Camps & excursions guidelines for schools and preschools

8.20 Hockey

Includes hockey sevens, minkey hockey and modified rules. If hockey is offered to more junior students, eg R–year 2, it should take the form of modified rules.

Preschools: Not recommended unless modified to ensure activity is developmentally appropriate
Leadership team qualifications and experience
Teacher-in-charge / instructors:

Teacher with hockey experience or:

• 
  R–year 2: OTC (formerly Level 0 coaching) desirable
  
• 
  years 3–5: OTC (formerly Level 0 coaching)
  
• 
  years 6–9: Level 1 coaching desirable
  
• 
  years 10–12: Level 1 coaching
  

First Aid:

See 2.5.4.

Leadership team -to-student ratio

• 
  1:15
  

Area/location

• 
  Flat, debris-free surface
  
• 
  Suitable field markings
  
• 
  Adequate nets in goals.
  

Equipment/preparation

• 
  Personal mouthguards, shin guards
  
• 
  Goalies to wear leg, foot, body, hand and abdomen protectors and face mask.
  
• 
  Sticks should be in good condition
  
• 
  Minkey ball/rubber baseball should be used for beginners
  
• 
  Good gripping shoes (no spikes) on synthetic surfaces.
  

Safety/supervision

• 
  Control stick movement
  
• 
  Avoid bending low over stick
  
• 
  Be alert to behaviour behind the play
  
• 
  Always watch the ball — be prepared to take avoiding action to ensure safety of others (including spectators)
  
• 
  Avoid ‘lifting’ the ball
  
• 
  Minkey is the appropriate introduction to hockey.
  

For further information refer to the Hockey SA website at: http://www.hockeysa.com.au/

8.21 Horseriding

Preschools: This activity is not considered suitable for preschool students. Children under the age of 10 often need to be led when riding for the first time.

This activity should be conducted by instructors accredited with:

• 
  Association for Horsemanship, Safety and Education
  
• 
  Equestrian Federation of Australia
  
• 
  Australian Horse Riding Centres
  
• 
  Pony Club Association of South Australia
  
• 
  Riding for the Disabled (for student groups with disabilities).
  

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

• 
  Level 1 coach qualification (national coaching accreditation scheme) from the Equestrian Federation of Australia or the Pony Club Association of South Australia
  

or:

• 
  Instructor/Trail Guide qualification from the Association for Horsemanship, Safety and Education or the Australian Horse Riding Centres.
  

and:

• 
  Riding for disabled qualification appropriate for teaching participants with a disability
  

First Aid:

See 2.5.4.

Leadership team- to-student ratio

• 
  1:8 in enclosed areas
  
• 
  1:6 for trail riding, minimum of two leaders required
  

Area/location

• 
  The site should have emergency action procedures for all foreseeable emergencies (eg. fall, fire, runaway horse etc).
  
• 
  The horse site should be separated from access by the general public/campers.
  
• 
  A suitably enclosed area should be used for preliminary assessment of riders’ ability and horses and riders as combinations — the arena should be flat, of good footing, be appropriately fenced and be hazard-free.
  
• 
  Movement of students, horses and vehicles must be managed with the objective of minimising incidents.
  
• 
  Trails should be are away from highways, mapped, hazard-free and have vehicle access.
  

Equipment/preparation

• 
  Riders to wear sleeved shirts and long trousers.
  
• 
  Horses to be well kept and of suitable temperament, size and training
  
• 
  Equipment in good condition, fitting the horse and rider, with particular attention to condition of stitching and leather.
  
• 
  Stirrup irons should be large enough to allow a rider’s foot to slip out easily in a fall, but not so large they can pass through them and get caught.
  
• 
  Safe footwear, ie leather-soled shoes or boots with raised heel, smooth sole to avoid being caught in the stirrup, elastic-sided boot style ideal — no sneakers or lace-ups.
  
• 
  Safety helmets to AS 2063.3—1988, ‘Helmets for horse riders’, correctly sized and fitted securely with chin strap fastened while rider is mounted.
  

Safety/supervision

• 
  All horses provided to participants must be allocated on the basis of suitability of the horse relative to the size and ability of the participant.
  
• 
  The participant's levels of skill, knowledge and experience with horses must be ascertained and assessed.
  

• 
  If travelling on roads information on the rules of the road and method of safe travel along the road must be communicated to the riders before departure.
  
• 
  For trail riding, there should be a minimum of a leader in front of group, and one watching the rear
  

• 
  Prior to the ride departing, staff directly in charge of trail rides must:
  

1. 
   Ensure that all participants understand how to apply the basic riding aids to make a horse stop, turn and move forward
   
2. 
   Ensure that all participants understand the commands that will be used throughout the ride and adequately warn participants when changes of pace, direction or terrain occur
   
3. 
   Have a contingency plan for sudden weather changes that may affect the activity
   
4. 
   Ensure that participants have adequate protection from the environment taking into account foreseeable weather conditions.

   For further information refer to the Equestrian Federation of Australia website at: http://www.equestrian.org.au/, or the Horse SA website at: http://www.horsesa.asn.au/zeolite/zsection/2 , or the Pony Club SA website at: http://www.ponyclub.asn.au/ , or the Riding for the Disabled website at: http://www.rda.org.au/webcontent1.htm.