Central Highlands Pickleball Club Injury Prevention Policy
1. Purpose
Central Highlands Pickleball Club Incorporated (CHP) recognises that participation in pickleball and other physical activities involves an inherent risk of injury.
The purpose of this policy is to promote a safe playing environment, reduce reasonably foreseeable risks of injury and encourage participants to take appropriate responsibility for their own health, fitness and safety.
CHP aims to provide opportunities for members to participate in pickleball in a safe, enjoyable and supportive environment.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
CHP members.
Players and participants.
Coaches.
Session managers and conveners.
Committee members.
Volunteers.
Visitors and guests.
It applies to CHP-organised:
Social and competitive playing sessions.
Coaching and training sessions.
King of the Court and other structured play.
Rumbles.
Competitions and tournaments.
Club events and other organised activities.
3. Commitment to Safety
CHP is committed to taking reasonable steps to provide a safe environment for Club activities.
CHP will endeavour to:
Identify and appropriately manage reasonably foreseeable hazards.
Comply with applicable safety requirements.
Promote awareness of injury prevention.
Encourage appropriate warm-up, hydration and recovery.
Provide appropriate playing opportunities for different skill and ability levels.
Encourage the early reporting of hazards, incidents and injuries.
Maintain appropriate incident and injury procedures.
Consider weather and environmental conditions when conducting activities.
Participation in sport cannot be made entirely risk-free, and all participants have a responsibility to take reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of others.
4. Responsibilities
CHP Committee
The Committee is responsible for:
Overseeing this policy.
Establishing reasonable safety procedures.
Responding appropriately to identified hazards.
Supporting coaches, session managers and volunteers in maintaining safe Club activities.
Reviewing significant incidents where appropriate.
Coaches and Session Managers
Coaches, session managers and other authorised volunteers should:
Take reasonable steps to provide a safe playing environment.
Identify and report obvious hazards.
Encourage appropriate warm-up and preparation.
Consider player ability when organising activities.
Respond appropriately where an injury or safety concern arises.
Follow applicable CHP emergency and incident procedures.
Players and Members
Participants are responsible for:
Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety.
Selecting sessions appropriate to their ability, fitness and experience.
Following reasonable safety instructions.
Using equipment appropriately.
Reporting hazards or unsafe conditions.
Advising an appropriate Club representative of an injury occurring during a CHP activity.
Stopping play where they believe continuing may place themselves or another person at unreasonable risk.
Participants should not continue playing where they are injured or unwell and doing so may create an unreasonable risk to themselves or others.
Parents and Guardians
Parents and guardians of junior participants are responsible for:
Providing relevant information reasonably necessary for the safe participation of their child.
Ensuring their child is appropriately prepared for the activity.
Complying with CHP's junior participation and child safety requirements.
Informing an appropriate CHP representative of relevant restrictions that may affect participation where reasonably necessary.
5. Participant Health and Fitness
CHP does not provide medical assessment or determine whether an individual is medically fit to participate.
Participants are responsible for assessing their own ability to participate safely and, where appropriate, obtaining advice from a qualified health professional.
A participant should consider seeking medical advice before participating or returning to play where they:
Are recovering from a significant injury.
Have recently undergone surgery or medical treatment.
Have been advised to restrict physical activity.
Experience unusual pain, dizziness, shortness of breath or other concerning symptoms.
Are uncertain whether it is safe for them to participate.
CHP may reasonably ask a participant to stop or modify their participation where an immediate safety concern is apparent.
This does not constitute a medical assessment by CHP.
6. Playing Environment and Risk Assessment
CHP will take reasonable steps to identify and manage hazards associated with venues, equipment and organised activities.
Depending upon the activity, this may include consideration of:
Court and playing surface condition.
Nets and court equipment.
Surrounding obstacles and trip hazards.
Lighting.
Weather conditions.
Heat.
Available space between courts.
Access and emergency arrangements.
Other environmental conditions relevant to safe play.
Players should report hazards to the session manager, coach, Committee member or other responsible person as soon as reasonably practicable.
Where a significant hazard cannot reasonably be controlled, play may be modified, relocated, delayed or cancelled.
7. Weather and Heat
CHP recognises that hot weather and other environmental conditions may increase the risk associated with physical activity.
Where relevant, CHP will have regard to applicable guidance or policies issued by Pickleball Australia, Pickleball Victoria, venue operators or appropriate sporting authorities.
Depending upon the circumstances, CHP may:
Modify session duration or intensity.
Encourage additional rest breaks.
Encourage increased hydration.
Change playing arrangements.
Delay play.
Relocate an activity.
Cancel a session or event.
Participants remain responsible for monitoring their own condition and should stop participating if they feel unwell.
8. Warm-Up and Cool-Down
Participants are encouraged to appropriately prepare for physical activity before commencing play.
This may include:
Gradual physical warm-up.
Mobility exercises.
Appropriate practice or hitting.
Hydration.
Preparation appropriate to the individual's circumstances.
Coaches may incorporate warm-up and cool-down activities into structured coaching sessions where appropriate.
Participants attending general playing sessions remain responsible for their own preparation.
9. Hydration
Participants are encouraged to bring sufficient drinking water or other appropriate hydration for the expected duration and conditions of the activity.
Where drinking water is available at a venue, participants should make appropriate use of it.
CHP does not guarantee that drinking water will be available at every venue or activity.
Additional attention should be given to hydration during hot weather and extended playing sessions.
10. Equipment and Footwear
Participants are encouraged to use equipment appropriate for pickleball and the relevant playing environment.
This includes:
Suitable footwear for the playing surface.
Paddles in safe condition.
Appropriate clothing.
Protective equipment where personally required or recommended.
Participants should not knowingly use damaged equipment that creates an unreasonable safety risk.
CHP may remove Club-owned equipment from use where it is considered unsafe or unsuitable.
11. Protective Equipment
CHP recognises that participants may choose to use protective equipment such as:
Protective eyewear.
Braces or supports.
Appropriate footwear.
Other sporting protective equipment.
CHP may encourage particular protective measures where appropriate but does not provide individual medical advice concerning protective equipment.
Participants should seek professional advice where they require guidance concerning equipment for an existing injury or medical condition.
12. Injury Management
Where an injury occurs during a CHP activity, the immediate priority is the safety and wellbeing of the injured person and other participants.
Depending upon the circumstances, appropriate action may include:
Stopping play.
Providing assistance within the capability of people present.
Accessing available first aid.
Contacting emergency services where required.
Contacting a parent or guardian for a junior participant.
Recording the incident where appropriate.
Identifying and addressing any associated hazard.
CHP volunteers should act within their level of training and competence.
In an emergency, 000 should be contacted.
13. First Aid
CHP will take reasonable steps to support appropriate first aid arrangements for organised Club activities.
The level of first aid provision may vary depending upon:
The venue.
Nature and size of the activity.
Availability of venue facilities.
Availability of trained volunteers.
Competition or governing-body requirements.
CHP does not represent that a qualified medical professional or trained first aid officer will be present at every Club session.
14. Incident and Injury Reporting
Significant injuries, incidents and identified safety hazards should be reported to an appropriate CHP representative.
CHP may record information concerning an incident where reasonably necessary for:
Safety management.
Insurance.
Venue reporting.
Follow-up.
Identifying recurring hazards.
Compliance with applicable obligations.
Personal information associated with an incident will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy requirements and CHP policies.
15. Return to Play
CHP encourages participants recovering from injury to return to play gradually and responsibly.
Where appropriate, participants should seek advice or clearance from a qualified health professional before returning to physical activity.
CHP may reasonably restrict or modify participation where:
A significant immediate safety concern is apparent.
A participant cannot safely undertake the relevant activity.
A medical restriction has been communicated to CHP.
Participation would create an unreasonable risk to the participant or others.
Any such action is a safety measure and not disciplinary action.
16. Session Selection
CHP provides different types and levels of playing opportunities.
Members are responsible for selecting sessions appropriate to their:
Playing ability.
Experience.
Physical capability.
Fitness.
Age, where relevant.
Some CHP sessions may have specific eligibility requirements relating to skill level, DUPR, coach approval, age or other reasonable participation criteria.
These requirements help CHP provide appropriate and safer playing environments for participants at different stages of development.
17. Junior Participants
The safety and wellbeing of junior participants is a priority.
Junior participation must comply with:
CHP's child safety policies and procedures.
CHP's Young Athletes in Adult Sessions Policy where applicable.
Applicable supervision requirements.
Relevant venue and governing-body requirements.
Where this policy conflicts with a specific child safety requirement, the child safety requirement will take precedence.
18. Relationship With Other Policies
This policy should be read together with:
CHP Rules of Association.
CHP Code of Conduct.
CHP Member Protection Policy.
CHP Young Athletes in Adult Sessions Policy.
Applicable child safety policies.
Applicable Pickleball Victoria and Pickleball Australia safety requirements.
19. Relationship With the Rules of Association
This policy operates subject to the Central Highlands Pickleball Club Incorporated Rules of Association and applicable law.
Nothing in this policy is intended to limit, replace or override a right, obligation or procedure established by the Rules of Association or applicable law.
Where there is any inconsistency, the Rules of Association and applicable law prevail.
20. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed annually or earlier where required due to:
Changes in applicable safety guidance.
Changes to CHP venues or activities.
Significant incidents.
Changes to governing-body requirements.
Changes to applicable legislation.
Lessons identified through the operation of this policy.
Final Principle
CHP aims to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for pickleball while recognising that participation in sport involves inherent physical risks.
Safety is a shared responsibility.
CHP will take reasonable steps to provide safe activities and manage identified hazards, while participants remain responsible for making appropriate decisions about their own fitness, preparation and ability to participate.
Central Highlands Pickleball Club Incorporated (CHP)
Version: 1.1
Effective Date: September 2025
Last Review Date: August 2026
Responsible Body: CHP Committee
Approved by: CHP Committee
Review: Annually or as required