Junior Safety Awareness

2. Your Most Important Rule

• You will never get into trouble for raising a safety concern.
• If you don’t understand an instruction, ask.
• If you don’t feel confident in the conditions, tell your coach.
• If you see another boat or hazard, tell your crew.
• If something feels wrong, stop and speak up.

3. Appropriate Supervision

Coaches are responsible for ensuring:

• The session has been risk assessed.
• The crew and boats are appropriate for the conditions.
• Juniors remain within their permitted training area.
• Appropriate safety cover is in place.
• Communication arrangements are working.
• Emergency equipment is available and ready.

Parents and volunteers should:

• Follow the instructions of the responsible coach.
• Understand their specific role before the session starts.
• Only undertake safety duties for which they are competent and authorised.
• Raise concerns promptly with the responsible coach.

4. Before Juniors Go Afloat

• Check river level and flow.
• Check weather, wind, temperature and visibility.
• Check for debris and other hazards.
• Assess the experience and capability of the juniors.
• Select appropriate boats.
• Confirm supervision and safety launch cover.
• Check radios/mobile communication.
• Check emergency and rescue equipment.
• Brief juniors on the planned route, boundaries and hazards.

5. Safety Cover & Communication

• Junior outings must have the safety cover required by the club’s Safety Plan.
• Safety launch drivers must be appropriately competent and authorised.
• The launch must be ready for immediate use when required.
• Required rescue equipment must be carried and accessible.
• Radios or other agreed communication methods must be checked before going afloat.
• Shore-based lookouts must know what they are expected to watch and how to raise an alarm.
• Everyone must know who the responsible coach is.

6. Getting Afloat Safely

• Follow the coach’s instructions when moving boats.
• Carry boats safely and only when instructed.
• Take care on pontoons and wet surfaces.
• Climb carefully into boats – do not jump.
• Check shoes and heel restraints before pushing off.
• Make sure clothing cannot become caught in the boat or equipment.
• Tell a coach if you feel unwell, injured, very cold or unusually tired.

7. Clothing & Cold Water

• Wear close-fitting rowing clothing.
• Do not wear hoodies while rowing or sculling.
• Do not wear jeans or heavy cotton clothing afloat.
• Do not wear bulky outerwear that could restrict movement.
• Do not roll leggings around your ankles.
• Bring warm layers when conditions are cold.
• Keep a towel and complete change of dry clothing onshore.

8. Junior River Boundaries

Welsh Bridge

Juniors may only go upstream beyond Welsh Bridge when specifically authorised by the responsible Junior Coach and when the required safety launch cover is in place.

English Bridge & Weir

Juniors must not scull downstream through English Bridge towards the weir.

General rule

• Follow the Pengwern circulation plan.
• Keep a proper lookout.
• Do not turn or stop where the current could carry the boat towards danger.
• Never enter a restricted area because another boat has done so.

9. Lookout & Safe Behaviour

• Look behind you before moving, turning or changing course.
• Keep listening for other boats and instructions.
• Do not wear earphones while afloat.
• Never assume another boat has seen you.
• Tell your crew about hazards.
• Follow instructions from your coach and cox/steers.
• Do not race, overtake or turn unless it is safe to do so.
• Do not deliberately approach bridges, obstructions or other hazards.

10. If You Capsize or Someone Falls In

1. Stay calm and get clear of trapped equipment.
2. Make sure everyone is accounted for.
3. Stay with the boat whenever possible.
4. Get onto the upturned boat if you can.
5. Move towards a safe landing point.
6. Follow instructions from the coach or safety launch.
7. Call for help if required.
8. Once ashore, get warm and tell the coach if you are cold, injured or unwell.

11. Safeguarding & Speaking Up

Tell a coach, parent, Club Welfare Officer or another trusted adult if:

• Someone makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
• You are bullied or see someone else being bullied.
• Someone behaves inappropriately towards you or another junior.
• You are pressured to do something you think is unsafe.
• You are worried about another junior.
• You have a concern that you do not know how to deal with.

Coaches and volunteers must follow the current Pengwern and British Rowing safeguarding arrangements for raising concerns.

12. Our Five Junior Safety Rules

Detailed operating restrictions, supervision requirements, emergency procedures and local river rules are contained in the Pengwern Junior Rowing Safety Plan.