In the recent past South Africa saw an increase in participation in school sport concomitant with an increase in litigation awareness in society. Legal accountability based on damage suffered in the participation in sport has become more common, introducing an additional dimension to risk management by the educator. Learner safety is one of the key aspects in a school. Educator accountability with regard to the safety of learners in school sports is a focus of attention. An effective risk management programme to limit injuries and risks to participants in school sports must be developed. Risk management is the prime instrument by which injuries and the potential exposure of the educator or school to damage and legal accountability can be reduced or prevented. Some aspects of legal risk management are crucial for the educator's duty of care during coaching and the educator's legal duty with regard to the participants' safety. The educator must possess enough legal knowledge to successfully carry out his duty of care. This research will critically assess the safety strategies and the legal risk management of participation in school sports in South Africa. To be able to do this, I determined which common-law and legally accountable determinants can be applicable and what role they will play to ensure the safety of learners in schools. Firstly a literature study in legal risk management in school sports was done. This study found that the educator's responsibilities and obligations are determined by common-law and case law determinants. An empirical investigation was launched. Interviews were conducted with educators involved in sports in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district of the North-West Province. The topic was the current state of affairs in risk management in school sport. The participants' perceptions of legal risk management were discussed and their views analysed, whereupon findings and recommendations were made. The general impression based on the results was that the educators experience huge uncertainty and are seriously uninformed about with regard to delictual liability towards learners under their care. It was found that educators do not have sufficient legal knowledge to comply with the requirements set by law. Therefore the security of the participants (on grounds of their participation) and the educators (on grounds of their legal accountability) is jeopardised. It is recommended that all tertiary institutions develop training programmes to empower educators and student educators with knowledge of legal procedures in education. It is further recommended that the education department as employer together with governing bodies, principals and trade unions support such training programmes- now and in the future. Finally, educators, school management teams and governing bodies should be more risk-aware and more pro-active in preventing sport-related injuries, because of the ignorance regarding guidelines for risk management in sports and standards of security. The complex nature of our society makes knowledge of the legal aspects in education by all role players in education not only desirable, but mandatory. / MEd (Education Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

In the recent past South Africa saw an increase in participation in school sport concomitant with an increase in litigation awareness in society. Legal accountability based on damage suffered in the participation in sport has become more common, introducing an additional dimension to risk management by the educator. Learner safety is one of the key aspects in a school. Educator accountability with regard to the safety of learners in school sports is a focus of attention. An effective risk management programme to limit injuries and risks to participants in school sports must be developed. Risk management is the prime instrument by which injuries and the potential exposure of the educator or school to damage and legal accountability can be reduced or prevented. Some aspects of legal risk management are crucial for the educator's duty of care during coaching and the educator's legal duty with regard to the participants' safety. The educator must possess enough legal knowledge to successfully carry out his duty of care. This research will critically assess the safety strategies and the legal risk management of participation in school sports in South Africa. To be able to do this, I determined which common-law and legally accountable determinants can be applicable and what role they will play to ensure the safety of learners in schools. Firstly a literature study in legal risk management in school sports was done. This study found that the educator's responsibilities and obligations are determined by common-law and case law determinants. An empirical investigation was launched. Interviews were conducted with educators involved in sports in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district of the North-West Province. The topic was the current state of affairs in risk management in school sport. The participants' perceptions of legal risk management were discussed and their views analysed, whereupon findings and recommendations were made. The general impression based on the results was that the educators experience huge uncertainty and are seriously uninformed about with regard to delictual liability towards learners under their care. It was found that educators do not have sufficient legal knowledge to comply with the requirements set by law. Therefore the security of the participants (on grounds of their participation) and the educators (on grounds of their legal accountability) is jeopardised. It is recommended that all tertiary institutions develop training programmes to empower educators and student educators with knowledge of legal procedures in education. It is further recommended that the education department as employer together with governing bodies, principals and trade unions support such training programmes- now and in the future. Finally, educators, school management teams and governing bodies should be more risk-aware and more pro-active in preventing sport-related injuries, because of the ignorance regarding guidelines for risk management in sports and standards of security. The complex nature of our society makes knowledge of the legal aspects in education by all role players in education not only desirable, but mandatory. / MEd (Education Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Sport by skole is n verlengstuk tot die opvoeding van die kind, en in die meeste goed funksionerende openbare skole vind sportafrigting wel plaas. Sekere kommerwekkende gebeure rakende die onderwysers se regsaanspreeklikheid tydens die afrigting van sport het hierdie studie genoodsaak. Die klem van hierdie studie fokus op die sekuriteit en veiligheid van nopvoeder, veral tydens die afrigting van sport. In die studie is daar na opvoeders verwys in hulle rolle as sportafrigters, wedstrydbeamptes en administrateurs by skole. Hierdie navorsing val binne die vakgebied Onderwysreg en die opvoeders se sekuriteit en veiligheid word onder andere vanuit n gemeenregtelike perspektief bespreek. Om die studie geldig te maak, is al die rolspelers wat by sportafrigting by die skole betrokke is, by die studie ingesluit. Die Grondwet, onderwyswetgewing, beroepsveiligheid en –gesondheidswetgewing, tersaaklike regspraak en die gemene reg is as regsdeterminante ontleed. Daar is veral in die bespreking van die gemene reg gefokus op deliktuele aanspreeklikheid as regsdeterminant. In die studie is n kwalitatiewe ondersoek na opvoeders se persepsies gedoen. Daar is gefokus op deelnemers in die onderwys in n spesifieke geografiese area is, en die hele spektrum van rolspelers is betrek. Een prominente bevinding van die studie is dat opvoeders gretig is om meer inligting oor die regsaspekte rakende sportafrigting te bekom. Dit is vir die meeste deelnemers n onbekende veld en hulle is van mening dat indien hulle meer ingelig is, dit n groot bydrae sal lewer tot hulle eie veiligheid en sekuriteit, sowel as dié van leerders. Die sentrale tema van die studie is die sekuriteit en veiligheid van die opvoeders. Die deelnemers is daarvan oortuig dat daar in die opleiding van afrigters groter klem geplaas moet word op die uitbou van regskennis. Opvoeders het n passie vir die afrigting van sport en die klem is op die ontwikkeling van die leerder. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Sport by skole is n verlengstuk tot die opvoeding van die kind, en in die meeste goed funksionerende openbare skole vind sportafrigting wel plaas. Sekere kommerwekkende gebeure rakende die onderwysers se regsaanspreeklikheid tydens die afrigting van sport het hierdie studie genoodsaak. Die klem van hierdie studie fokus op die sekuriteit en veiligheid van nopvoeder, veral tydens die afrigting van sport. In die studie is daar na opvoeders verwys in hulle rolle as sportafrigters, wedstrydbeamptes en administrateurs by skole. Hierdie navorsing val binne die vakgebied Onderwysreg en die opvoeders se sekuriteit en veiligheid word onder andere vanuit n gemeenregtelike perspektief bespreek. Om die studie geldig te maak, is al die rolspelers wat by sportafrigting by die skole betrokke is, by die studie ingesluit. Die Grondwet, onderwyswetgewing, beroepsveiligheid en –gesondheidswetgewing, tersaaklike regspraak en die gemene reg is as regsdeterminante ontleed. Daar is veral in die bespreking van die gemene reg gefokus op deliktuele aanspreeklikheid as regsdeterminant. In die studie is n kwalitatiewe ondersoek na opvoeders se persepsies gedoen. Daar is gefokus op deelnemers in die onderwys in n spesifieke geografiese area is, en die hele spektrum van rolspelers is betrek. Een prominente bevinding van die studie is dat opvoeders gretig is om meer inligting oor die regsaspekte rakende sportafrigting te bekom. Dit is vir die meeste deelnemers n onbekende veld en hulle is van mening dat indien hulle meer ingelig is, dit n groot bydrae sal lewer tot hulle eie veiligheid en sekuriteit, sowel as dié van leerders. Die sentrale tema van die studie is die sekuriteit en veiligheid van die opvoeders. Die deelnemers is daarvan oortuig dat daar in die opleiding van afrigters groter klem geplaas moet word op die uitbou van regskennis. Opvoeders het n passie vir die afrigting van sport en die klem is op die ontwikkeling van die leerder. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

School rugby is one of the most popular sports within numerous South-African public schools. Each year competition gets tougher as a result of the increase in tournaments during school holidays and the nationwide promotion of interschool tournaments. Educators as coaches of school teams carry the responsibility to not only pursue competitiveness, but also care for the safety of the school rugby players. Between 2001 and 2010, 13 of 36 players that obtained spinal related injuries ended up as quadriplegic, according to data from the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Players’ Fund. Statistics show that serious rugby related injuries amongst school rugby players have increased, thus compromising the safety of the rugby player. These statistics add to the central theme of this study, namely educator security. Educator-coaches’ security is greatly influenced by the safety of the school rugby player. The South African Rugby Union (SARU) proceeded to follow the example of other rugby playing countries by implementing a rugby safety program. BOKSMART was launched in 2009 in conjunction with the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Players Fund. The rugby safety program is implemented for coaches to guide them with the latest methods regarding skills and techniques for the enhancement of safer rugby. During this study similar rugby programs will be analysed and discussed to determine the effect these programs has on educator-coach safety. To understand the effect more clearly, delictual liability is discussed which is connected to an introduction of the South African legal system. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, education legislation and other legislation with regards to the security of the educator-coaches’ and the safety of the school rugby player is discussed. A discussion regarding the application of the law of delict is also included. During the empirical research a qualitative research method is used to determine and interpret the perceptions of educator-coaches regarding their security. If an educator- coach is confronted with legal actions, it can have a negative effect on his worklife and career. Focus is placed on educator-coaches of high school teams, while principals and sport organisers also gave their input on the subject. Findings are presented based on an analysis of the data gathered. Two important findings stood out, namely that all educator-coaches are not well acquainted with the legal aspects regarding player safety and educator-coach’s security and secondly, that there is a need to gain more knowledge regarding delictual liability, as applied to rugby coaching. / Thesis (MEd (Education Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

School rugby is one of the most popular sports within numerous South-African public schools. Each year competition gets tougher as a result of the increase in tournaments during school holidays and the nationwide promotion of interschool tournaments. Educators as coaches of school teams carry the responsibility to not only pursue competitiveness, but also care for the safety of the school rugby players. Between 2001 and 2010, 13 of 36 players that obtained spinal related injuries ended up as quadriplegic, according to data from the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Players’ Fund. Statistics show that serious rugby related injuries amongst school rugby players have increased, thus compromising the safety of the rugby player. These statistics add to the central theme of this study, namely educator security. Educator-coaches’ security is greatly influenced by the safety of the school rugby player. The South African Rugby Union (SARU) proceeded to follow the example of other rugby playing countries by implementing a rugby safety program. BOKSMART was launched in 2009 in conjunction with the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Players Fund. The rugby safety program is implemented for coaches to guide them with the latest methods regarding skills and techniques for the enhancement of safer rugby. During this study similar rugby programs will be analysed and discussed to determine the effect these programs has on educator-coach safety. To understand the effect more clearly, delictual liability is discussed which is connected to an introduction of the South African legal system. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, education legislation and other legislation with regards to the security of the educator-coaches’ and the safety of the school rugby player is discussed. A discussion regarding the application of the law of delict is also included. During the empirical research a qualitative research method is used to determine and interpret the perceptions of educator-coaches regarding their security. If an educator- coach is confronted with legal actions, it can have a negative effect on his worklife and career. Focus is placed on educator-coaches of high school teams, while principals and sport organisers also gave their input on the subject. Findings are presented based on an analysis of the data gathered. Two important findings stood out, namely that all educator-coaches are not well acquainted with the legal aspects regarding player safety and educator-coach’s security and secondly, that there is a need to gain more knowledge regarding delictual liability, as applied to rugby coaching. / Thesis (MEd (Education Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.