Blackheath HC Youth Teams

For more information on Youth Teams please contact Sam Djavit.See Contacts

The Youth Section Important Information

Running a youth section is a major responsibility for Blackheath Hockey Club and is taken seriously.

DUTY OF CARE. The Children's Act 1989 is applicable to clubs, therefore BHC and the Youth Section has a duty of care to the young people attending the section for the activities it provides.

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY. All Coaches, Team Managers and designated adults who are considered as being responsible for the care of Youth Squad Members have copies of the BHC Youth Squad Child Protection Policy. Youth Squad Members are considered to be in the care of BHC Coaches, Team Managers and designated adults for the following periods only:

Training Sessions - At designated venues for advertised times.


For Matches - From the agreed meeting time (set by the Team Manager) at the venue where the match is to be played until they are released by the Team Manager into the care of parents after the Team Talk at the end of the match.

If a parent or guardian is unable to transport their child to or from the venue or a child is unable to make their own way there and their child is driven by a Team Manager, Coach, BHC Youth Section designated adult or by another child's parent, this is deemed as being outside Blackheath Hockey Club Youth Section's care. It is the parent or guardian's responsibility to ensure that such transportation is with their agreement. Parents and guardians must satisfy themselves that all reasonable care will be taken during their child's transportation to and from the venue and Blackheath Hockey Club Youth Section cannot be held responsible.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. Whilst the law relating to this issue does not currently apply to private clubs, BHC has for a long time striven to apply the principles of providing equal opportunities throughout all of it's activities and across it's entire membership. This is actively mirrored by the Youth Section and freedom for opportunity and development for all members regardless of sex, religion, or ethnic origin is fundamental.

Girls and boys can play hockey in the same team up to the age of 14 (in appliance with Kent Hockey League guidelines) and after that should be separated into single sex teams unless playing in a designated mixed team set-up.

Please note: At this stage Blackheath Hockey Club Youth Section is not in a position to cater for individuals with physical or mental difficulties. Where considered appropriate we can include individuals with Moderate Learning Difficulties into general training sessions and training games. Decisions to include such participants in general League games will be need to be made on an individual basis and only after consultation with the Team Managers concerned and the Chairman of the Youth Section.

It is a parent or guardian's responsibility to make BHC Coaches aware of any special needs or medical requirements for any child Under 18.