ND Shooting Sports ND Shooting Sports Risk Management/Safe Risk Management/Safe Environment TrainingEnvironment Training

Planning for a Successful Safe Planning for a Successful Safe ExperienceExperience

ND 4-H Shooting SportsND 4-H Shooting SportsFrom Your ND Shooting Sports Program Coordinator:From Your ND Shooting Sports Program Coordinator:

You are about to embark upon a gratifying journey. You are about to embark upon a gratifying journey. From seeing the first attempts at releasing an arrow From seeing the first attempts at releasing an arrow or firing a shot, a change will occur during the term or firing a shot, a change will occur during the term of the shooter’s experience that you are responsible of the shooter’s experience that you are responsible for.for.

You are a role model and mentor. Your job is more You are a role model and mentor. Your job is more than shooting sports. You may be the one person than shooting sports. You may be the one person whose influence provides that youth a focus for life’s whose influence provides that youth a focus for life’s success. It is your job to get them there safely and success. It is your job to get them there safely and to teach them the responsibility and joys of life. to teach them the responsibility and joys of life.

Basic Instructor ExpectationsBasic Instructor Expectations

It is expected that our volunteers are ready before or on It is expected that our volunteers are ready before or on time. Your attitude is positive and upbeat. time. Your attitude is positive and upbeat.

A program plan should be identified and approved by your A program plan should be identified and approved by your county agent. The volunteer roles in the planned activities county agent. The volunteer roles in the planned activities should be identified. Emergency storm or medical plans and should be identified. Emergency storm or medical plans and contacts should be shared in a folder. (Meeting should be contacts should be shared in a folder. (Meeting should be documented)documented)

All participants are treated fairly and consistently. All participants are treated fairly and consistently. You need to put yourself in their place and ask what your You need to put yourself in their place and ask what your

expectations would be. Be caring, supportive, friendly, and expectations would be. Be caring, supportive, friendly, and enthusiastic.enthusiastic.

Treat everyone with courtesy and respect. Say please and Treat everyone with courtesy and respect. Say please and thank youthank you

Follow shooting discipline procedures.Follow shooting discipline procedures. Be aware of and be able to carry out emergency plans.Be aware of and be able to carry out emergency plans.

Basic Instructor ExpectationsBasic Instructor Expectations

Don’t assume anything about children.Don’t assume anything about children.While you plan the activity, think about possible problems. Plan While you plan the activity, think about possible problems. Plan to avoid them. Inform your co-instructors of the activity plan.to avoid them. Inform your co-instructors of the activity plan.Locate yourself near children who will need more attention to Locate yourself near children who will need more attention to keep them on task. keep them on task. Maintain a position to be able to view the group.Maintain a position to be able to view the group.Don’t ask a youth to do something they are not capable of or Don’t ask a youth to do something they are not capable of or afraid to do.afraid to do.Don’t expect youth to sit at a structured activity too long. Give Don’t expect youth to sit at a structured activity too long. Give them breaks to move. Some kids need to move as they learn.them breaks to move. Some kids need to move as they learn.Spend some leisure time with your group to build a personal Spend some leisure time with your group to build a personal connection.connection.Plan enough activities to keep kids busy and some add variety.Plan enough activities to keep kids busy and some add variety.Encourage youth to be part of the site clean up at the end of Encourage youth to be part of the site clean up at the end of the activity.the activity.

Behavior Management PlanBehavior Management Plan1.1. Always use positive reinforcement (catch them doing something Always use positive reinforcement (catch them doing something

good) good) 2.2. Your first approach is to simply redirect the child.Your first approach is to simply redirect the child.3.3. Your next strategy is to identify the behavior, indicate the correct Your next strategy is to identify the behavior, indicate the correct

behavior, and ask for compliance. (focus on behavior not person)behavior, and ask for compliance. (focus on behavior not person)4.4. If child fails to complete the request, they may need a time out. If child fails to complete the request, they may need a time out.

After the time out, the correct behavior is discussed and child can After the time out, the correct behavior is discussed and child can return to the group if they can comply. (You cannot leave them return to the group if they can comply. (You cannot leave them unsupervised.)unsupervised.)

5.5. If a child is too disruptive, then they may need to be removed If a child is too disruptive, then they may need to be removed from the group. (where do they go and who takes them) from the group. (where do they go and who takes them) (Complete behavior report) They may be sent home.(Complete behavior report) They may be sent home.

6.6. Do not use a consequence that is unreasonable or would cause a Do not use a consequence that is unreasonable or would cause a safety concern.safety concern.

7.7. Organize the activity to best manage the group. (Consider Organize the activity to best manage the group. (Consider small/large group, activity needs, attention span, movement, small/large group, activity needs, attention span, movement, transitions, and weather needs)transitions, and weather needs)

8.8. Plan enough activities to keep kids busy. Send kids who are done Plan enough activities to keep kids busy. Send kids who are done home.home.

Ensuring a Safe EnvironmentEnsuring a Safe Environment

To protect To protect ALLALL individuals, instructors need to individuals, instructors need to ensure during their activity, volunteers and staff ensure during their activity, volunteers and staff work with youth in reasonably open spaces where work with youth in reasonably open spaces where others are welcome to enter and are present. others are welcome to enter and are present. (Rule of 3)(Rule of 3)

Do notDo not spend time alone with a single child. If spend time alone with a single child. If you have to retrieve a single child – tell another you have to retrieve a single child – tell another child to get them.child to get them.

Respect the privacy of youth.Respect the privacy of youth. Maintain an appropriate adult ratio to youth.Maintain an appropriate adult ratio to youth.

Younger inexperienced (1-4) Older experienced (1-15 max.)

Ensuring A Safe EnvironmentEnsuring A Safe Environment Paid staff and volunteers should be alert to signs of abuse or Paid staff and volunteers should be alert to signs of abuse or

neglect. If you suspect abuse, report it to your county Social neglect. If you suspect abuse, report it to your county Social Services Office.Services Office.

Reporting is encouraged for volunteers, mandatory for NDSU staff. Reporting is encouraged for volunteers, mandatory for NDSU staff.

Children are Children are not under any circumstances, to be disciplined by any circumstances, to be disciplined by physical punishment.physical punishment.

An adult will not share a room with one minor child who is not their An adult will not share a room with one minor child who is not their child. Volunteers are with youth always in the company of others.child. Volunteers are with youth always in the company of others.

Know your youth’s health information. Do not dispense medication Know your youth’s health information. Do not dispense medication

without authority to do so. (health info sheet is always present)without authority to do so. (health info sheet is always present)

AlcoholicAlcoholic BeveragesBeverages and Illegal Drug Useand Illegal Drug Use

Zero tolerance - Extension staff and Zero tolerance - Extension staff and volunteers are reminded that adult volunteers are reminded that adult behavior can and does have an impact behavior can and does have an impact on youth in many situations and on youth in many situations and environments.environments.

It is expected that volunteers be positive It is expected that volunteers be positive role models for participating youth. role models for participating youth.

Individuals under the influence would not Individuals under the influence would not be protected by NDSU liability coverage.be protected by NDSU liability coverage.

InsuranceInsurance Volunteers/staff receive special protection under Volunteers/staff receive special protection under

North Dakota state law as do state employees.North Dakota state law as do state employees. You must inform your home extension office of You must inform your home extension office of

any shooting sports, fishing, or horse activities to any shooting sports, fishing, or horse activities to have injury insurance for participants.have injury insurance for participants.

All plans should be written and document who is All plans should be written and document who is in charge, and job responsibilities.in charge, and job responsibilities.

Individuals must act prudently and responsibly. Individuals must act prudently and responsibly. You must do what others with similar background You must do what others with similar background experience would do. (Have a emergency plan)experience would do. (Have a emergency plan)

Automobile/Safe Operation of MachineryAutomobile/Safe Operation of Machinery

Accidents by you are reported to your Accidents by you are reported to your county agent.county agent.

Volunteers/ staff must rely on their own Volunteers/ staff must rely on their own vehicle insurance when working in an vehicle insurance when working in an Extension program. (check your auto policy)Extension program. (check your auto policy)

Anyone who transports youth for Extension Anyone who transports youth for Extension activities must have a valid drivers license activities must have a valid drivers license and insurance on file in the home extension and insurance on file in the home extension office.office.

Liability insurance must meet state law.Liability insurance must meet state law.

Automobile/Safe Operation of EquipmentAutomobile/Safe Operation of Equipment

Adults are role models. Vehicles must Adults are role models. Vehicles must be operated in a safe way, using be operated in a safe way, using good common sense and judgment.good common sense and judgment.

Adults should model safe operation Adults should model safe operation of power tools etc. with the use of of power tools etc. with the use of safety equipment.safety equipment.

Anti-discriminationAnti-discrimination

Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964

Extension volunteers and paid staff Extension volunteers and paid staff must not show discrimination in must not show discrimination in designing or delivering programs designing or delivering programs with respect to color, race, national with respect to color, race, national origin, gender, religion, sexual origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or handicap. Programs orientation, or handicap. Programs must be equally accessible to must be equally accessible to anyone.anyone.

What did you Learn?What did you Learn? It is fine to have few drinks and then go to a 4-H activity.It is fine to have few drinks and then go to a 4-H activity.

A. NeverA. Never

B. It is alright as long as I don’t drink at the activity.B. It is alright as long as I don’t drink at the activity.

C. I am a role model and mentor to these youth so I wouldn’t do it.C. I am a role model and mentor to these youth so I wouldn’t do it.

D. Both A & CD. Both A & C

I may choose who I want in my club or activities?I may choose who I want in my club or activities?

A. NeverA. Never

B. All youth must be included.B. All youth must be included.

C. Youth who have proven unsafe or uncooperative may be exempted.C. Youth who have proven unsafe or uncooperative may be exempted.

D. Both B & CD. Both B & C

I should inform my county extension agent of my program activities because:I should inform my county extension agent of my program activities because:

A. Never have toA. Never have to

B. So they can superviseB. So they can supervise

C. It is proper planning and so youth and I are covered by insuranceC. It is proper planning and so youth and I are covered by insurance

It is OK to pick up a youth leaving your activity and give them a ride home?It is OK to pick up a youth leaving your activity and give them a ride home?

A. NeverA. Never

B. AlwaysB. Always

C. Only in the company of othersC. Only in the company of others