Safe Practice Policy, Social Media
Policy, Photography Policy,
Away Trips & Hosting Policy

Policies are essential tools for establishing a legal framework, protecting user rights, and ensuring the responsible and ethical operation of TATU Taekwon-do. They not only provide legal protection but also contribute to building a positive and trusting relationship with your community.

SAFE PRACTICE POLICY

Martial Arts are activities where safe practice is essential to help prevent injury. Children* are particularly vulnerable as they are still developing mentally and physically, so training methods need to be modified as described below. (*also includes Adults at Risk).

WARM-UPS

All activities should first include a thorough warm up which is appropriate for the activity taking place. To help reduce the risk of injury, specific attention should be paid to those muscle groups that will be used during later activity.

MARTIAL ARTS INVOLVING THROWING, GRAPPLING AND STRANGLING

The risks include but are not limited to falling on unsuitable surfaces; landing on the head; damage to the joints from locks; strangulation.

TinyTAT’s – 3.5 TO 6 YEARS PROGRAM

Throwing and grappling doesn’t exist in the syllabus and isn’t taught to this age range. Two methods of “releasing” from a choke are taught, but in both instances, the hands of the instructor or training partner are placed on the shoulder’s rather than around the neck.

This method allows the techniques to be taught safely without the need to for students to be held by the throat.

JUNIORS – 6 TO 10 YEARS PROGRAM

Grappling doesn’t exist in the syllabus and isn’t taught to this age range. Two methods of “releasing” from a choke are taught, but in both instances, the hands of the instructor or training partner are placed on the shoulder’s rather than around the neck. This method allows the techniques to be taught safely without the need to for students to be held by the throat.

CADETS AND ADULTS

Methods of “release and counter” are taught via various scenarios of “victims” being held by the neck, body or arms (grappling). However, due to the absence of a matted floor*, options taught with both “attacker and defender” to remain on their feet throughout, without throwing**.

* In some classes and venues.
** Options shown with takedown when adequate floor protection is in place.

MARTIAL ARTS INVOLVING STRIKES, PUNCHES AND KICKS

The risks include but are not limited to concussion (brain injury) from heavy blows to the head; damage to internal organs and joints from heavy blows; injury from inappropriate stretching and other exercises. In case of concussion TATU will follow ITF Concussion policy. TATU has its own policy on contact levels for sparring. But due to variations in rules, it is sometimes necessary to change “tac” when attending external events hosted by other clubs, groups and associations.

TinyTAT’s – 3.5 TO 6 YEARS PROGRAMS

Punching, striking, and kicking is limited to soft pad work only, with pads being held by instructor’s or their team. This age range never engage in any form of sparring / contact work.

JUNIORS – 6 TO 10 YEARS PROGRAM

Students in this age range engage in soft pad work, but also semi-free and free sparring. Wherever possible, juniors engaged in sparring activities are paired up with others of a similar weight/height and are required to wear “approved” sparring equipment. Sparring equipment
consists of Head Guard, Gum shield, Gloves, Groin protector (males), Shin guards and Boots.

Sparring is simply a game of “tag”. No one gets tagged so hard in the school playground that they are hurt, and likewise no one should be tagged so hard in sparring that they get hurt. This form of sparring is referred to as semi-contact.

However, no contact whatsoever is permitted to the head for under 9 years old (head guards and gum shields are just a precaution). Both male and female combatants work together, but whenever possible they are separated. All sparring activities are monitored by the instructor and/or their team and at least one first aid trained person is in attendance.

Should any accidental head contact occur that is deemed excessive, parents must be informed when collecting their child from the session regardless of any steps or treatment given. In case of concussion TATU will follow ITF Concussion policy.

CADETS AND ADULTS

Students in this age range engage in soft pad work, but also semi-free and free sparring. Wherever possible, students engaged in sparring activities are paired up with others of a similar weight/height and are required to wear “approved” sparring equipment. Sparring equipment consists of Head Guard, Gum shield, Gloves, Groin protector (males), Shin guards and Boots.
Students engage in semi-contact.

Controlled contact to the head and face is permitted, but this is generally avoided with the lower grades and strictly monitored by the instructor and at least one first aid trained person is in attendance.

Both male and female combatants work together, but whenever possible they are separated.

Should any accidental head contact occur that is deemed excessive, parents must be informed when collecting their child from the session regardless of any steps or treatment given.

Emergency contact numbers are held for all students. In case of concussion TATU will follow ITF Concussion policy.

MARTIAL ARTS INVOLVING WEAPON

TinyTAT’s - 3.5 TO 6 YEARS

Weapons training doesn’t exist for 3.5 to 6 years programs

JUNIORS - 6 TO 10 YEARS

Weapons training doesn’t exist for 6 to 10 years programs.

CADETS AND ADULTS

Weapons training for the senior class is limited to high grade colour belts and black belts, some of these grades are children. Practice involves the use of plastic knives and bamboo sticks and is always supervised by a qualified instructor.

NO Contact

SEMI - Contact

FULL Contact

TATU TKD SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

Social media (including personal and professional websites, blogs, chat rooms and bulletin boards; social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, etc.; video-sharing sites such as YouTube, Tick Tock, etc.) are common ways of communicating and expressing oneself.

It’s essential that volunteers, members and players make informed decisions about how they use the internet, mobile phone and email communications to protect our club and our people. Everyone involved in our club has the responsibility to safeguard both on and off the field/pitch/court/training hall and competition area, including communications.

It is the responsibility of all members to:

Refrain from publishing comments about other clubs, players or referees and any controversial or potentially inflammatory subjects.
Avoid hostile or harassing communications in any posts or other online communications. Harassment is any offensive conduct based on a person`s race, sex, gender identity, national origin, colour, disability, age sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, religion or any other status protected by law.
Clubs should identify all copyrighted or borrowed material with citations and links. When publishing direct paraphrased quotes, thoughts, ideas, photos or videos, give credit to the original publisher or author.
The club will be responsible for reviewing responses to online posts and resolving any concerns before they are posted.

TATU TKD PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY

It’s important that our adults, children and young people feel happy with their achievements and have photographs and films of their special moments. Family and friends also want to be able to share the successes of their children when they have been part of our sessions.

Upon entering classes at TATU TKD it is understood that the school, or other parents may take photographs during the session of the/their children and by nature may capture your children. If you object to your child being photographed please inform an instructor and we will mitigate where possible.

We kindly request that parents:

Do not use children’s/vulnerable adults names in photograph captions. If a child is named, avoid using the photograph.
Only use images of children/adults in suitable clothing to reduce the risk of inappropriate use.

Understand that:

It is not unusual for parents to take photos of their children during the session and share them with us on social media.
If you are uncomfortable with your child/yourself having their photo taken at any point during the sessions, please highlight this with the instructors.
We are not responsible for photography taken by other parents or members in the group and how they share these photographs.
We are also not responsible for photography taken at social events and external events.

Upon becoming a member of TATU TKD, for formal club photography such as promotional photos/ video, grading, ceremonies and training sessions we will:

Ask members to sign a parental/photography permission form to obtain consent for a child children’s/vulnerable adults to be photographed and videoed.
Obtain the child’s /vulnerable adult’s permission to use their image.
We will only use images of children’s/vulnerable adults on our website if prior consent is given.
Images accompanied by personal information, such as the name of a child/vulnerable adults and their hobby, could be used to learn more about a child prior to grooming them for abuse therefore names will not be captioned alongside photography of our classes unless the parent has given permission.
If professional photographers or the press are invited to an event they are expected to abide by our child photography/safeguarding policy and expect photographers to refer to our child protection policy in relation to storing images.
We will inform all club members and their guardians/parents in a timely manner when the photoshoot will take place, so they can prepare accordingly.
Professional photographers and club photographers will not have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults.
TATU TKD does not approve photography sessions outside the school event or at a child’s home.

TATU TKD AWAY TRIPS AND HOSTING POLICY

AWAY TRIPS

Travelling to away fixtures is a regular event for many clubs and teams. Trips may vary from short journeys across town to play another local team or involve more complicated arrangements involving overnight stays and events overseas. But even what may appear as the most straightforward of trips will require some level of planning. The following will outline a number of issues that need to be considered when travelling with children.

COMMUNICATION WITH

CHILDREN – they should be aware of the travel plans, venue and time for collection, time of return and any costs. Children should also have a clear understanding of what standard of behavior is expected of them. Children must know what sports kit they need to bring with them.

PARENTS – should be made aware of the above and must have completed a consent form detailing any medical issues that the team manager should be aware of. Parents should also have the name and contact details of the team manager in the event of an emergency.

OTHER COACHES / VOLUNTEERS – need to be made aware of what their responsibilities are in advance of the trip. If the trip is a long journey, it is important that all coaches / volunteers have an itinerary.

TRANSPORT

Planning needs to take place before the event to make sure that, whatever mode of transport is being used, any safeguarding concerns can be addressed.

RATIO

Dependent on the sport the ratio of adult to child may vary but whatever is considered appropriate would generally need to be increased when travelling away from home.

INSURANCE

The team instructor needs to ensure that the club’s general insurance covers travel to away events and cover should include baggage loss, medical cover and emergency expenses to cover accommodation and transport.

EMERGENCIES

Procedures need to be in place in the case of an emergency taking place during an away trip or whilst being hosted.

HOSTING

A host should be provided with as much information about the child/children staying with them and details of the competition.

The host should agree to provide references and be vetted when this is available. When arranging for events/trips abroad, the club or Governing Body will be dependent.

full 'TATU Away Trips & Hosting Policy'

Safe Practice Policy, Social Media Policy, Photography Policy, Away Trips & Hosting Policy

Safe Practice Policy, Social Media
Policy, Photography Policy,
Away Trips & Hosting Policy