Rules for U-18
Important Information for Parents/Guardians of U18 Players
Taghmon Badminton Club – 2026/27 Season
At Taghmon Badminton Club, the safety and wellbeing of our junior members is extremely important to us.
We want our young players to enjoy badminton in a safe, welcoming and positive environment, while developing their skills, confidence and friendships.
To help us provide a safe environment for everyone, we ask all parents/guardians and U18 players to familiarise themselves with the following arrangements before attending club sessions.
🏸 Arrival & Drop-Off
Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that their child arrives safely for their scheduled badminton session.
Please do not drop children at the venue significantly before their scheduled session.
Children should enter the badminton hall and make themselves known to the coaches/volunteers on arrival.
Parents/guardians should ensure that a coach or club volunteer is present before leaving their child.
U18 players should not be left unsupervised at the venue before their session begins.
Players should attend only their allocated session unless otherwise agreed with the Club.
🚪 Leaving the Hall & Collection
All U18 players must remain inside the badminton hall until their parent/guardian or an authorised representative arrives to collect them.
This applies to all players under the age of 18, not just our younger members.
Please make sure your child understands that:
They must not leave the hall to wait outside or in the car park.
They must not go outside to look for their parent/guardian.
They must remain inside the hall until the person collecting them has arrived.
If their parent/guardian has not arrived when training finishes, they must return to and remain with a coach or club volunteer.
They must never leave the venue without the knowledge of the coach responsible for their session.
Parents/guardians are asked to come into the hall to collect their child and to collect promptly at the scheduled finishing time.
If another person is collecting your child, please ensure appropriate arrangements have been made.
Older U18 Players Leaving Independently
We recognise that some of our older teenage members may normally walk or cycle home independently.
Where a parent/guardian wishes an U18 player to leave the venue independently, prior written permission must be provided to the Club by their parent/guardian.
Unless this permission has been provided, the Club will operate on the basis that the player must remain in the hall until collected.
🚻 Toilet Arrangements
We ask parents/guardians to encourage children to use the toilet before their badminton session begins, particularly our younger players.
If a child needs to use the toilet during training:
They must inform their coach before leaving the badminton hall.
Coaches and club volunteers cannot accompany children into toilet facilities.
Children should use the designated toilet facilities and return directly to the badminton hall afterwards.
Children should report back to their coach when they return.
If your child is not comfortable or able to use the toilet facilities independently, a parent/guardian must remain at the venue for the duration of the session.
Please discuss these arrangements with your child before their first session.
📵 Mobile Phones During Training
The use of mobile phones by U18 players is not permitted during training sessions.
We understand that older children in particular may need to bring a phone with them for contact with parents/guardians before or after training. They are welcome to bring their phone; however, it must not be used during the training session.
Phones must be put away before training begins.
They should be left securely with the player's belongings.
Alternatively, players may leave their phone with us in the office for safekeeping during their session.
Phones must not be used for calls, messaging, social media, games, photography, video recording or any other purpose during training.
Any child seen using a mobile phone during training will be asked to put it away immediately.
If a child needs to contact their parent/guardian during a session, they should speak to a coach or club volunteer who will assist them.
If a parent/guardian urgently needs to contact their child during training, please contact the Club rather than relying on the child checking their phone.
This rule is in place for all U18 training sessions to minimise distractions, support safeguarding and allow our coaches to properly supervise and engage with all players.
🤝 Behaviour & Respect
We want Taghmon Badminton Club to be somewhere every young person feels welcome, included and able to enjoy their badminton.
We expect all U18 players to:
Treat coaches, volunteers, teammates, opponents and other members with respect.
Listen to and follow reasonable instructions from coaches.
Show good sportsmanship both on and off the court.
Use appropriate language and behaviour.
Respect club equipment and the facilities we use.
Never engage in bullying, intimidation, deliberately unsafe behaviour or behaviour that makes another child feel uncomfortable.
Remain within the areas designated for their badminton session unless given permission to leave by a coach.
Allow everyone the opportunity to participate and enjoy their badminton.
Parents/guardians are asked to reinforce these expectations with their children.
Persistent or serious behavioural issues may be addressed under the Club's Code of Conduct and relevant safeguarding or disciplinary procedures.
🏸 During Training
Once a junior session begins, our coaches and volunteers need to be able to concentrate on coaching and safely supervising the group.
We therefore ask parents/guardians to:
Ensure children arrive ready to participate.
Ensure children have appropriate clothing, footwear, racket and a drink.
Inform the Club of any relevant information that coaches need to know regarding their child's participation.
Ensure children understand the Club's rules before attending.
Collect children promptly when their allocated session finishes.
⏰ Late Collection
We understand that occasionally a parent/guardian may be unexpectedly delayed.
If this happens, please contact the Club or relevant coach as soon as possible.
Children must remain inside the hall with the designated club adults until they are collected.
Children should never go outside or into the car park to look for a parent who is late.
Repeated late collection may be raised directly with the parent/guardian, as our coaches and volunteers cannot be expected to provide supervision beyond scheduled club activities on an ongoing basis.
🛡️ Safeguarding
Taghmon Badminton Club is committed to safeguarding children and operates under the guidance of Badminton Ireland's Safeguarding Policies.
Our Child Safeguarding Statement and Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment are available to members and parents/guardians.
Any safeguarding concern should be raised with the Club Safeguarding Officer.
💬 Please Talk to Your Child Before Their First Session
We ask every parent/guardian to make sure their child understands these important rules:
🏸 Stay inside the hall until you are collected.
🏸 Never go outside or into the car park to look for your parent/guardian.
🏸 If nobody is there to collect you, go back to your coach.
🏸 Tell your coach before leaving the hall to use the toilet.
🏸 Return directly to the hall after using the toilet.
📵 Do not use your mobile phone during training.
🏸 Listen to your coaches and treat everyone with respect.
🏸 If you are worried, uncomfortable or need help with anything, tell a coach or trusted club adult.
Parent/Guardian Agreement
By registering an U18 player with Taghmon Badminton Club, parents/guardians confirm that they have read and understood the above arrangements and agree to explain the relevant rules to their child.
These procedures are in place to help us provide a safe, enjoyable and positive badminton environment for every young person in our club.
Thank you for helping us keep Taghmon Badminton Club a safe and enjoyable place for all our young players.
