AP Saints Netball Club adopts England Netball’s policy for the taking and use of photographic and recorded images of young people and works in accordance with the following statement:
Introduction
AP Saints Netball Club does not wish to prevent parents or other spectators being able to take legitimate photographs or recorded images. Use of recorded images can also be a valuable coaching aid. However, AP Saints is committed to providing a safe environment for young people under the age of 18. Included in this commitment is ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to protect young people from the inappropriate use of their images in resources and media publications, on the Internet, and elsewhere.
Photographic and recorded images can be used as a means of identifying young people if accompanied by personal information. This has the potential to make a young person vulnerable to individuals seeking to ‘groom’ young people for abuse. Additionally, images can be used or adapted for inappropriate use. There is evidence of adapted sporting images being used on websites displaying images of child abuse.
Obligations under this Policy
Everyone within AP Saints must act in accordance with the general principles in England Netball’s Safeguarding Policy and the principles set out in that Policy for taking and the use of photographic and recorded images of young people.
In addition, AP Saints adopts and implements this Policy relating to the taking and use of photographic and recorded images of young people in netball, in accordance with the general principles in England Netball’s Safeguarding Policy, and in accordance with this particular Policy and principles together with the supporting good practice guidance.
Principles
- Everyone within AP Saints should have an understanding of the issues relating to the taking and use of photographic and recorded images of young people and what England Netball’s Policy is on this.
- Parents and young people have a right to decide whether young people’s images are to be made, and how those images may be used.
- In accordance with good practice guidance for netball activities and events, parents and young people must provide written consent for young people’s images to be taken and used. There may be legitimate reasons for denying consent i.e. subject to legal restrictions.
- A registration process should be used for photographers in accordance with the good practice guidance on photography and recorded images. This will help deter those wishing to take photographs or recorded images for inappropriate use.
- Images should convey the best principles and aspects of netball, such as fairness and fun.
- Care should be taken to ensure that images are not sexual or exploitative in nature, nor open to obvious misinterpretation and misuse.
- All images of young people should be securely stored to avoid inappropriate use.
- In the case of images used on websites, particular care must be taken to ensure that no identifying details facilitate contact with a young person (by a potential abuser).
- Where used for coaching purposes, players and their parents should be made aware that this is part of the coaching programme and be clear of the purpose of filming as a coaching aide where it will be used.
- Suspected inappropriate taking of photographic or recorded images must be challenged and reported using the Reporting a Concern process.
When assessing the potential risks in the use of images of players, the most important factor is the potential of inappropriate use of images of young people. Awareness of the risks, and taking appropriate steps, can reduce the potential for misuse of images.