Sheffield Rugby Club - Since 1902
THE RESPONSIBLE RUGBY COACH or MANAGERS CODE OF CONDUCT
1. Coaches/Managers must respect the rights, dignity and worth of each and every person and treat equally within the context of the sport.
2. Coaches/Managers must place the well being and safety of each player above all other considerations, including the development of performance.
3. Coaches/Managers must adhere to all guidelines laid down within the constitution and the rules of the RFU.
4. Coaches/Managers must develop an appropriate supportive relationship with each player based on mutual trust and respect.
5. Coaches/Managers must not exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
6. Coaches/Managers must encourage and guide players to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.
7. Coaches/Managers must ensure that the activities they direct or advocate are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of players.
8. Coaches/Managers should at the outset clarify with the player (and where appropriate with the parent), exactly what is expected of them and also what they are entitled to expect from their coach.
9. Coaches/Managers must co-operate fully with specialists (e.g. other coaches, officials, sports scientists, doctors, physiotherapists) in the best interests of the player.
10. Coaches/Managers must always promote the appropriate code of conduct and positive aspects of the sport (e.g. fair play) to players, parents and spectators alike. Never condone violations of the Laws of the game, behaviour contrary to the spirit of the Laws of the game or relevant rules and regulations or the use of prohibited substances or techniques.
11. Coaches/Managers must consistently display high standards of behaviour and experience and be a role model for players, parents and spectators.
12. Coaches/Managers must ensure they have access to a working telephone and first aid kit prior to commencing with any session. If a mobile phone is to be used, the Coaches/Manager must have checked that there is appropriate battery life and network coverage at the start of any session.
13. Coaches/Managers shall aim to hold the appropriate, valid qualifications and insurance cover. Copies are to be issued to the Club prior to September 1st of each year.
1. Sheffield Rugby Union Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in Sheffield RUFC
from harm.
2. Sheffield RUFC confirms that it adheres to the Rugby Football Union’s Safeguarding Policy and the procedures, practices and guidelines and endorse and adopt the Policy Statement contained in that document and any successor policy.
3. A child is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity. However, where a 17 year old male player is playing in the adult game it is essential that every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure his safety and wellbeing are protected.
4. The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Policy are that:
5. Sheffield RUFC recognises that all children have the right to participate in sport in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment whilst at the same time being protected from abuse, neglect, harm and poor practice. Sheffield RUFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club. Sheffield RUFC will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conduct and the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and
Officials as appropriate.
6. The Club Safeguarding Officer is Joanne Smith – joanne_smith22@sky.com . If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child has been put at risk you must, in the first instance, inform the Club Safeguarding Officer. They will then inform the CB Safeguarding Manager and the RFU Safeguarding Team. If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer you should inform the Chair of Mini and Junior Section and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Team.
7. All members of Sheffield RUFC who work with children in Regulated Activity must undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with RFU Regulation 21.
8. Sheffield RUFC will ensure that all its members, whether they are coaches, parents, players or officials will comply with the Best Practice Guidance as issued by the RFU. In summary, the following are NOT acceptable and will be treated seriously by the club and may result in disciplinary action being taken by the club, the CB or the RFU:
11. Sheffield RUFC manages the changing facilities and arranges for them to be supervised by two DBS checked adults of the appropriate gender for the players using the facilities. Sheffield RUFC ensures that all its coaches, parents, officials and spectators are aware that adults must not change at the same time, using the same facilities as children.
12. Sheffield RUFC will ensure that its coaches and team managers will receive the support and training considered appropriate to their position and role. The RFU “Managing Challenging Behaviour” Policy has been adopted and circulated amongst the club workforce both, voluntary and paid.
13. Any events held on Sheffield RUFC premises must comply with this Policy and if appropriate a Safeguarding Plan should be discussed and circulated to those affected. Any tours, overseas or domestic, undertaken by Sheffield RUFC must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.
Signed
Jo Smith Jon Gillgrass
Sheffield RUFC Sheffield RUFC
Welfare Officer Mini & Junior Chairman
Courses are aimed at anyone wanting to referee at all levels of the game. Minimum age restriction 14.
For further details please contact Will Halford (Referee Development Officer) on
07894 790340 or willhalford@rfu.com or please look at the website www.rfu.com/referee
All courses booked via Lindsay Piper at the RFU Referees Dept
lindsaypiper@rfu.com or 0208 8316637
Referee Information – A Message From Neal Edwards
The club is always looking to add to the number of Referees at the club, and all are welcome to begin down what is an enjoyable and rewarding path.
Anyone who is interested can contact me as the club referee co-ordinator
Best Wishes
Neal Edwards
nealedwards@blueyonder.co.uk
CODE OF CONDUCT
• All spectators must stay behind the barriers so as not to be in close proximity to the touch lines. This applies to all games no matter what level or on which day they are played.
• No-one, apart from players and match officials are allowed onto the field of play unless specifically authorised by the referee.
• Replacements, coaches, medics and water carriers must comply with game regulations as to the areas to which they are restricted during the match, namely either marked technical areas or those areas designated by the Match Official as being technical areas; if there are no areas marked then everyone must stay outside the playing area. In league and cup games, clubs will be expected to provide a 4th official to take responsibility for ensuring everyone stays in the technical areas.
• Players, coaches, club officials and spectators must support and respect the REFEREE and comply with his or her instructions.
• Match Officials should not be approached for discussion immediately following the final whistle, which includes entering their changing room. All sensible post-match conversations should take place in the club house after a reasonable time has elapsed.
• The club should provide a referee liaison officer, separate from the team coaches, to greet the referee and support him or her if abuse or bad behaviour arises.
• Club officials, players, members and spectators must understand that bad behaviour and abuse at all matches including ‘Age Grade’ can have a serious negative effect on the fortunes of the whole club.
• Any player or coach shown a red card should return to the clubhouse without delay.
• Team Managers and Coaches are official representatives of the Club who set a clear example to players and spectators by their own conduct and adherence to this code.
Sheffield Rugby Referees Society
The role of the referees is an important one to the development of the game. They ensure the safety of players, enjoyment of all involved and guide players and spectators through the laws at varying times.
Sheffield RUFC has a very active mini/midi/youth section with excellent parental support, many of whom become involved in coaching/helping/officiating.
Acknowleding that we owe our children the best duty of care. We wanted to recognise the efforts of those willing to officiate matches, supporting their development and encouraging more to take up the whistle.
With the support of the RFU, we therefore set up the Referee Development Scheme in Sheffield.
The initial aims of the scheme were to:-
a)encourage more people into refereeing
b)improve the standards on offer by encouraging on-going development
c)give aspiring referees help and support if they wished to progress to the Yorkshire Referees Society and higher levels
Neal Edwards, a member of the South Yorkshire Referee Society. attended the Referee Development course at Warwick University in the Summer. With the support and encouragement of Will Halford, RFU development officer for the North of England, the development of Sheffield Referees Society was commenced in September 2008.
A 2 year plan was put into place with the aim of ensuring that no Junior/Mini match was to take place within Sheffield RUFC unless refereed by someone who had done the ELRA course through at least stage 2.
Links were also established with Students at the two local Universities. Students and Club members were encouraged to attend an ELRA course at the beginning of the season.
Initially it was felt appropriate to concentrate on U13, U14 and U15 levels. Sponsorship was obtained locally from Pain Management Solutions Ltd. This funded a uniform set of kit, which the parents of the children recognise and acknowledge.
The Sheffield Referees Society has now established a small panel of referees to officiate all the home games played at these levels. This panel consists of parents and students, male and female. The majority of the referees had no previous experience. They fully are supported by the coaching teams and watched and given encouragement by more experienced local referees.
Referees are appointed to the games by an Appointments Officer and games are confirmed with the referees 5 days prior to each game.
Particularly pleasing has been the involvement of local students. They all play for the University on the Saturday but are prepared to give up time on Sundays to give something back to the local club. This has strngthened the link between the 2 Rugby organisations.
From a small acorn trees will grow. With greater recognition from parents of the small panel of referees we have established, more parents within the club are now showing enthusiasm to referee, and further ELRA courses are planned.
The aim is now to extend the scheme throughout the entire Junior/Mini section.