Education policy and procedures register > Health and safety > HLS-PR-012: Curriculum Activity Risk Management > Curriculum Activity Modules >

Touch

Version 2.1

Forms part of HLS-PR-012: Curriculum Activity Risk Management at http://education.qld.qed.gov.au/strategic/eppr/health/hlspr012/. The particular features of this activity are to be considered as part of the general responsibilities of principals, teachers or other leaders outlined in that procedure.

Scope

The requirements of this schedule apply to the teaching of Touch Football skills, team training and competition matches conducted by schools.

Nature of hazards

As part of the process of safety self-regulation, all persons engaging in this activity should identify the hazards, assess their significance and manage the potential risks including any additional hazards not mentioned here.

Body contact is one of the hazards that may be encountered in touch.

Level of risk

The categorisation of these conditions is subjective and offered as a starting point for risk management planning. The actual degree of risk is best ascertained by persons with intimate local knowledge present at the site of the activity.

Participation in touch involves medium risk (level 2).

Minimum supervision

One adult present should have knowledge of, and an ability to perform, first aid procedures.

If an adult other than a registered teacher is engaged for instruction, a registered teacher should be present to take overall responsibility.

Qualifications

The qualifications listed in this section are minimums for each type of situation. Leaders are encouraged to seek training to raise their qualification level above the minimum listed.

The leader should be:

a registered teacher with experience (previous involvement in the activity) in the teaching of touch or
an adult who has Level 1 coaching qualifications from the Australian Touch Association.

Minimum equipment

A first aid kit should be available at all venues where lessons and competitions are conducted.

Hazard reduction

The teacher should introduce the activity comprehensively and include:

appropriate warm-up and warm-down activities
rules, safety procedures and prerequisite skills before students play the game
progressive and sequential skill development
modified games that match skill and fitness levels of students
grouping of students according to ability level.

Teachers should ensure students cut or tape long fingernails to prevent injury to any participants.

Students are to wear footwear appropriate to the playing surface.

Activities should be sited away from buildings, pedestrians and other activities.

The playing area should be level, grassed and free from obstacles and loose objects.

A minimum space of five metres should surround each field.

Markers should be made of non-injurious material.

The rules regarding physical contact should be enforced to prevent rough play.

Teachers should remove students with open cuts and abrasions should from the field of play for immediate treatment. If bleeding cannot be controlled completely, the player should not be allowed to return to the field of play. All clothing, equipment and surfaces contaminated by blood should be treated as potentially infectious.

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