Aston Old Edwardians Rugby Football Club Youth Development
Young Player Protection Policy
Table of Contents
Foreword………………………………………………………………………… ……… 2
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………… 3
Principles Statement……………………………………………………………………4
Child Protection Policy………………………………………………………………… 5
Code of Conduct………………………………………………………………………... 6
Coaches Code of Conduct....…………………………………………………... 6
Administrators Code of Conduct..……………………………………………... 7
Players Code of Conduct..……………………………………………………… 8
Parents and Guardians Code of Conduct..…………………………………… 8
Good Practice…………………………………………………………………………… 10
Data Protection....………………………………………………………...... 10
Recruitment and Selection of Coaches and Volunteers….…………………. 10
Training..………………………………………………………………………….. 11
Supervision..………………………………………………………………………11
Complaints..……………………………………………………………………….11
Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………. 12
Foreword
F
Foreword
The RFU, RFUW and Aston Old Edwardians RFC consider that they have a moral obligation to ensure, when given the responsibility for children and young players, that coaches and volunteers provide them with the highest possible standard of care.
The policy outlines the following key areas: -
· Recognising the responsibility of those involved in the club
· The value of working closely with other coaches, parents, professionals and volunteers to protect children and young players from harm and discrimination
· Recognising that abuse does take place in sport.
· Recognising that abuse takes place outside the rugby environment.
· Raises awareness and understanding of the main forms of abuse and establishes communication and reporting procedures (if abuse is suspected) by doing this it will help safeguard the children, young players, coaches and all others working within the game.
Introduction
I
Introduction
It is widely accepted that it is the responsibility of every adult to protect children from abuse. Child abuse and in particular sexual abuse can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation and it is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgement about any action taken.
Everyone working in Rugby Union, together with those in affiliated organisations has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of children and preventing abuse. This document outlines how our players, coaches, administrators, parents and guardians can assist in providing the highest possible duty of care.
The members of the RFU and Aston Old Edwardians RFC recognise that they have a responsibility:
· To safeguard and promote the interests and well-being of children with whom they are working
· To take all reasonable practical steps to protect children from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment
· To respect children’s rights and wishes.
Our Child Protection procedures will:
· Offer safeguards to the children with whom we work, and to our members, coaches and volunteers
· Help maintain high standards, professionalism and the safeguards of good practice which are associated with the RFU.
Principles
P
Principles Statement
1. The young player’s welfare is paramount
2. All young players whatever their age, culture, disability, gender language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse
3. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
4. Anyone under the age of 18 years is considered as a young player for the purposes of this document
Aston Old Edwardians RFC have appointed a Child Protection Officer who will oversee this document and will be the point of contact within the club for any help or complaints relating to this document.
Child Protection Officer Paul Glenn
Position Club Safeguarding Officer
Contact 07809 606 533
Policy
P
Child Protection Policy
Aston Old Edwardians RFC Child Protection Policy
At Aston Old Edwardians Rugby Club we believe that taking part in our sport should be a positive and enjoyable part of children’s lives
We want to make sure that the children are protected and kept safe from physical, sexual and emotional harm while they are with the clubs coaches, helpers and other volunteers.
To achieve these aims:
1. All coaches will, as a minimum, attend the Start Coaching Rugby Union course.
2. All coaches and volunteers will have a job description.
3. To be Head Coach of an age group will require, as a minimum, the RFU Level 1 Award
4. The club will encourage and help coaches stay up to date with rugby, coaching and child protection issues. Each lead coach will attend an NCF or local authority run Child Protection Workshop
5. All coaches will be given a copy of the club’s code of conduct and be expected to keep it at all times
6. We will keep records of attendance, parental consent and accidents
7. We will provide a written Health and Safety policy. This will include procedures covering fire, telephone access, first aid and emergency procedures
8. We will provide coaches, parents and guardians with a written procedure for dealing with accusations or suspicions of child abuse
9. As a club, we will promote “fair play” and always play within the spirit of the laws and letter of the continuum
10. We will identify a person whose role it is to deal with any concerns about physical, sexual or emotional abuse within the club.
Paul Glenn
Youth Development Officer / Child Protection Officer
Conduct
C
Code of Conduct
Aston Old Edwardians RFC Code of Conduct
Aston Old Edwardians Rugby Union Football Club is part of a structure that has many stakeholders and as such, all have responsibilities.
This code has been written to remind or inform all stakeholders of those responsibilities and the minimum standards of behaviour commensurate with fulfilling them.
Coaches Code of Conduct
1. Consistently display high standards of personal behaviour and appearance.
2. Be reasonable in your demands on the player’s time, energy and enthusiasm. Remember they have other interests.
3. Teach your players that the laws of the game are mutual agreements that no one should break.
4. Avoid over-playing talented players. Everyone needs and deserves equal time.
5. Remember that children play for fun and enjoyment and that winning is only part of it. Never ridicule or yell at children making mistakes.
6. Ensure that equipment and facilities are safe and appropriate to age and ability.
7. Develop respect for opponents, referees and coaches.
8. Follow the advice of a Doctor when determining a player’s fitness to play after injury.
9. Be generous with praise and set a good example in everyway.
10. Improve your players through coaching and not frequent match play.
11. Make a personal commitment to self-improvement on sound coaching techniques, child development and child protection.
12. Involve parents and guardians wherever possible whilst ensuring technical issues are under your control and that players are clear that the coach’s authority has priority on the playing and training ground.
13. Always be publicly open when working with children. Avoid situations where you and an individual child are completely unobserved.
14. Use separate changing rooms from players and never shower or bath with children. When supervising changing rooms work in pairs and ensure that gender is appropriate.
15. Never take children alone on car journeys, however short the journey.
16. Never take children to your home.
17. Be aware that abuse takes place outside the rugby environment. Understand the signs and behaviour that indicates that this may be happening and take appropriate action.
18. Never smoke or drink alcohol when coaching.
Administrators Code of Conduct (Team Managers, Committee)
1. Ensure equal opportunities for all.
2. Involve others in planning and evaluation.
3. Do not allow events to be primarily for spectator enjoyment.
4. Equipment and facilities must be appropriate to age and ability.
5. Rules and schedules should be appropriate to age and ability.
6. Remember playing sport is for it’s own sake, play down individual awards.
7. Provide appropriate policies on Health & Safety, Child Protection and Equal opportunities.
8. Ensure that information collected, with particular reference to personal details on young players is subject to the Data Protection Act.
9. Distribute a code of conduct to players, coaches, parents and guardians.
10. Ensure all relevant people understand the importance of fair play.
11. Ensure certified coaches provide proper supervision and that good sportsmanship is promoted.
12. Be aware that abuse takes place outside the rugby environment. Understand the signs and behaviour that indicates that this may be happening and take appropriate action.
13. Arrange adequate medical and first aid provision.
Players Code of Conduct
1. Participate for the “fun of it”, not just to please your parents or coaches.
2. Play to the Law’s of the game and do not condone foul play.
3. Accept all the referee’s decisions and thank him after the game
4. Always treat opponents with respect
5. Control your temper, you and your team will benefit.
6. Recognise all good play, your own teams and that of your opponents and thank them after the game.
7. Always win with modesty and lose with dignity.
8. Treat all players, as you would wish to be treated.
9. Remember, as well as enjoyment, the aim of the game is to improve your skills.
10. Cooperate with your coach, referee, team-mates and opponents, as without them you do not have a game.
11. Work equally hard for yourself and your team and you will both benefit.
Parents and Guardians Code of Conduct
1. Foster enthusiastic participation; do not force an unwilling child to play.
2. Educate your child always to play by the Law’s of the game.
3. Instil in your child the value and enjoyment of good coaching.
4. Acknowledge the value and importance of volunteer coaches and referees.
5. Recognise that children play for their own fun.
6. Emphasis respect for referees.
7. Encourage children, never ridicule.
8. Applaud good play by all, lead by example.
9. Teach children that honest effort is as good as victory.
10. Condemn bad behaviour and bad language.
11. Do not continually shout at children just occasionally ‘for’ them.
12. Where appropriate, take turn to supervise changing rooms and assist coaches.
13. Be involved in club activities.
14. Share your expertise with the club.
15. Share your concerns if you have them.
16. The head coach will involve parents and guardians wherever possible whilst ensuring technical issues are under the designated qualified coach’s control and that players are clear that the coach’s authority has priority on the playing and training ground.
17. Do not enter the field of play during a fixture or at half time unless specifically invited by the coach or manager.
Good Practice
G
Good Practice
All players have the right to be safe and treated with dignity and respect.
Data Protection
Information collected by the RFU, RFUW and Aston Old Edwardians RFC on behalf of the Governing Body, with particular reference to personal details relating to young players, is subject to the Data Protection Act.
Recruitment and Selection of Coaches and Volunteers
Anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and it is important that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children.
Aston Old Edwardians RFC will adopt the RFU and RFUW recommended procedure:
· All coaches, volunteers and club members who are in contact with young children should complete an application and self-declaration form.
· Application forms should be designed to elicit information about the applicant’s past career and to establish if they have any criminal record. Failure to disclose information will result in exclusion from the club. Aston Old Edwarians RFC will use the RFU designed and recommended form.
· Consent will be obtained from applicants for Police and Social Service checks
· Where appropriate two references will be taken up, ideally one reference should regard previous work with children.
· The club will take measures to ensure all information received is treated in the strictest confidence
Training
It is recognised that checks are only a part of the process to protect children from possible abuse from club members. These must operate in conjunction with appropriate training of coaches and volunteers so they are aware of and are sensitive to possible situations of abuse. Aston Old Edwardians RFC is committed to providing training for all appropriate people.
Supervision
Coaches, volunteers and club members are sensitive to the concerns about abuse, and will act upon them at an early stage.
Complaints
It is our intent to reduce the situations of the abuse of young children and help protect coaches and volunteers by good practice. However, in the case of a complaint, disclosure, incident or suspicion:
1 Contact should be made immediately with the Clubs Child Protection Officer
2 A form ‘Recording allegations of suspicious behaviour’ should be completed, (see appendix). These are available from the Club Chairman or Child Protection Officer
3 If the Officer is not available contact: -
Children’s Care Services Office 0121 675 4806 (Birmingham)
or
NSPCC Child Protection Help line 0800 800 500
Appendix
A
Appendix
12