Club Mark

Working together to Develop and recognise your Club.

Do you believe that your club should develop its standards and be publicly recognised?

If so, British Triathlon and Sport England welcome your commitment and wish to work with you to support the development of your club.

Club Development and Accreditation

Sport England's website (Sport England Clubmark) describes Sport England Clubmark, the development and accreditation scheme that Sport England has created in partnership with National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) to recognise and accredit clubs that are committed to providing a quality club and with a safe and fun environment for children and young people. Clubmark will be an integral part of British Triathlon's own Club Development and Accreditation Programme.

Clubmark - Safe, Effective, Child friendly

Sport England has worked with NGBs to develop core criteria for clubs to set standards to which they should all aspire.

National governing bodies adopt these criteria within their own development and accreditation programmes. All clubs work through their own NGB to gain Clubmark recognition.

Clubmark sets criteria in the following categories

• Triathlon Welfare and Child Protection
• Coaching and competition
• Sports equity and ethics
• Club management

The development of Clubmark by Sport England has two main objectives:

• To ensure that NGB accreditation programs contain the core criteria of safe, effective and child-friendly clubs.
• To enable parents/carers and sports professionals to recognise an accredited club through a common branding.

Gaining accreditation will be challenging for many clubs. Some will already operate to the standards set by NGBs, but many others that will need to undergo a considerable amount of development work. Clubs that commit to working towards Clubmark accreditation will benefit from the support programmes being developed by Sport England and NGBs.

Clubmark and County Sports Partnerships

The development of sports clubs providing opportunities for children and young people is an integral part of County Sports Partnerships. The 45 Sports Partnerships will work closely with national governing bodies to provide support to clubs working to improve their quality and gain accreditation.

Triathlon Clubmark

British Triathlon has developed a club accreditation scheme called "Triathlon Clubmark" designed to assist Triathlon clubs develop quality standards. Participation in British Triathlon's Clubmark programme represents the opportunity to access a programme of activities and resource pack that supports simultaneous attainment of the Sport England's Clubmark award.

Triathlon Clubmark includes the core criteria of Sport England?s Clubmark scheme. This ensures that the standards set by British Triathlon are consistent with other National Governing Body standards and that Triathlon clubs are able to gain equal national recognition to other sports clubs.

On attaining British Triathlon Clubmark criteria, clubs will be awarded Sport England's Clubmark simultaneously. No additional application process will be necessary.

Clubs achieving Triathlon Clubmark will be issued with a certificate and online access to the Triathlon Clubmark and Sport England wesbites. Furthermore, they will be given the ability to use the Clubmark logo their letterhead, promotional material and other printed literature.

Getting Going

The Clubmark Registration form is attached for you to download and send off to begin the Accreditation process. For any further information, please contact your Regional Programme Manager (RPM).

Gaining Accreditation

On reciept of your Registration Form, you will be sent a comprehensive Resource Pack and Assessment File. To help you complete the assessment files, you will have support from your RPM to complete a Club Data Audit Form and Clubmark Action Plan. This plan will help you to complete the assessment file for your club and provide information/evidence to show that your club satisfies the Triathlon Clubmark criteria, therefore achieving Clubmark status. The Club has 12 months in which to complete the Assessment File. Once the assessment file has been completed it will be evaluated by your RPM. If all minimum standards have been met, the Club will be awarded with the Triathlon Clubmark Accreditation - the sign of a quality club.

Star Mark

Would you like the quality of your Triathlon club to be publicly recognised? Would you like the club to benefit directly and indirectly from your hard work? If so, British Triathlon are committed to support you in attaining STAR Club status.

What is the STAR Club Scheme?

The scheme is a club development tool for Senior Triathlon clubs. It has been developed in consultation with clubs around the country and is based on the very successful Clubmark scheme, launched for Junior clubs in 2002.

To gain accreditation, clubs must fulfil criteria in the areas of:

• Club Management
• Coaching and Competition
• Sports Equity and Ethics
• Health and Safety.  

Achievement of the criteria will indicate that the Club has reached a minimum level of standards and will be recognised by triathletes, sports professionals and the community as a quality Triathlon Club.

STAR has been designed to assist Triathlon clubs develop quality standards.  Participation in the STAR scheme represents the opportunity for clubs to access a programme of activities, a resource pack and support from a British Triathlon Regional Development Officer to attain the award.

STAR Features

There are many features of STAR that will bring both internal and external benefits to your club:

• Increase in revenue from new members / events
• Increase in new members / retention of existing members
• Higher profile on British Triathlon website and in the handbook
• STAR logo for use on all club paperwork
• STAR certificate for display
• Access to volunteer training programmes
• Recognition of hard work and high standards
• Clear club management structures

…And much more!

STAR Criteria

For high quality, efficient and friendly triathlon clubs, the criteria to fulfil are outlined below:

Club Management

• The club affiliates to British Triathlon
• The club has an open, non-discriminatory and up-to-date constitution
• The club is committed to further development and work to maintain and improve accreditation
• The club has a management committee with defined roles and responsibilities
• The club has an identified person who liaises with Sport Partnerships and/or their Local Authorities regularly                  
• The club holds at least 4 Management Committee meetings a year, including an AGM
• The club has a set of rules that all members sign up to
• The club has a clear and open accounts procedure
• The club has a qualified Welfare Officer
• The club sends a representative to the Regional British Triathlon AGM and Triathlon Action Groups
• The club communicates regularly with members
• The club actively promotes individual British Triathlon membership
• The club holds at least one social event every year

Coaching & Competition

• The coach responsible for the overall programme has completed the British Triathlon Level II Coaching course
• The lead coach of each session has completed the LI Coaching course
• The club provides a minimum of one coached club training session per week for all abilities
• The club has written roles/ responsibilities laid down and assigned to all coaches involved with delivery
• The club has a qualified British Triathlon Referee
• The club organises at least one open event every year to encourage novice participation
• The club organises a minimum of one ‘open novice training session’ to encourage newcomers every year
• The club has regular contact with at least one local swim, bike or run club
• The club maintains regular contact with other local triathlon clubs
• The club has members participating in local and regional events

 Sports Equity and Ethics

• The club adopts the British Triathlon Equity Policy and/or it’s own equivalent policy statement
• One member of the club has attended the Running Sport ‘Club for All’ workshop
• One member of the club has attended the Running Sport ‘Volunteer Management’ workshop
• The club ensures the attendees of the Running Sport courses report the outcomes to Club Committee and incorporates Volunteer planning and management into the Club Development Plan
• The club has Code of Conducts for all volunteers, including coaches
• The club has Code of Conduct for all members

Health & Safety

• The club has completed a risk assessment for all facilities used regularly and is aware of the facility’s Health and Safety Policy   
• The club has access to current first aid equipment at all coaching and competition sessions
• The club has emergency procedures for dealing with serious injuries/ accidents
• The club has access to a telephone (land line or mobile) at all coaching and competition sessions                                                                                   
• The club has a secure current database of contact details of members and emergency/alternative contacts
• The club holds information on any medical conditions of all members and has a system in place to impart the information to club coaches/ relevant officers
• The club has the required number of  lifeguard(s) present at all swimming sessions, adhering to the ratio determined by the facility’s Normal Operating Procedures (NOP)
• The club follows adequate safety procedures for open water swim sessions

What to do next

If your club would like to find out more about the STAR scheme, contact your Regional Programme Manager.  If you decide to go ahead with the scheme you will need to complete a registration form and send it to your Regional Programme Manager. You will then receive your STAR pack which will include full instructions, evidence file, support notes, helpful templates and info sheets that will help you through the process. You will have up to a year to fulfil all the criteria and your RPM will be available to assist you where needed.

As soon as you have completed your evidence file and it has been assessed by British Triathlon, your club will receive the certificate and logo. We will help you with the PR to get maximum publicity for your achievements.