Governing Body Guidelines:

This section acts as an appendix to the Inspection & Approval Procedures Brochure published by the Centre Standards Board and should be read in conjunction with that publication.

Since the guidelines set out in this booklet are subject to refinement from year to year it has been decided to issue it as a separate appendix rather than an integral part of the Inspection & Approval Procedures.

The National Governing Bodies of the various adventure sports have established safety standards, working practices and training programmes for their respective sports. In setting out these standards the National Bodies have, in general, had regard to the following factors:

1. The accepted norms of good practice and safety
   
   
2. The need to convey an appreciation of the ethos, skills and background knowledge.
   
   
3. The likely requirements of participants.
   
   
4. The skills available in the respective sports to meet these requirements.

The National Bodies recognise that there are many excellent practitioners of their sport who hold no formal qualifications. However, there is a significant difference between participation in a sport for personal satisfaction as in the case of club activity, and the provision of leadership and instructional services in an educational or tourism environment.

For these reasons there is a strong emphasis in this booklet on formal training and awards. In the final analysis these are the only objective methods available to assess an individuals capacity to provide leadership and instruction. This is relevant both to the marketing of Irish adventure holiday's abroad and to leading groups on adventure holidays overseas.

Adventure centres and adventure holidays provide the first introduction for many people to adventure sports. The experience of participants will inevitably influence the public perception of adventure sports. Thus the quality of experience and instruction offered will affect both the commercial future of centres and growth in participation in each sport.

This is not an operational or safety manual and it does not attempt to deal with legal or statutory issues arising form the provision of services to the public.

STANDARDS FOR ADVENTURE SPORTS TRAINING

The AFAS Centre Standard Board (CSB) co-ordinates the process by which the various National Governing Bodies of adventure sports advertise and monitor the working practices and safety standards to which outdoor activity centres and other providers should operate, whether such activities are centre based or take place off centre.

The National Governing Bodies and the activities involved are:

• Irish Amateur Archery Association Ltd, (IAAA):- Archery.
  
  
• Irish Canoe Union (ICU):- Canoeing, Kayaking, Canoe Surfing.
  
  
• Speleological Union of Ireland (SUI):- Caving.
  
  
• Mountaineering Council of Ireland (MCI):- Hillwalking, Rockclimbing, Mountaineering.
  
  
• Irish Orienteering Association (IOA):- Orienteering.
  
  
• Irish Surfing Association (ISA):- Surfing.
  
  
• Irish Underwater Council (CFT) - Snorkelling.

The Centre Standard Board includes:

• A Chairperson appointed by AFAS
  
  
• A representative of each of the above Bodies
  
  
• A representative of the Irish Sailing Association
  
  
• A representative of the Irish Association of Activity Centres (IAAC).
  
  
• A representative of the VEC centre managers and directors.
  
  
• A technical advisor from Tiglin: The National Outdoor Training Centre
  
  
• Appointed monitors

The national organisations concerned have drawn up standards for centres and other organisations who professionally offer instruction or holidays for adults or young people in activities listed above.

These standards are accepted as minimum requirements by the Dept. of Education and Bord Failte Eireann.

The CSB offers a registration scheme to all centres who wish to conform to these standards and to obtain approval by Bord Failte.

The statements contained in this booklet are intended to help employers, employees and users to understand the requirements which operate and are phrased accordingly. They should not be taken as definitive nor as legally precise.

Back to Approval Scheme

Secretary Centre Standards Board, Duncannon Fort, Duncannon, Co. Wexford.
Information Line: (01) 450-9845    Email: enquiries@adventuresports.ie