Please note this section is for dealing with children only. If you come across two warring adults, tread very carefully.

It may or may not happen on your watch but unfortunately because we're dealing with young people it's highly likely that emotions will push one of them to raise their fists. Also we realise that though it's common to have a one on one fight, we know it's just not that simple - there may be three on one or a bigger group. These techniques are for a basic one on one fight. Please speak to your upline to ask questions about what you should do in other situations involving more than one on one fighting. 

The first thing to note is that our kids are precious beings who probably come from very different backgrounds. They’re not all going to like each other and play happy families as much as we would like them to. Depending on what’s going on at home or how they have been ‘programmed’ to respond to situations is how they deal with life outside the home. Our job is to love them, head off any potential fist or verbal fights at the onset, and model the right way to handle drama.

So The Fight Breaks Out Between Two Kids/Teens...

Here’s some tips to manage an actual fistfight either as they’re squaring off or are right into it. (probably more for the tweens and teens)

1. Stay calm

A cool head prevails. Be smart, be proactive, be firm. But do not freak out.

2. Never attend a fight on your own

Because our policy has a clear ratio of adults to kids, there’s always going to be another adult around. If you’re rushing to the scene, say “Hey, follow me!” to any adult you see. If none are around, tell the first child you pass - go find a leader. Don’t leave the scene to get help.

3. Look to see if any weapons are present and take them away if possible

Yes it's highly unlikely that our kids are coming to our programs with a knife, but anything in reach could be used as a weapon - keys, a pen, a metal water bottle... If by some remote chance a child has come into Citipointe with a knife or other serious weapon, you should use extreme caution before physically entering this scene.

4. Disperse any crowd

A fight is always a reason for kids to congregate. Often a situation can be diffused simply by dispersing the crowd. It's a quick and easy way of de-escalating a situation. Call on other adults to help you. If that's you, you need to hold your arms wide and walk toward the crowd, talking softly, asking them to "Go back to their area". If they can't go anywhere, just make sure they are kept back out of potential striking distance. 

5.  Verbal

Give your deepest, loudest voice of  authority and command them to “Stop!”  or say "No, we are NOT doing this right now!" "Step away from each other". Put your hand up when you say "Stop". Remember, regardless of what they’re doing - you’re the leader and they’re in our program on the understanding they will abide by our rules.

6. Last Resort - Separating Them

So the verbal command doesn't work? It's time to consider attempting to separate them. 

Firstly, the safety of yourself, the kids fighting and the safety of those spectating is of paramount importance.

If you feel this is the best course of action,  get in the middle of the two kids and keep your hands raised and visible which shows you are defensive (meaning no harm). This also acts as a protection (if they try and strike you). Then advance slowly towards one of the fighters while keeping out of the striking zone. Maintain eye contact using a calm strong voice saying "Ok. Let's move back... slowly" or the like.

Still not working?  Is it time to pull them apart? You would only use this strategy if

• they are refusing to separate without physical intervention;

• you can do so without likely harm to yourself, them or bystanders;

• you've asked yourself “Will these kids, myself  or those standing around get seriously injured if I don’t pull them apart?” and

• you've asked yourself "Do I have the body strength to do this?" You would have to size up the age and physique of the fighting pair at the time. 

If the answer is yes, then you may use reasonable force to restrain a child or teen. Reasonable means that the degree of force used should be no more than is needed to achieve the desired result.  You can't use corporal punishment, ie hitting them or punching them to get their attention, but as a duty of care you certainly can pull them apart (with the help of that trusty adult who you brought with you). 

The use of excessive force can be deemed assault so we ask you to be careful. What is deemed to be excessive depends on the circumstances of the case. That's why pulling them apart is a last resort.

7.  Don't back down. 

Don't give up before they give up - let them know by your stance and words that you can do this as long as they can. After all you have a whole program of kids waiting to have fun and this kind of behaviour is stopping 99% of the others from being involved. 

8. Calling the police or ambulance if needed

Your upline will make this call but certainly if there is a fight, especially with the big ones, that you know you and another person cannot handle, call the police immediately. If there has been blows especially if the head has been hit, or an open wound appears, your upline will call the ambulance. 

Every situation is different, but if you are assertive and proactive, you can comfortably deal with most physical confrontations in your program.

After a Fight

After a fight or 'squaring off' of two or more kids, it's important if possible to reiterate to all involved in the program that that type of behaviour will not be tolerated at Citipointe. 

Depending on how far the fight went, your upline may call the parents to come and pick up their kids. Your upline may let them know that they are not allowed to attend the program for a time as a punishment. 

Your upline will send in an Incident Report - you may need to tell them some of the details. 

Parents need to be told a fight occurred. 

Follow up phone calls  may need to take place after such an incident to check on the well being of the child. 

When the child returns, they should have a verbal reminder of the behaviour expected at our programs and ensure they are not in the vicinity of the other child in the fight.