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STAFFING RATIOS
Staff/participant ratios should be based on the age of the children involved, the degree of risk the activity involves (dance or stunting) and whether there are disability needs. The lower the age of the participants, the greater the need for supervision. If the squad is mixed gender, male and female staff should be available.
Most squads involve cheerleaders ten years or older. For these we would recommend two members of staff for up to 25 children/ young people. At least one of these supervisory staff should be a qualified cheerleading coach. Where the squad is of mixed gender then supervisory staff should be preferably one of each gender.
There should be one additional member of staff for every 12 extra children/and or young people or part thereof per session. BCA training clinics are normally on the basis of one Instructor to 12 students.
One person should not be in sole supervision of a class of 50, for if one cheerleader needs urgent attention the other 49 are potentially unsupervised. Most clubs have assistant coaches or parent/helpers in attendance.
Where squads involve younger children a higher proportion of staff is required, a ratio of at least 1:8 for 3 to 8 year olds. Where special needs participants are involved you will require an adequate number of staff with knowledge and training in special needs. Contact your local authorities for guidance on younger children and special needs.
For away travel, especially for overnight accommodation, a supervisory ratio of adult staff to children/ young people should be at least one to fifteen, more for younger cheerleaders (see above).
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RISK ASSESSMENT
Is your training facility safe. Have you taken all steps to identify areas of potential hazards, set out measures to identify such hazards, recorded them, together with steps to be taken to remove or minimise these hazards.
The circumstances of design of training facilities varies greatly and a standard solution to cover every venue is not practicable. Carrying out a Risk Assessment is the first step.
Look for the hazards
Decide who may be harmed and how.
Evaluate the risks and decide whether existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done
Record your findings
Review your assessment and revise it if necessary
Potential hazards include: Is space safely adequate for number of students, do sufficient safety mats exist and are they deployed, is ceiling height adequate for stunting, any overhead obstructions, is floor clear of obstructions, fire exists and fire drill procedures, kitchen areas with electrical appliances (supervision required).
Recording such information, and steps taken, identifies and minimises risks. It shows you are working to a safety plan. Head your form with details of the venue, and assessment undertaken, including date. Three columns, the first identifies significant hazards, the second who may be affected or harmed by hazards identified, the third lists existing controls and any actions that may be needed as Normal Operating Procedures.
BCA run events are fully site-evaluated, and planned accordingly for your safety.
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