Responsible touring? Best practice for managing sports tours.

INTRODUCTION: SPORTS TOURING CULTURE:

Sports Tours vs. Sports Festivals.Background & perspectives.Differing approaches to organisation.

CHOOSING A TOUR OPERATOR- WHAT TO CHECK FOR?

Financial protection, e.g. ABTA and ATOL. Combined Employers/Public Liability Insurance Relevant Experience/Appropriate Services Safety Management System (SMS) Provision of Travel Insurance Endorsing & Promoting the Principles of 'Responsible

Touring'

What is TourWatch? What is ‘Responsible Touring’? What do we do? How will TourWatch hold groups

responsible?

The fundamentals of ‘Responsible Touring’:

• It's tempting, but don't overdo the drink just because you're away having fun. Know your limit and stay in control. If one of your team-mates has overdone it- look after them, do not leave them alone, especially if they become unwell. • Do not use, purchase or sell any drugs on tour. • Respect your accommodation and the people who have to work there. Don’t cause deliberate damage or vandalise your room or communal areas. If you break or damage something by accident- just pay for it and say sorry! • On vehicles, use seatbelts where provided, do not stand up and walk around unnecessarily and don’t do anything to distract the driver. • Don’t physically or verbally assault anyone or deliberately seek confrontation. • Respect the rules/code of your sport, play safely and obey the officials • Remember to observe local laws & customs on decency/partial nudity when you choose your fancy dress. • Don't use the excuse of "we're on a sports tour" to justify the acceptability of unacceptable behaviour and damage. • Do not, under any circumstances, use body paint for your costumes.

Pre – 2005

Clubs did own thing, Union did not know what went on, what happened etc…

Carried Club/ University name with them.

History…

Post – 2005

2006: ‘Sportsparty’ Lloret De Mar = 180 People. 2007: ‘Sportsparty’ Lloret De Mar = 350 People. 2008: ‘Festival Italia’ Rimini = 310 People.

2005!!!

2009…

Travelled FULL CIRCLE

‘SALOUFEST’

Most Successful TOUR to date

480 Students!!!

SALOU – 2005

6 x Clubs – 1st time No. teams gone on same Tour.

140+ Students.

2 x Union Staff.

Tour Company = Poor!

Damaging Furniture/ Property!

Anti-Social Behaviour!

Fighting/ Violence!

FALL-OUT POST SALOU 2005!

ASSESS FUTURE OF CLUBS & TOURING?

NEED FOR CHANGE IN CULTURE, ATTITUDE & APPROACH.

DECISION TAKEN FOR UNION TO ORGANISE FUTURE EASTER TOURS.

IMPLEMENT MGMT SYSTEMS FOR FUTURE TOURS.

ACCOUNTABILITY!

CLUBS NOT ALLOWED TO PLAN/ ARRANGE ANY TOUR WITHOUT PERMISSION OF AU.

CLUBS INDIRECTLY FORCED TO EMBRACE ‘SINGLE AU TOUR’ CONCEPT FOR EASTER TOUR.

IMPLEMENT SYSTEMS & PROCEDURES.

LEVIED PENALTIES - ‘CONDUCT & BEHAVIOUR POLICY’!!!

AU MORE HANDS-ON.

‘BOOTS ON THE GROUND!’.

HOW?

WHAT?

RUNNING CENTRALISED TOURS FOR 4 YEARS.

IDENTIFIED TOUR COMPANIES WANTED TO WORK WITH – 1 AU POINT OF CONTACT.

AU-EXEC COMMITTEE ROLE - TOUR.

TOUR COMMITTEE (IND. CLUB TOUR SECS).

CENTRALISED BOOKING, PAYMENT, DELIVERY.

TOUR POLICIES & PROCEDURES.

Pre-Tour?

VP SPORTS = TOUR LEADER.

STARTS – 1st WEEK OF TERM.

FORTNIGHTLY TOUR COMMITTEE MTGS – CHAIRED BY AU-EXEC TOUR REP/ AU STAFF.

WEBSITE/ FACEBOOK GROUPS.

PRE-TOUR SAFETY BRIEFING FOR TOUR SECS.

CLUBS HOLD OWN PRE-TOUR MEETINGS.

CENTRALISED TOUR SHIRTS THEME.

0n-Tour?

VP-SPORTS = FIRST POINT OF CONTACT.

UNION TOUR GUIDE FOR EACH PERSON.

DAILY TOUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS/ UPDATES.

WHOLE TOUR GROUP SOCIALS/ DRESS-UPS.

OWN UNION TOUR STAFF ON DUTY.

ORGANISED SOCIALS.

UK CONTACT (24HRS).

TOUR DUTY MOBILE (24HRS).

Post-Tour?

TOUR WASH-UP.

AU SUPPORT FOR INSURANCE CLAIMS Etc.

FEEDBACK.

TOUR VIDEO/ POST TOUR PARTY.

NEW FOR 2010 = TOUR RE-UNION!

START PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR.