Attitudes like this are the very reason we have over bearing admin, to catch people who make statements like that as the lowest common denominator.
If you went to the park with your mates and it was frozen solid, you’d not play. That’s a risk assessment. If you did decide to play, you’ve still assessed it and decided you can tolerate it and will accept the consequences should you damage yourself. You quite clearly can’t do that if you’re responsible for someone else’s children, it would be negligent and plain stupid.
It’s really quite simple. Planning - Training program says were going to have a sports nights. Basic RA to capture any risks and add any control measures. And make sure you have a staff member who’s either qualified or suitably experienced. It’s simple, but important.
It depends what you mean by “ball games” if its full contact mixed gender rugby on a concrete surface or dodgeball with cricket balls quite possibly they are banned. But in all seriousness if it is managed on a suitable surface with suitable equipment and suitable staffing levels, there isn’t a reason not too. If ball games in the past to you have been in the squadron car park the OC might be concerned about the back window of his new Audi or something.
Sounds to me as if someone has decided you can’t have ball games at your Squadron (whether legitimate or otherwise) and have just used HQAC as a reason than own their reason.
We’ve banned ball games at break because they kept getting physical and we ended up with 3 injuries in the space of 2 months.
However on sports night we do a variety of ball games - some made up, some out the book - all with a risk assessment all with supervision.
Some need more than others as policy dictacts it (Rugby, full football etc), and we’ve gone out to various places to get experts in - such as we went to the local Cricket Club.
“During World War II, cadets were sent to work on RAF stations. They carried messages, handled aircraft and moved equipment. They filled thousands of sandbags and loaded miles of belts of ammunition. They were invaluable.”
Can you imagine the amount of risk assessments and paperwork required to permit this to happen!
Should I ask the staff if ball games ban is true? There haven’t been issues last time, we arent playing next to anything Valuable and weather should be fine
Yes, ask your staff and don’t be afraid to challenge if the answer sounds wrong. Ask them to check with the Wg Sports Officer if they think there’s an outright ban or aren’t sure.
I am extremely confused since I read here and ball games haven’t been banned but when I asked my staff they said the wing or something are debating the idea or something and it looks like the ban may or may not pass through. Could anyone please explain the situation since even on portal it says there are football trials, so would it be different on sqn?
Thank you
Don’t mean to add to speculation but could it be a similar situation to obstacle course where obstacles aren’t banned if your qualified but we don’t let you get the qualification.
If a Sqn or wing are interpreting matters strictly that you can only do ball games with a qualified sports leader but not providing the opportunity for people to get qualified then it’s technically not a ban even if it is practise.
