Policies

Anti-Bullying Policy

MOY DAVITTS GAA Club aims to create a supportive environment where any form of bullying is nacceptable. We adopt a whole organisational approach to addressing bullying and are committed to implementing structures and relevant training to deal with allegations of bullying. Incidents of bullying are regarded as serious breaches of our Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport – Our Games Our Code. We are committed to achieving an ethos of respect so as to maximise the potential of all our members when playing or participating in our Gaelic Games.

Definition of bullying

Bullying behaviour can be defined as unwanted negative behaviour be it verbal, psychological or physical conducted by an individual or group against others and which is repeated over time. This includes cyber-bullying and identity-based bullying such as homophobic bullying and racist bullying.

It is widely accepted that bullying contains seven key features:

• An intention to be hurtful
• This intention is carried out
• The behaviour harms the target
• The bully overwhelms the target with his/her power
• There is often no justification for the action
• The behaviour repeats itself again and again
• The bully derives a sense of satisfaction from hurting the targ

Bullying can happen from:

• Young person to young person
• Young person to adult
• Adult to young person
• Adult to adult

Signs of bullying include:

• Fear of going to training, games or school
• Poor or deteriorating schoolwork, inability to concentrate
• Withdrawn behaviour and/or Depression
• Loss of confidence and/or Reluctance to go out
• Shortage of money
• Torn clothes, broken glasses, missing schoolbooks
• Repeated signs of bruising and injuries

MOY DAVITTS GAA Club seeks to ensure the prevention of bullying through the:

• Adoption of the Code of Behaviour (Underage) which highlights good practice and clarifies thatinstances of Bullying are deemed to be a breach of the Code
• Creation of a supportive environment for all where it is not acceptable to Bully and highlight that MoyDavitts GAA has a “zero tolerance” for Bullying
• Development of an ethos in which it is “ok to tell” the Club Children’s Officer or team coach ofincidents of Bullying. Underage players should be made aware of the policy that “it’s ok to tell” and besupported if they report any incidents of Bullying.
• Publicise Moy Davitt’s GAA’s Anti-Bullying Statement and display of Anti-Bullying Posters.

Dealing with bullying

If you are aware of, or have a concern that, bullying behaviour is happening within Moy Davitts GAA you
should report the matter to the Club Children’s Officer who will assess the report in the context of the
Code of Behaviour:

• Confidentiality will be maintained
• Children’s Officer will collate all relevant information
• Children’s Officer will conduct an initial assessment
• Children’s Officer will carefully consider all information to determine whether an incident of Bullyinghas occurred
• Children’s Officer informs the alleged bully and target as to what procedures will follow on from theassessment
• If bullying has occurred it is dealt with as per Section 4 of the Code of Behaviour (Dealing with AllegedBreaches of the Code of Behaviour)