St Andrews RFU –
Welfare Policy
St Andrews
RFC has introduced the following to
ensure the protection of young people in the
rugby club environment.
Our Welfare Policy is in place
and includes all the core elements of the RFU
and RFUW recommended Policies and Procedures
for the Welfare of Young People in the sport
of rugby union.
• Our appointed Club
Welfare Officer(s) who act as the first point
of contact for concerns about the welfare of
young people is Lorraine Marston, Telephone
01788 814181, Mobile 07900 017335.
• We ensure that all officers and committee
members are aware of their responsibility in
this area and that the club respond to any indication
of poor practice or abuse in line with RFU and
RFUW Policy.
• We implement a policy of Best Practice
for all adults working with young people as
set out in the various Codes of Conduct.
• We ensure that all relevant members
who have regular supervisory contact with children
or a management responsibility for those working
with young people undertake an Enhanced Criminal
Records Bureau disclosure.
• We have identified a disciplinary panel,
which where necessary, manages cases of poor
practice as identified by the RFU Child Protection
Officer.
St Andrews RFC
requires that all our coaches, managers or volunteers
including all professional staff must never:
• Take young people to
their own home or any other place where they
will be alone with them or spend any amount
of time alone with young people away from others.
• Take young people alone on car journeys,
however short. If it should arise that such
situations are unavoidable they should only
take place with the full knowledge and consent
of someone in charge in the club/governing body
and/or a person with parental responsibility
for the young person. In exceptional circumstances
where a coach, manager or volunteer cannot obtain
the consent of someone in charge the club/governing
body and/or person with parental responsibility
for the young person, then if it is in the welfare
interest of the young person, the adult must
record the occurrence with the club/governing
body welfare officer.
• Engage in rough, physical games, sexually
provocative games or horseplay with young people.
• Take part as a player in any dynamic
contact games or training sessions with young
people. If there is a need for an adult to facilitate
learning within a coaching session through the
use of coaching aids e.g. contact pads, this
should be done with the utmost care and with
due regard to the safety of the young players.
• Share a room with a young person unless
the individual is the parent/guardian of that
young person.
• Engage in any form of inappropriate
sexual contact and/or behaviour
• Allow any form of inappropriate touching
or make sexually suggestive remarks to a young
person even in fun.
• Use inappropriate language or allow
young players to use inappropriate language
unchallenged.
• Allow allegations by a young person
to go unchallenged, unrecorded, or not acted
upon.
• Do things of a personal nature for a
young person that they can do for themselves
unless you have been requested to do so by the
parents/carer. However it is recognised that
some young people will always need help with
things such as lace tying, adjustment of tag
belts, fitting head guards etc. and it is also
recognised that this does not preclude anyone
attending to an injured/ill young person or
rendering first aid.
• Depart the rugby club or agreed rendezvous
point until the safe dispersal of all young
people is complete.
• Cause an individual to lose self-esteem
by embarrassing, humiliating or undermining
the individual or treat some young people more
favourably than others
• Agree to meet a young person on your
own on a one to one basis.
St.
Andrews RFC Welfare Officer Details.
Lorraine Marston
Email:
lorrainemarston@supanet.com
Home: 01788
814181
Mobile:
07900 017335
County Welfare
Manager for Warwickshire Rugby Football Union
is:
Jane Waterhouse
Email:
janewrfu@btinternet.com
Home: 024
7641 7650
Mobile:
07931 589075
Last updated – August 2006
|
St
Andrews RFC - Codes of Conduct
The RFU Codes of Conduct
ensure that all adults within a rugby club clearly
understand the acceptable standard of behaviour
towards children and young people.
All club members must adhere
to the relevant RFU Codes of Conduct:
• Club Code of Conduct
• Coaches Code of Conduct
• Young People Code of Conduct
• Parents Code of Conduct
• Spectators Code of Conduct
• Match Officials Code of
Conduct
These Codes of Conduct
are supported by the Warwickshire Rugby Football
Union and breaches will be reported for appropriate
action to be taken.
St. Andrews RFC ensures
and makes available the following Codes of Conduct
to all club officials, coaches, young players,
medical support staff, parents and spectators
etc. When joining the St. Andrews RFC you will
be asked to sign to ensure you are aware of
the various Codes of Conduct and must agree
to abide by them. Breaching the Codes of Conduct
will mean that appropriate action will be taken.
St.
Andrews RFC Code of Conduct
St. Andrews RFC’s
Code of Conduct ensures that:
• The rights, dignity
and worth of young people are respected and
treated.
• The physical and emotional well-being
of all young players must be placed above all
other considerations.
• The relationship developed between adults
and young people with whom they work must be
based on mutual trust and respect.
• All activities undertaken are appropriate
to the age, maturity, experience and ability
of the young players.
• Young players should be encouraged to
accept responsibility for their own behaviour
and performance.
• Young players (and their parents/carers)
are aware of what is expected of them both on
and off the rugby field and also what they are
entitled to expect from the coaches.
• Everyone, including coaches, officials,
doctors, physiotherapists etc, should ensure
the well-being, safety and enjoyment of all
young players.
• The positive aspects of the sport e.g.
fair play must be promoted.
• Behaviour contrary to the spirit of
the Laws of the Game or relevant regulations
or the use of prohibited techniques or substances
must never be condoned.
top^
COACHES
CODE OF CONDUCT
St. Andrews RFC’s
Code of Conduct for Coaches ensures that:
• The coaches provide
experiences, which are matched to the young
players’ age and ability, as well as their
physical and mental development.
• All youngsters are coached in a safe
environment with adequate first aid readily
available.
• The coaches avoid the overplaying of
the best players by using a squad system which
gives everybody a satisfactory amount of playing
time.
• There is appropriate supervision of
young players both on and off the field.
• They recognise that young players should
never be exposed to extremes of heat, cold or
unacceptable risk of injury.
• The coaches develop an awareness of
nutrition as part of an overall education in
lifestyle management.
• They recognise that it is illegal for
young players under 18 to drink alcohol.
• They ensure that their knowledge and
coaching strategies are up to date and in line
with RFU philosophy and expectations.
• They are aware of, and abide by, the
RFU recommended procedures for taking young
people on residential tours at home and abroad.
• The coaches are aware of, and abide
by, the policies and procedures outlined in
the Policies and Procedures for the Welfare
of Young People in Rugby Union.
In Rugby Union Coaches
should:
• Recognise the importance
of fun and enjoyment when coaching young players.
Most learning is achieved through “doing”.
• Appreciate the needs of the players
before the needs of the sport.
• Be a positive role model.
• Keep winning and losing in perspective
– encourage young players to behave with
dignity in all circumstances.
• Respect all referees and the decisions
they make (remember it could be you refereeing
next week) and ensure that the players recognise
that they must do the same.
• Provide positive verbal feedback in
a constructive and encouraging manner, to all
young players both during coaching sessions
and games.
top^
YOUNG PEOPLES CODE
OF CONDUCT
St. Andrews RFC’s
Code of Conduct for Young People ensures that:
• All young people
treat each other with the same respect and fairness.
• They respect differences in gender,
disability, culture, race, ethnicity and religious
belief systems.
• All young people appreciate that every
player brings something valuable and different
to the game.
• They show patience and act with dignity
towards others at all times.
• They are aware of their own welfare
and that of others and that they do not act
irresponsibly or illegally.
• All young people take time to thank
those who assist them, whether it be family,
organisations or team mates.
top^
PARENTS CODE OF
CONDUCT
St. Andrews RFC’s
Code of Conduct for Parents ensures that:
• They remember that
young people play rugby for their own enjoyment
not that of their parents.
• They encourage young people to play
– do not force them.
• The focus on the young players’
efforts rather than winning or losing.
• They are realistic about the young players’
ability; not pushing them towards a level that
they are not capable of achieving.
• They provide positive verbal feedback
both in training and during the game.
• Remember persistent, negative messages
will adversely affect the players and referee’s
performance and attitude.
• They always support the rugby club in
their efforts to eradicate loud, coarse and
abusive behaviour from the game.
• They remember that young people learn
by example.
• They always show appreciation of good
play by ALL young players both from your own
club and the opposition.
• They respect decisions made by the match
officials and encourage the young players to
do likewise.
St. Andrews RFC encourages
Parents to:
• Be familiar with
the coaching and training programme in order
that their child is fully involved and the coaches
are aware of their ability.
• Be familiar with the teaching and coaching
methods used by observing the sessions in which
their child participates.
• Be aware that the club has a duty of
care and therefore, where appropriate, assist
coaches with the supervision of the young players,
particularly where numbers are large and there
is a need to transport youngsters to away games.
• Be involved with club activities and
share their expertise.
• Share concerns, if they have them, with
club officials.
• Be familiar with the “Good Coaches
Code” and in particular that Coaches should
recognise the importance of fun and enjoyment
when coaching young players.
• Coaches should keep winning and losing
in perspective, encouraging young players to
behave with dignity in all circumstances.
• It is important that parents support
coaches in instilling these virtues.
top^
SPECTATORS CODES
OF CONDUCT
St. Andrews RFC’s
Code of Conduct for Spectator ensures that:
In Rugby Union players
are impressionable and their behaviour will
often reflect that of the adults around them.
In Rugby Union we welcome spectators on our
touchlines who embrace the ethos of the game
as one of FUN, ENJOYMENT and SKILL DEVELOPMENT.
In Rugby Union Spectators
are encouraged to:
• Act as positive
role models to all young players.
• Be familiar with, and abide by, the
RFU and RFUW Welfare of Young People guidance
in relation to verbal and emotional abuse.
• Respect the rugby club policy with regard
to spectator behaviour.
top^
MATCH OFFICIALS
CODES OF CONDUCT
When refereeing young players,
match officials should:
• Recognise the importance
of fun and enjoyment when officiating young
players.
• Provide verbal feedback in a positive
way during games.
• Appreciate the needs of the players.
• Be a positive role model.
• Recognise that safety is paramount.
• Explain decisions - most young players
are still learning.
• Never tolerate verbal abuse.
Officials should not:
• Change in the same
area as young players.
• Shower with young players - agree a
timetable with the coaches.
• Be alone with young players at any time
- if a young player comes into the dressing
room ensure another adult is present.
• Check studs without the coach being
present.
• Administer first aid.
• Allow a young player to continue playing
if there are doubts about their fitness.
• Tolerate bad language from young players.
• Engage in any inappropriate contact
with young players.
• Give a lift to a player unless there
are other young people or adults in the car
and the parents are aware.
• Take a young player to your home.
• Overtly criticise young players or use
language which may cause the player to lose
confidence or self-esteem.
• Make sexually explicit remarks to young
players, even in fun.
Officials must always:
Report, in writing, to
the Club or CB Welfare Manager and/or Society
Secretary, behaviour by adults which you feel
contravenes RFU and RFUW recommended Policies
and Procedures for the Welfare of Young People:
• Verbal bullying
by coaches/parents/spectators.
• Physical abuse by coaches/parents/spectators.
• Inappropriate or aggressive contact
by an adult to a young person.
• Verbal abuse directed at the official
by young people or adults.
top^
REMEMBER: The welfare
of all young people is paramount.
St. Andrews RFC
Welfare Officer Details:
Lorraine Marston
Email :
lorrainemarston@supanet.com
Home: 01788
814181
Mobile:
07900 017335
County Welfare
Manager for Warwickshire Rugby Football Union
is:
Jane Waterhouse
Email:
janewrfu@btinternet.com
Home: 024
7641 7650
Mobile:
07931 589075
Last updated – July
2006 |
