content-left-bg.png
content-right-bg.png

Cricket and vigoro

WebPartZone1_1
PublishingPageContent

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Guideline review date: 28 October 2021

​This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering ​additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.​

For activities beyond the scope of ​this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template.

Activity scope

This guideline relates to participation in Australian football (AFL) as an activity to support curriculum delivery.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

For activities conducted as part of representative school sport programs, schools should consult with Queensland Sc​​hool Sport.

Risk level

Medium risk
Cricket or vigoro activties involving regulation equipment​

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

If any other safety recommendation cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and/or identify and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard.

Competition rules and procedures with additional or more stringent safety requirements must take precedence.

WebPartZone1_2
Consent

Parent consent (DOCX, 306KB) is required for all activities conducted off-site.

Supervision

Principals make final supervision decisions for the activity. Sufficient adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (including emergency situations).

For activities with students with a medical condition or disability that may impact on safety during the activity, consultation with parents is required prior to allocating supervision to determine the impact of students’ medical condition or disability on safety during the activity.

The number of adult supervisors required to fulfil emergency and supervision roles must consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

  • must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

  • must be readily identifiable
  • must closely monitor students with health support needs
  • must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
  • must suspend the activity if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. extreme temperatures).
  • must NOT permit players under 14 to field in close (within 10m of the bat in arc from point to fine leg)
  • must only allow 6 bowlers maximum per practice net. 

Supervisor qualifications

Principals make final decisions in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and are responsible for encouraging and enabling school-based activity supervisors to raise their qualifications to improve safety standards.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—Blue Cards procedure and be able to identify, and respond to, risks or hazards that may emerge during the activity.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

For medium risk activities:

At least 1 adult supervisor must be:

  • a registered teacher with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching cricket or vigoro or
  • an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with accreditation as a community (level 1) coach from Cricket Australia or similar.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context. 

Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed.

Equipment must be fit-for-purpose, sized to match the ability and strength of students and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Bats must have correctly fitted, non-slip grips/binding.

Helmets, if worn, must have a faceguard that complies with the Australian Standard (AS/NZS4499: 1997 'Protective Headgear for Cricket').

Participants must wear personal protective equipment appropriate to the activity
  • All players must wear enclosed footwear.
  • Batters must wear a helmet and a protective cup (if appropriate). Additionally, cricket batters must wear leg pads and gloves.
  • Wicket-keepers must wear pads, gloves and a protective cup (if appropriate). A helmet must be worn when keeping up to the stumps.
  • In close fielders (fielding within 10m of the bat in arc from point to fine leg) must wear a helmet, protective cup (if appropriate) and shin pads.

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards Control measures

Biological hazards
Body fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, sweat)

Manage bodily substances (e.g. blood) and open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult infection control guidelines and Queensland Health's exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster (PDF, 1.5MB) for hygienic practices and first aid.

Follow appropriate cleaning and hygiene management practices when using shared equipment (Departmental staff search "cleaning advice for shared equipment" in OnePortal).

Environmental conditions
Weather, sun, humidity

The school's sun safety strategy must be followed.

Assess weather (Bureau of Meteorology) and environmental conditions prior to participating outside.

Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions.

Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks.

Dry bat grips before each bowl if conditions cause dampness. Umpires to carry drying rags.

Playing surface

Conduct a field check to identify and manage surface hazards. Check outfield and bowler run-up for loose items or debris. Do not participate on a surface that is slippery, unduly rough or chopped up.

Cover/fill playing surface hazards (e.g. sprinkler heads, holes) to be level with the surrounds.

Facilities and equipment hazards Control measures

Boundary clearance

Clearly define the playing and boundary areas, including a 3m boundary clearnace from any object (e.g. fence, wall), prior to play commencing.

Clear the space between the boundary and the fence from trip hazards.

Chemicals

All chemicals in schools must be managed in accordance with the department's chemical management procedure. All chemicals used in curriculum activities, except consumer chemicals, must be recorded in the school Chemwatch manifest. Consumer chemicals must be managed according to label instructions.


Lines are marked in accordance with the line marking of sports fields fact sheet.

Fast moving objects

Position left and right-handed participants to ensure maximum player visiblity.

Faulty or dangerous equipment

Ensure protective netting, pitches and approaches are in good condition.

Remove hazards from the practice net area (e.g. broken glass, bags).

Use markers made from non-injurious material (e.g. cardboard, foam).

Check eqiupment for damage before and during the activity.

Do not use personal protective equipment with cracks, dents or damage.

Sharp objects

Use stumps without metal tips or ragged ends.

Student considerations Control measures
Manual handling

Use correct manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying

Physical contact

Manage injuries according to established procedures. if in doubt, do not allow students to return after injury until medically cleared. 

Physical exertion

Conduct warm-up/cool-down activities.

Continually monitor participants for signs of fatigue and exhaustion. Consider bowling workload and duration of batting spell. Consult Cricket Australia for appropriate length of bowling spells.

Sharp objects

Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating.

Ensure fingernails and hair clothing (e.g. pockets) do not interfere with the activity. 

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

WebPartZone2_1
WebPartZone2_2
WebPartZone2_3
WebPartZone3_1
WebPartZone3_2
WebPartZone3_3
WebPartZone3_4
WebPartZone4_1
WebPartZone5_1
WebPartZone5_2
WebPartZone6_1
WebPartZone6_2
WebPartZone7_1
WebPartZone7_2
WebPartZone8_1
WebPartZone8_2
WebPartZone9_1
Last updated 13 July 2022