HOOPSTARS SAFEGUARDING & CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Version 1.5 — Effective from 1st May 2026

1. Introduction

Hoopstars Basketball Development Limited (Company Number: 14785330) provides basketball coaching courses, weekly classes, camps, clinics, workshops, training sessions, and related basketball development services under the Hoopstars brand.

For the purposes of this policy, “Hoopstars,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to Hoopstars Basketball Development Limited.

Hoopstars is committed to creating a safe, positive, inclusive, and professionally managed environment for all children and young people who take part in Hoopstars programmes.

The coaching and operational delivery of Hoopstars programmes is subcontracted to Game Time Management Limited (Company Number: 14785340), which supports coaching delivery, staffing, safeguarding implementation, coach compliance, insurance, and on-the-ground programme execution on behalf of Hoopstars.

All coaches appointed to deliver Hoopstars sessions are required to be licensed and certified through Basketball England, the National Governing Body for basketball in England, and must meet appropriate safeguarding, DBS, and conduct requirements.

This policy applies to all Hoopstars activities, including but not limited to:

• weekly basketball classes;
• holiday camps;
• development camps;
• advanced camps;
• clinics and workshops;
• one-to-one or small group coaching where provided;
• events and tournaments;
• trials and assessments;
• online or digital communications connected to Hoopstars activities;
• any activity delivered under the Hoopstars brand by Game Time Management Limited or appointed subcontractors.

Safeguarding is about preventing harm, promoting welfare, creating safe environments, and acting early when concerns arise. Child protection is part of safeguarding and focuses on responding when there are concerns that a child may have been harmed or may be at risk of harm.

Staff, coaches, officials, volunteers, subcontractors, and representatives are not expected to investigate safeguarding concerns or decide whether abuse has occurred. They are expected to report concerns immediately through the appropriate safeguarding route.

2. Core Safeguarding Principles

Hoopstars recognises that:

• the welfare of the child is paramount;
• every child has the right to protection from abuse, harm, exploitation, and poor practice;
• all children must be treated fairly, with dignity and respect;
• safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility;
• all concerns, allegations, disclosures, and signs of poor practice must be taken seriously;
• children should be listened to and taken seriously;
• early action can prevent harm from escalating;
• staff and coaches must work within clear professional boundaries;
• safe recruitment, training, supervision, reporting, and record keeping are essential to safeguarding;
• confidentiality must be respected, but information must be shared where necessary to protect a child or young person from harm.

Hoopstars will not tolerate abuse, neglect, bullying, discrimination, exploitation, harassment, grooming, or poor practice in any form.

3. Scope of This Policy

This policy applies to:

• Hoopstars directors and senior leaders;
• Game Time Management Limited directors and managers involved in Hoopstars delivery;
• coaches;
• assistant coaches;
• officials;
• volunteers;
• subcontractors;
• venue supervisors where acting on behalf of Hoopstars;
• photographers, videographers, and media personnel appointed by Hoopstars;
• parents, guardians, and carers;
• participants;
• anyone representing Hoopstars or involved in Hoopstars programme delivery.

This policy covers safeguarding concerns that arise:

• during Hoopstars sessions or events;
• on journeys or activities organised by Hoopstars;
• through online, digital, or social media communication linked to Hoopstars;
• through concerns disclosed to Hoopstars staff or coaches;
• where information suggests that a child may be at risk outside the immediate sporting environment.

4. Definition of a Child

For the purposes of this policy, a child is any person under the age of 18.

This includes children and young people participating in Hoopstars activities, attending as spectators, communicating with Hoopstars, or otherwise coming into contact with Hoopstars staff, coaches, subcontractors, or representatives.

5. Policy Aims

The aims of this policy are to:

• safeguard children and young people who participate in Hoopstars activities;
• promote a safe, inclusive, and positive basketball environment;
• support staff, coaches, subcontractors, and volunteers to understand their safeguarding responsibilities;
• ensure concerns are reported and managed promptly and appropriately;
• reduce the risk of abuse, harm, exploitation, and poor practice;
• create clear procedures for responding to concerns;
• protect staff and coaches from avoidable safeguarding risk through clear boundaries and good practice;
• align Hoopstars delivery with Basketball England safeguarding expectations and wider safeguarding best practice.

6. Roles and Responsibilities

6.1 Hoopstars Basketball Development Limited

Hoopstars is responsible for:

• owning and maintaining this Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy;
• ensuring safeguarding is embedded within Hoopstars programme design and administration;
• ensuring parents and participants have access to safeguarding information;
• maintaining appropriate reporting routes;
• working with Game Time Management Limited to ensure safeguarding standards are implemented in delivery;
• reviewing safeguarding concerns and taking appropriate action;
• ensuring safeguarding records are stored securely;
• ensuring safeguarding arrangements are reviewed and improved where necessary.

6.2 Game Time Management Limited

Game Time Management Limited is responsible for:

• ensuring that coaches and delivery staff appointed to Hoopstars sessions are appropriately vetted, trained, insured, and compliant;
• ensuring coaches are licensed and certified through Basketball England where required;
• maintaining records of DBS checks, safeguarding training, coach qualifications, and relevant compliance documents;
• ensuring staff understand and follow this policy and the Hoopstars Code of Conduct;
• implementing safeguarding procedures during on-the-ground delivery;
• reporting safeguarding concerns to the Hoopstars Designated Safeguarding Lead without delay;
• cooperating with Hoopstars, Basketball England, statutory agencies, and safeguarding authorities where required.

6.3 Coaches, Officials, Volunteers, and Delivery Staff

All coaches, officials, volunteers, subcontractors, and delivery staff must:

• put the welfare of children first;
• follow this policy and the Hoopstars Code of Conduct;
• complete required safeguarding training;
• maintain appropriate professional boundaries;
• report all safeguarding concerns, disclosures, allegations, or poor practice immediately;
• avoid investigating concerns themselves;
• record concerns factually, accurately, and promptly;
• cooperate with safeguarding enquiries where required;
• challenge and report behaviour that may place children at risk.

6.4 Parents, Guardians, and Carers

Parents, guardians, and carers are expected to:

• provide accurate registration, emergency contact, medical, allergy, and support information;
• inform Hoopstars of any relevant changes affecting their child’s safety or welfare;
• behave respectfully towards children, staff, coaches, officials, and other parents;
• follow Hoopstars policies, codes of conduct, and venue rules;
• raise concerns promptly and appropriately;
• support a safe and positive environment for all participants.

6.5 Participants

Children and young people participating in Hoopstars activities are expected, in an age-appropriate way, to:

• treat others with respect;
• follow coach instructions and safety rules;
• avoid bullying, discrimination, aggression, or intimidation;
• tell a trusted adult if they feel unsafe, worried, upset, or uncomfortable;
• report concerns about themselves or others.

7. Designated Safeguarding Lead

Hoopstars will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to oversee safeguarding concerns and procedures.

Designated Safeguarding Lead: [insert name]

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: [insert name]

Safeguarding Email: safeguarding@london-basketball.com

The DSL is responsible for:

• receiving safeguarding concerns;
• deciding appropriate next steps;
• making or supporting referrals to statutory agencies where required;
• liaising with Basketball England safeguarding personnel where appropriate;
• liaising with the Local Authority Designated Officer where appropriate;
• maintaining secure safeguarding records;
• supporting staff and coaches with safeguarding guidance;
• ensuring safeguarding procedures are reviewed and improved;
• ensuring urgent concerns are escalated without delay.

Where a concern involves the DSL, the matter should be escalated to the Deputy DSL, a senior Hoopstars director, Basketball England safeguarding personnel, or the relevant statutory agency as appropriate.

8. Good Practice Standards

All personnel involved in Hoopstars activities must demonstrate high standards of behaviour and professional conduct.

Good practice includes:

• working in open and observable environments;
• avoiding private, unobserved, or unnecessary one-to-one situations with children;
• treating all children equally, respectfully, and with dignity;
• prioritising welfare over winning, performance, or commercial outcomes;
• maintaining clear physical, emotional, and professional boundaries;
• building balanced relationships based on trust, respect, and appropriate authority;
• making basketball enjoyable and developmental;
• promoting fair play, discipline, teamwork, and respect;
• giving constructive feedback rather than humiliating criticism;
• recognising the age, maturity, physical capacity, and emotional needs of each child;
• adapting coaching appropriately for disabled children and children with additional needs;
• using physical contact only where necessary, appropriate, proportionate, and explained;
• ensuring any manual support is open, observable, and connected to coaching safety or technique;
• involving parents, guardians, or carers where appropriate;
• keeping appropriate records of injuries, incidents, and concerns;
• maintaining professional standards in language, appearance, communication, and conduct.

9. Practice to Avoid

The following should be avoided unless necessary, justified, risk-assessed, and appropriately recorded:

• spending time alone with a child away from others;
• transporting a child alone;
• entering changing rooms or toilets without another appropriate adult present, unless there is an urgent safeguarding or safety reason;
• physical contact that could be misunderstood;
• private messaging with children;
• meeting a child outside Hoopstars activities without parental knowledge and organisational approval;
• giving gifts to individual children without transparency;
• favouritism or overly familiar relationships;
• sharing personal information with children inappropriately.

Where unavoidable circumstances arise, staff must act transparently, inform the DSL or senior lead as soon as possible, and record the situation where appropriate.

10. Practice Never to Be Sanctioned

The following behaviour is never acceptable:

• engaging in rough, physical, aggressive, or sexually provocative games;
• sharing bedrooms or inappropriate private spaces with children;
• touching a child in a sexually suggestive, unnecessary, or inappropriate way;
• making sexually suggestive comments to or about a child;
• using abusive, humiliating, discriminatory, intimidating, or degrading language;
• reducing a child to tears as a form of control;
• ignoring allegations, disclosures, concerns, or signs of abuse;
• allowing bullying, harassment, discrimination, or intimidation to continue;
• engaging in private sexual, romantic, or exploitative communication with a child;
• inviting a child to a private home or unsupervised location;
• doing things of a personal nature for a child that the child can do for themselves, unless necessary for welfare, disability support, or emergency reasons and handled appropriately;
• consuming alcohol, smoking, vaping, or using illegal substances while responsible for children;
• being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while delivering or supervising Hoopstars activities.

11. Physical Contact and Coaching Support

Basketball coaching may sometimes require physical demonstration, manual guidance, or safety-related contact.

Any physical contact must be:

• necessary for the coaching or safety purpose;
• proportionate and appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;
• explained clearly where possible;
• conducted openly and never in private;
• respectful of the child’s comfort and dignity;
• stopped immediately if the child appears uncomfortable or asks for it to stop.

Staff must never use physical contact as punishment, intimidation, control, humiliation, or unnecessary correction.

12. Changing Rooms, Toilets, and Personal Care

Where Hoopstars uses facilities with changing rooms or toilets:

• children should be encouraged to manage their own personal care where age-appropriate;
• staff should avoid entering changing areas unless necessary for supervision, emergency, safety, or safeguarding reasons;
• where supervision is required, it should be carried out by two appropriate adults where possible;
• staff should announce their intention before entering a changing area unless there is an emergency;
• mobile phones, cameras, and recording devices must not be used in changing rooms or toilets;
• boys and girls should have appropriate privacy and supervision arrangements;
• reasonable adjustments should be made for disabled children or children with additional needs.

13. Transport and Collection

Hoopstars does not usually provide transport for participants unless specific arrangements have been confirmed in writing.

Where transport is arranged or supported by Hoopstars:

• parental consent must be obtained;
• appropriate risk assessment should be completed;
• drivers must be suitably licensed and insured;
• one-to-one transport should be avoided wherever possible;
• journey details should be transparent and communicated to Parents;
• staff should not take a child home or transport a child alone except in exceptional circumstances, with parental consent and senior approval where possible.

Parents are responsible for ensuring children are collected promptly at the end of sessions.

If a child is not collected, staff must follow the late collection procedure and ensure the child remains appropriately supervised until the matter is resolved.

14. Online Safety and Digital Communication

All online interaction connected to Hoopstars must be safe, professional, and appropriate.

Staff, coaches, subcontractors, and volunteers must not:

• privately message children from personal accounts;
• add children as friends or contacts on personal social media accounts;
• engage in secretive or inappropriate digital communication;
• send personal, sexual, suggestive, abusive, or overly familiar messages;
• share inappropriate content with children;
• use disappearing message functions for safeguarding-relevant communications.

Communication with children should take place through official Hoopstars channels, group channels, parent/guardian communication, or approved platforms.

Where direct communication with an older young person is necessary for operational reasons, it should be transparent, professional, proportionate, and copied to a Parent, guardian, team manager, DSL, or another appropriate adult where possible.

Any concerning digital communication must be reported to the DSL immediately.

15. Photography, Filming, and Media

Hoopstars may use photography and video for promotional, educational, training, safeguarding, recruitment, social media, website, or programme development purposes.

To protect children:

• Parents should be informed that photography or filming may take place;
• Parents must be given the opportunity to opt out of promotional media use;
• children who must not be photographed or filmed should be clearly identified to relevant staff in a secure and appropriate way;
• photographers and videographers engaged by Hoopstars must operate under clear guidelines;
• images must be appropriate, respectful, and connected to legitimate Hoopstars activity;
• children should not be identified with unnecessary personal details;
• media must not be used in a way that exploits, humiliates, sexualises, or places a child at risk;
• images and video should be stored and shared securely.

Parents, spectators, and third parties must not photograph or film other children without appropriate permission.

Any concerns about photography, filming, or image use must be reported to the DSL.

16. Safer Recruitment, Vetting, and Appointment

Hoopstars and Game Time Management Limited are committed to safer recruitment and appropriate vetting of staff, coaches, subcontractors, and volunteers.

Where relevant to the role, safer recruitment may include:

• application or onboarding information;
• identity checks;
• right-to-work checks where applicable;
• qualification checks;
• Basketball England licence or certification checks;
• enhanced DBS checks, including barred list checks where eligible and appropriate;
• safeguarding training verification;
• reference checks;
• interview or suitability assessment;
• review of previous coaching, employment, or disciplinary information where appropriate;
• agreement to follow this policy and the Hoopstars Code of Conduct.

No coach or staff member should be appointed to regulated activity with children unless appropriate checks have been completed in line with legal requirements and safeguarding best practice.

17. Training and Induction

All relevant staff, coaches, subcontractors, and volunteers must receive safeguarding induction appropriate to their role.

This should include:

• awareness of this policy;
• understanding signs and indicators of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and poor practice;
• reporting procedures;
• safer working practice;
• online safety expectations;
• code of conduct requirements;
• emergency procedures;
• confidentiality and record keeping;
• escalation routes.

Safeguarding training should be refreshed at least every three years, or sooner where required by Basketball England, legislation, policy changes, risk level, or role requirements.

First aid training should be held by appropriate staff where required for programme delivery.

18. Types of Abuse and Safeguarding Concerns

Safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

• physical abuse;
• emotional abuse;
• sexual abuse;
• neglect;
• bullying and cyberbullying;
• child-on-child abuse;
• grooming;
• exploitation;
• discrimination or hate-based abuse;
• domestic abuse affecting a child;
• self-harm or suicidal ideation;
• mental health concerns;
• radicalisation or extremism;
• poor practice by staff, coaches, volunteers, parents, or participants;
• unsafe coaching practices;
• inappropriate physical contact;
• inappropriate communication or online behaviour;
• concerns arising outside the sporting environment.

Staff should remain alert to changes in behaviour, unexplained injuries, fearfulness, withdrawal, distress, inappropriate sexualised behaviour, concerning communication, or any disclosure from a child.

19. Responding to a Disclosure

If a child tells a member of staff, coach, volunteer, or subcontractor something that raises a safeguarding concern, the adult should:

• stay calm;
• listen carefully;
• take the child seriously;
• avoid showing shock or disbelief;
• reassure the child that they have done the right thing by speaking up;
• avoid asking leading questions;
• ask only open questions where clarification is necessary;
• not promise confidentiality;
• explain that the information may need to be shared with people who can help keep them safe;
• record the child’s words as accurately as possible;
• report the concern to the DSL immediately.

Staff must not investigate the concern themselves or confront the alleged person responsible.

20. Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

All safeguarding concerns must be reported as soon as possible to:

safeguarding@london-basketball.com

Where there is an immediate risk of harm or a child is in immediate danger, staff must contact emergency services by calling 999.

The DSL will review the concern and decide appropriate next steps. This may include:

• internal monitoring;
• support for the child or family;
• referral to Basketball England safeguarding personnel;
• referral to Children’s Social Care;
• referral to the police;
• referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer;
• referral to another appropriate statutory agency;
• suspension or restriction of a staff member, coach, volunteer, or subcontractor where necessary;
• further advice from safeguarding professionals.

Where there is uncertainty, advice should be sought from the relevant safeguarding authority, Basketball England, Children’s Social Care, the NSPCC Helpline, or the police as appropriate.

21. Allegations Against Staff, Coaches, Volunteers, or Subcontractors

Any allegation or concern that a staff member, coach, volunteer, subcontractor, or adult working with children may have:

• behaved in a way that has harmed a child or may have harmed a child;
• possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child;
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm;
• behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children;

must be reported immediately to the DSL.

The DSL will consider whether the matter should be referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer, Basketball England safeguarding personnel, Children’s Social Care, police, or another relevant body.

Where an allegation meets the threshold for LADO involvement, the LADO should be contacted within one working day and before any internal investigation takes place.

Hoopstars may suspend, restrict, or reassign duties while a matter is being reviewed. Suspension is not a disciplinary finding and does not imply guilt.

Hoopstars will cooperate with statutory agencies, Basketball England, Game Time Management Limited, and relevant safeguarding authorities as required.

22. Low-Level Concerns

A low-level concern is any concern about an adult’s behaviour towards a child that does not clearly meet the threshold for referral to statutory agencies but may still be inconsistent with expected standards of conduct.

Examples may include:

• overly familiar behaviour;
• inappropriate language;
• unnecessary one-to-one contact;
• boundary concerns;
• favouritism;
• private messaging;
• poor supervision;
• minor but repeated breaches of policy;
• behaviour that causes discomfort or unease.

All low-level concerns must be reported to the DSL.

Low-level concerns will be recorded, reviewed, and monitored to identify patterns or escalating risk.

Repeated low-level concerns about the same person may require escalation to Basketball England, the LADO, or another appropriate safeguarding authority.

23. Whistleblowing

Hoopstars encourages staff, coaches, volunteers, subcontractors, parents, and participants to raise concerns about unsafe practice, poor conduct, safeguarding failures, or misconduct.

No person should suffer retaliation for raising a genuine safeguarding concern in good faith.

Where someone feels unable to raise a concern internally, or believes a concern has not been handled appropriately, they may escalate externally to an appropriate organisation such as Basketball England, the NSPCC Helpline, the police, Children’s Social Care, or the relevant local authority safeguarding team.

24. Bullying, Discrimination, and Child-on-Child Abuse

Hoopstars will take bullying, discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and child-on-child abuse seriously.

This may include:

• verbal bullying;
• physical bullying;
• emotional bullying;
• social exclusion;
• online bullying;
• discriminatory abuse;
• sexual harassment;
• coercive or controlling behaviour;
• intimidation or threats;
• repeated targeting of a child.

Staff must act promptly where bullying or child-on-child abuse is witnessed, suspected, or reported.

Actions may include:

• immediate intervention;
• support for the child affected;
• speaking with Parents or guardians;
• behaviour management action;
• safeguarding referral where necessary;
• disciplinary action;
• exclusion from Hoopstars activities where appropriate.

25. Concerns Outside the Sporting Environment

A child may disclose or show signs of harm connected to home, school, online activity, peer relationships, another club, or another environment outside Hoopstars.

Staff must still report the concern to the DSL immediately.

The DSL will consider appropriate next steps, which may include referral to Children’s Social Care, police, Basketball England safeguarding personnel, the child’s school, or another appropriate agency.

26. Record Keeping

Accurate safeguarding records are essential.

Records should include:

• child’s name;
• date of birth or age where known;
• Parent or guardian details where relevant;
• date, time, and location of the concern;
• factual details of what was seen, heard, reported, or disclosed;
• the child’s own words where possible;
• details of any witnesses;
• details of injuries or visible indicators, where relevant;
• actions taken;
• who was informed;
• referrals made;
• decisions reached and reasons for those decisions;
• follow-up actions.

Records must be factual, accurate, timely, signed or attributable to the person making the record, and stored securely.

Personal opinions should be avoided unless clearly marked as professional judgement and supported by facts.

Safeguarding records must be shared only on a need-to-know basis.

27. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Safeguarding information must be handled confidentially and shared only where necessary, proportionate, and appropriate.

However, confidentiality must never prevent appropriate safeguarding action.

Information may be shared without consent where necessary to protect a child or another person from harm, prevent a crime, comply with a legal obligation, support safeguarding enquiries, or cooperate with statutory agencies.

Staff must not discuss safeguarding matters casually or with people who do not need to know.

28. Internal Enquiries, Suspension, and Disciplinary Action

Where safeguarding concerns involve staff, coaches, volunteers, subcontractors, or participants, Hoopstars may conduct internal enquiries where appropriate.

Any internal process must not interfere with statutory investigations, police enquiries, Basketball England procedures, LADO advice, or safeguarding referrals.

Hoopstars may take interim protective action, including suspension, restriction of duties, removal from sessions, or exclusion from activities where necessary to protect children or maintain confidence in safeguarding arrangements.

Final decisions may be made on the balance of probabilities where appropriate, subject to relevant contractual, disciplinary, safeguarding, and legal considerations.

29. Support for Those Involved

Hoopstars will consider appropriate support for:

• children affected by safeguarding concerns;
• Parents, guardians, and families;
• children who raise concerns;
• staff or coaches receiving disclosures;
• individuals who are subject to allegations;
• witnesses;
• teams or groups affected by serious incidents.

Support may include signposting to external services, safeguarding agencies, counselling services, Basketball England support routes, or other appropriate organisations.

30. Allegations of Previous or Non-Recent Abuse

Allegations or disclosures of previous or non-recent abuse will be taken seriously.

The concern must be reported to the DSL, who will consider appropriate referral to the police, Children’s Social Care, Basketball England safeguarding personnel, the LADO, or another relevant body.

The fact that an allegation relates to something that happened in the past does not remove the duty to act, particularly where the person alleged to have caused harm may still have access to children.

31. First Aid, Accidents, and Injuries

Hoopstars and Game Time Management Limited will seek to ensure appropriate first aid arrangements are in place for Hoopstars activities.

Accidents and injuries should be recorded appropriately.

Parents should be informed of significant injuries or incidents involving their child.

Where emergency medical attention is required, staff should contact emergency services and the Parent or guardian as soon as possible.

32. Data Protection and Safeguarding Records

Safeguarding records may contain sensitive personal data and must be handled in accordance with the Hoopstars Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.

Safeguarding information should be:

• collected only where necessary;
• recorded accurately;
• stored securely;
• accessed only by authorised people;
• shared only where necessary and appropriate;
• retained for an appropriate period based on safeguarding, legal, insurance, and regulatory requirements.

Data protection law does not prevent the sharing of information where it is necessary to safeguard a child.

33. Useful Contacts

Hoopstars Safeguarding Team
Email: safeguarding@london-basketball.com

Hoopstars General Support
Email: support@london-basketball.com

Basketball England Safeguarding
Email: childprotection@basketballengland.co.uk

NSPCC Helpline
Telephone: 0808 800 5000

Childline
Telephone: 0800 1111

Emergency Services
Telephone: 999

Non-emergency Police
Telephone: 101

Local Authority Designated Officer
Contact details depend on the local authority area where the concern arises.

34. Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner where required because of:

• changes in law or statutory guidance;
• Basketball England policy updates;
• serious incidents or safeguarding learning;
• changes to Hoopstars operations;
• changes to Game Time Management Limited delivery arrangements;
• feedback from Parents, participants, staff, coaches, or safeguarding partners.

Policy Owner: Hoopstars Basketball Development Limited

Operational Delivery Partner: Game Time Management Limited

Next Review Date: [insert date]

35. Safeguarding Commitment

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Hoopstars is committed to protecting children, promoting welfare, challenging poor practice, listening to young people, and maintaining a basketball environment where children can learn, develop, compete, and enjoy the game safely.