion Policy is outlined in detail on page 6 of this document, however, in summary if a rider is injured at the club and a First Aid person or Official suspects the rider has Concussion then the rider is suspended until they receive a Dr’s clearance or 12 months has passed. 

Essentially, if a rider is injured then they MUST receive medical attention.

In addition to the Concussion Policy we would also like to bring to your attention the following policy which will be strictly enforced:

Furthermore, a parent or rider MUST attend the registrar’s office to sign the incident report form prior to leaving the track.  This is for insurance purposes. 

Volunteer roster

We will be making the existing volunteer roster more visible by including the following information on facebook and on a whiteboard displayed at the club:

Positions to be filled in order for racing to go ahead:

Scoring:

Flaggie:

Gate Starter:

Stager:

First Aid:

Sign on:

Canteen assistants:

Please note that if we are unable to get enough volunteers to run an event the event will be cancelled.  Currently we are relying on riders and scorers to also do First Aid.  This is NOT in the best interests of any of our children and as of the date of the publication of this memorandum will no longer be permitted to occur.

Volunteers are required to obtain a Working With Children Check, BMX Membership (free for volunteers) and do the officials test.  See Taya if you are unsure of how to go about this. 

Club communication

-       We will now be doing emails every second week, with hardcopies made available at canteen

-       In June we will launch our Confluence Riders Page

-       We urgently need a publicity officer!!!

-       Please note that the Registrar is unable to assist with Registration enquiries during sign on or racing. 

codes of behaviour

This information provided by Play by the Rules is not intended as a substitute for legal or other professional advice.

www.playbytherules.net.au

 This Code of Behaviour aims to set out the minimum standards for anyone involved in sport. It should apply when playing, training or taking part in club-sanctioned activities. 

• Act within the rules and spirit of your sport.
• Promote fair play over winning at any cost.
• Encourage and support opportunities for people to learn appropriate behaviours and skills.
• Support opportunities for participation in all aspects of the sport.
• Treat each person as an individual.
• Show respect and courtesy to all involved with the sport.
• Respect the rights and worth of every person, regardless of their age, race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality or religion.
• Respect the decisions of officials, coaches and administrators.
• Wherever practical, avoid unaccompanied and unobserved one-on-one activity (when in a supervisory capacity or where a power imbalance exists) with people under the age of 18.
• Display appropriate and responsible behaviour in all interactions.
• Display responsible behaviour in relation to alcohol and other drugs.
• Act with integrity and objectivity, and accept responsibility for your decisions and actions.
• Ensure your decisions and actions contribute to a safe environment.
• Ensure your decisions and actions contribute to a harassment-free environment.
• Do not tolerate abusive, bullying or threatening behaviour.
• Alcohol and Smoking are not allowed at BMX sporting events or grounds. 

Athletes

• Give your best at all times.
• Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit.
• Play by the rules and show respect for other players, coaches and officials.

Coaches

• Place the safety and welfare of the athletes above all else.
• Help each person (athlete, official, etc.) to reach their potential. Respect the talent, developmental stage and goals of each person and encourage them with positive and constructive feedback.
• Obtain appropriate qualifications and keep up-to-date with the latest coaching practices and the principles of growth and development of young players.
• Ensure that any physical contact with another person is appropriate to the situation and necessary for the person's skill development.

Officials

• Place the safety and welfare of the athletes above all else.
• Ensure all players are included and can participate, regardless of their race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality or religion.
• Be consistent, impartial and objective when making decisions.
• Address unsporting behaviour and promote respect for other players and officials.

Administrators

• Ensure quality supervision and instruction for players.
• Support coaches and officials to improve their skills and competencies.
• Act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the sport as a whole.
• Ensure that any information acquired or advantage gained from the position is not used improperly.
• Conduct club responsibilities with due care, competence and diligence.

Parents

• Encourage your child to participate, do their best and have fun.
• Focus on your child's effort and performance, rather than winning or losing.
• Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a competition.
• Help out the coach or officials at training and games, where possible.
• Model appropriate behaviour, including respect for other players and officials.

Spectators

• Respect the effort and performances of players and officials.
• Reject the use of harassment, bullying or violence in any form, whether by other spectators, coaches, officials or athletes.

BMX AUSTRALIA CONCUSSION POLICY

Date adopted by the Board: 21 April 2017

Date Effective: 21 April 2017

Date Amended: 25 May 2017

1. BACKGROUND

This document sets out the guiding principles and provides general advice regarding the management of concussion in the sport of BMX in Australia.

These guidelines have been developed to outline the issues for athletes, coaches, team managers, officials and others responding to athletes who have received a head injury. The guidelines are general in nature and not intended to replace medical assessment and treatment. Individual treatment will depend on the facts and circumstances specific to each individual case.

2. DEFINITION

Concussion refers to a disturbance in brain function that results from trauma to the brain. Concussion may be caused by a blow to the head, face or neck or by impact that transmits force to the head

3. RECOVERY

The majority (80-90%) of concussions resolve in a short (7-10 day) period, although the recovery frame may be longer in children and adolescents. The AIS and AMA recommend a minimum 14day symptom -free period for children and adolescents.

4. SIGNS OF CONCUSSION

Immediate visual indicators of concussion include:

                        (a) Loss of consciousness or responsiveness;

                        (b) Lying motionless on the ground/slow to get up;

                        (c) A dazed, blank or vacant expression;

                        (d) Appearing unsteady on feet, balance problems or falling over;

                        (e) Grabbing or clutching of the head

                        (f) Impact seizure or convulsion

Concussion can include one or more of the following symptoms:

                        (a) Symptoms: Headache, dizziness, “feeling in a fog”.

                        (b) Behavioural changes: Inappropriate emotions, irritability, feeling nervous or anxious.

                        (c) Cognitive impairment: Slowed reaction times, confusion/disorientation- not aware of location or score, poor attention and concentration, loss of memory for events up to and/or after the concussion.

Tools such as the Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool (see Appendix 1) can be used to help recognise concussion. It is important to note however that brief sideline evaluation tools are designed to recognise a concussion but they cannot replace a comprehensive medical assessment.

5. REMOVE FROM PLAY

Any rider with a suspected concussion in the opinion of the designated senior first aid person at the event / club will be immediately removed from play / riding, and will not be permitted to returned to activity until they are assessed by a qualified medical practitioner and provide a medical certificate outlining a clearance to return to competition / riding.

If a Rider is also a BMXA accredited Coach or Official, the suspension will also apply to coaching and official’s duties.

Riders with a suspected concussion should not be left alone and should not drive a motor vehicle.

Only qualified medical practitioners should diagnose whether a concussion has occurred, or provide advice as to whether the Rider can return to play.

If in the event there is no qualified medical practitioner on site / attending the event , then the opinion of the designated Senior First Aid Attendant will provide this advice to the officials / Chief Commissare who will provide the direction to the rider.

There will be no return to play / riding on the day of a suspected / concussive injury.

It is important not to be influenced by the rider, coaching staff, trainers, parents or any others suggesting a return to ride. All riders with concussion or a suspected concussion need a medical assessment by a registered medical practitioner. The rider should be sent to a local general practice or local hospital emergency department. Urgent transfer to hospital is required if the rider displays any of the following symptoms:

• Loss of consciousness or seizures

• Confusion

• Deterioration following their injury (eg vomiting, increased headaches or drowsiness)

• Neck pain or spinal cord symptoms (eg numbness, tingling or weakness)

If there is any doubt on the rider’s condition they should be referred to hospital.

6. RETURN

A suspected/confirmed concussed rider should obtain a medical clearance from a qualified medical practitioner before returning to racing, coaching or officiating. It is the rider’s/parent’s responsibility to ensure that the rider is medically cleared before returning to racing, training or any other BMX-related activities. Such medical clearance should be provided to BMXA by electronic means (see Appendix 2).

Riders should be returned to sport in a graduated manner that should be supervised by their medical

practitioner.

For example:

• Rest until all symptoms resolve

• Light aerobic activity 24 hours after symptoms resolve

• Light non-contact training (eg wind trainer)

• Non-contact training drills

• Full contact training

• Return to ride or race

It is important to note there should be approximately 24 hours between stages.

If a rider becomes symptomatic at any stage they should drop back to the previous symptom free level and try to progress again after 24 hours.

If a rider continues to be symptomatic for more than 10 days they should be reviewed again by a medical practitioner.