SunSmart Sport Policy for Albany Creek Cricket Club

Cricket is an outdoor sport that requires special guidelines that will ensure the health of all participants.
The committee acknowledges the following facts in relation to playing outdoor sports in the Australian sun:

• Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.
• Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Australia. Currently 2 out of 3 Australians develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime.
• Each year more than 1,000 Australians will die from skin cancer
• Being burnt as few as six times can more than double your risk of developing melanoma during your lifetime
• Exposure during the early and teenage years of life is believed to be the most important period in determining whether you will experience skin cancer during your lifetime.

The committee of Albany Creek Cricket Club acknowledges that the occurrence of Skin Cancer is preventable and as a result has implemented the following strategies:

• Shade:
  We have erected permanent shade shelters on 2 ovals to increase shaded areas for players, officials and spectators. Other portable shade shelters are used to further increase the amount of shaded areas.
• Sunscreen Protection:
  All players must wear a hat at all times on the playing field. It is the parents, managers and coaches’ responsibility to enforce this requirement. All coaches of teams and team managers will be issued with broad brimmed hats. In addition the club will sell, via the canteen, to all players and supporters, SPF 30+ sunscreens.
• Training:
  Training for junior teams has been organised for late afternoon and early evening periods, outside the danger UV radiation hours of 11.00am and 3.00pm.
• Education:
  Committee members, coaches and team managers will be instructed to encourage players to wear effective protective clothing (at least 3/4 length sleeves, collared shirts), apply SPF 30+ sunscreens at regular intervals, wear sunglasses and the club cap or wide brimmed hat at all times. The club will also display posters and distribute literature to increase the awareness of playing cricket and other outdoor activities in the sun.

All committee members, coaches and team managers  will be expected to lead by example and comply to the SunSmart policy set out in this document to help increase awareness and educate both the junior and senior members of the club about the dangers of skin cancer.

This sun protective policy will be reviewed annually by the Albany Creek Cricket Club Committee, in conjunction with the members, players, spectators and parents to ensure that this policy remains appropriate and practical to Albany Creek Cricket Club’s requirements.