Safeguarding Children and Young People
The OKA Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy is available, with each club also having their own policy. Please ensure that your club is aware of its responsibilities regarding this and that it is immediately referred to should a new player wish to join who is below the age of 18 years.
All young people under the age of 18, who wish to participate in the OKA Senior League and Cup Competitions, must first gain permission to play by making an application to the OKA Child Protection Officer using the official form. Permission to play will not be given to any person who is under the age of 14 on the day of the match they wish to play in.
Affiliated member clubs of the OKA are expected to agree to ensure that they familiarise themselves with the OKA Safeguarding Children Policy and will act in accordance with it as required. Furthermore, clubs must acknowledges that their teams and players may be involved in senior competitive matches where other competing individuals are under the age of 18 years old. Although these individuals are aware that they will be treated as an adult by other participants, officials and the OKA; we all must accept our moral and legal responsibility to provide a duty of care and safeguard the well-being of young people, thus at all times acting in a manner, both on and off court, to exemplify this. The OKA has devised a charter that we request all clubs to sign up to demonstrate their understanding and acceptance of this policy and the responsibility it denotes.
Please direct any questions you have regarding these documents or issues relating to them to the OKA Child Protection Officer at [email protected]
Some useful documents can be seen below:

Guidelines and Information for OKA clubs regarding their responsibilities in terms of child protection | |
File Size: | 208 kb |
File Type: |

Code of conduct for coaches | |
File Size: | 24 kb |
File Type: | docx |

Underage player form | |
File Size: | 122 kb |
File Type: | docx |