Camps & excursions guidelines for schools and preschools

8.17 Golf

Preschools: Not recommended unless modified to ensure activity is developmentally appropriate

Instructor/Teacher-in-charge qualifications and experience
Teacher-in-charge / instructors:

Teacher or other person with golfing experience

First Aid:

See 2.5.4.

Leadership team-to-student ratio

• 
  1:15
  

Area/location

If school ovals are used for golf, take precautions to ensure the safety of others

• 
  Open grassed area of suitable size ie. par 3 links golf course.
  

Equipment/preparation

• 
  Driving nets of appropriate quality/size
  
• 
  Good quality grips on clubs
  
• 
  Gloves.
  

Safety/supervision

• 
  In massed drills, hitting, returning only on command
  
• 
  Hitting only in one direction
  
• 
  Spacing of groups
  
• 
  On golf courses: local rules, regulations and etiquette apply.
  

For further information refer to the SA Golf Association website at:

http://www.saga.asn.au/

8.18 Gymnastics

Preschools: Not recommended unless modified to ensure activity is developmentally appropriate

Leadership team qualifications and experience
Teacher-in-charge / instructors:

Teacher with gymnastics experience specific to the apparatus to be used or:

• 
  Preschool -year 2: Level 1 coaching
  
• 
  year 3–12: Level 1 coaching
  

First Aid:

See 2.5.4.

Leadership team-to-student ratio

• 
  1:15, highly dependent on the activity and apparatus to be used.
  

Area/location

• 
  Avoid slippery or rough outdoor areas, cracks, holes
  
• 
  Indoors, avoid protrusions, obstacles, rails, wall attachments, other apparatus, trolleys etc
  
• 
  Equipment not in use should be stored off the gym floor.
  

Equipment/preparation

• 
  Should be suitably modified in height and configuration to suit students/children.
  

Mats

General purpose tumbling mats (200cm x 100cm x 5cm) covered in vinyl, with velcro fastening edges. At least one layer of these mats should be used for the following activities:

• 
  rolls (two layers for dive rolls)
  
• 
  inverted skills (eg handstands)
  
• 
  all landings from height
  
• 
  repeated springing activities such as successive jumps
  
• 
  all falling skills
  
• 
  under all equipment, including balance beam.
  

Large landing mat (super soft) 30cm x 200cm x 300cm recommended for:

• 
  mini-trampoline skills
  
• 
  box/mini-trampoline skills
  
• 
  making an incline.
  
• 
  Large landing mats reduce but do not eliminate the possibility of injury upon landing; never use against a wall, and place the mesh down.
  

Mini-trampoline – must be used under supervision only

• 
  Frame and springs completely covered by well-secured pads
  
• 
  Large landing mat to be used
  
• 
  Mini-trampoline should slope toward the landing mat
  
• 
  Short run-up, less than 5m, should be used in all classes or jump from a box to the mini-trampoline and avoid running.
  
• 
  Equipment checked regularly.
  

Safety/supervision

• 
  Skills should be broken down using the Dominant Movement Pattern theory and participants need to prepare physically before proceeding with a skill
  
• 
  Close leader supervision necessary
  
• 
  Leaders should be aware of appropriate ‘spotting’ techniques
  
• 
  Long hair should be tied, not pinned
  
• 
  All rotations to be performed over mats
  
• 
  Suitable footwear to be worn
  
• 
  No aerial rotations should be permitted eg somersaults
  
• 
  Particular caution should be exercised with:
  
• 
  activities involving deep knee bends, complete neck rotations, arching of back
  
• 
  excessive supporting on wrists — note that supporting on a flat surface (mat or floor) puts greater strain on wrists than supporting on a bar.
  

Equipment should be regularly checked for safety. The lifting and handling of large items of gymnastic equipment should only be undertaken with care and awareness of safe practice when lifting, carrying and moving. (Refer to the Manual Handling procedure in the OHS&W Manual)
For further information refer to the Gymnastics SA website at: http://www.gymsa.com.au/

8.19 Gyms, fitness and recreation centres

It is recommended that Fitness Centres and Gym’s are accredited and meet the current Code of Practice under the Fair Trading (Health and Fitness Industry Code of Practice) Regulations 1992.
Preschools: Not recommended unless modified to ensure activity is developmentally appropriate

• 
  To use cardio-vascular equipment, it is recommended that students are a minimum of 14 years of age.
  
• 
  To participate in weight training/lifting, it is recommended that students are a minimum of 16 years of age. (See also 8.45 ‘Weight training/lifting’)
  

Instructor/teacher-in-charge qualifications and experience

• 
  teacher with experience specific to the gym/fitness activity to be undertaken
  
• 
  Fitness Instructors must have the following qualifications from TAFE SA or the Australian Institute of Fitness
  
• 
  Certificate III SRF 30204 (Gym/Fitness Instructor)
  
• 
  Certificate IV SRF 40204 (Personal Trainer)
  
• 
  Plus Children’s Trainer specialisation
  

First Aid:

Have a current Senior First Aid Certificate. See also 2.4.4.

Leadership team-to-student ratio

The leadership team-to-student ratio depends on the activities for example:

• 
  1:8 for Resistance Training and Weights
  
• 
  1:25 for Group fitness
  

Safety/supervision

• 
  Age, capabilities, fitness level and experience of students must be considered when negotiating an activity program with the centre
  

For further information refer to the Recreation SA website at: http://www.recreationsa.org.