Hertfordshire Rugby Football Union

Child Protection & Welfare Policy

In Hertfordshire RFU we believe that taking part in our sport should be a positive and enjoyable part of children’s lives. As a CB we recognise that we have a responsibility to:

Safeguard and promote the interests and welfare of young people in rugby.

Ensure that all adults who work with young people are aware of their role and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children and young people and promoting their welfare.

Ensure that adults who work with children are suitably trained, qualified and vetted.

Take all reasonable practical steps to protect young people from any form of abuse.

Respect young people’s rights, reasonable wishes and feelings.

To fulfil its obligations of its affiliation with the Rugby Football Union, the Hertfordshire RFU will take all reasonable care to ensure that it complies with the RFU Guidance. This document contains material from the RFU/RFUW Guidance on the Welfare of Young People in Rugby Union.

Each Rugby Club within Hertfordshire RFU must:

a) Appoint a Welfare Officer (plus another person to undertake the role in the absence of the designated person) who will act as the first point of contact for concerns about the welfare of young people (see Appendix A for Terms of Reference);

b) Publish a Child Protection Policy within the Club. This must include all the detail set out in paragraphs 1.4 to 4.2 of the Policy and Procedures for the Welfare of Young People in the Sport of Rugby Union (see Appendix B and C below);

c) 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/W Policy (see Appendix d below)

d) Implement a policy of Best Practice for all adults working with young people (see Appendix E, and RFU Fair Play Codes);

e) 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; and

f) Identify a disciplinary panel which, where necessary, is able to manage cases of poor practice as identified by the RFU Child Protection Officer.

To do this we have these aims:

That all coaches and other adults who work with children will be selected through an agreed process as suitable to perform the role. They will sign up to the Good Practice Guidance and their compliance with this will be monitored.

All coaches will go on a RFU approved Coaching course within 8 weeks of beginning to work with children.

All coaches and other who work with children within the club must be subject of a CRB check. The Club Welfare Officer will maintain a database of all coaches, their accreditation and qualifications.

All coaches and other volunteers will be briefed by the club to ensure a full understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

The Club recognises equal opportunities and will encourage both men and women to act as coaches.

All coaches will be qualified to RFU Level 1 or its equivalent before they are allowed to be the Head Coach of an age group.

The Club will encourage and help coaches to stay up-to-date with rugby, coaching and child protection issues. All coaches must attend a Child Protection workshop as part of their coaching training or with the Club Welfare Officer.

A key child protection matter is safety while playing. To promote this, Hertfordshire RFU has agreed that all mini / junior players in full contact rugby MUST wear a mouth guard (i.e under 9s onwards). Parents are advised that it is good for players to begin wearing one early – as soon as they start playing. For advice on fitting a mouth guard, speak to the head coach or club welfare officer. All other safety padding or clothing worn must be IRB approved.

Clubs will provide all coaches and parents with an information leaflet on the procedure for dealing with accusations or suspicions of child abuse.

Clubs will promote ‘fair play’ and always play within the spirit of the laws and the letter of the continuum.

 

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APPENDIX A

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CLUB WELFARE OFFICER

1. Ensure the club has a Child Protection Policy and self

monitoring strategy.

2. Ensure Codes of Conduct are well publicised and adhered to.

3. In consultation with Child Protection Officer ensure all reported

incidents are managed at the appropriate level in line with RFU/RFUW procedures.

4. Ensure all relevant club members are aware of training opportunities.

5. Ensure all parents, children and young people are aware of the club

policy on Child Protection/Welfare and the correct procedures and channels for voicing concerns.

6. Ensure that all adults who have regular contact with young people

undertake CRB disclosure.

7. Be aware of local Social Services and Local Safeguarding Children's Board.

8. Sit on relevant club committees.

Appendix B

Prohibited practices

2.1 Coaches, managers or volunteers including all professional staff must never:

a) Take young people to their own home or any other place where they will be alone with them;

b) Spend any amount of time alone with young people away from others;

c) Take young people alone on car journeys, however short;

d) 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 the someone in charge in 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, paragraphs 2.1(a) and 2.1(c) do not have to be followed. If this occurs the adult must record the occurrence with the Club/governing body welfare officer.

e) Engage in rough, physical games, sexually provocative games or horseplay with children/young people;

f) 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;

g) Share a room with a young person unless the individual is the parent/guardian of that young person;

h) Engage in any form of inappropriate sexual contact and/or behaviour;

i) Allow any form of inappropriate touching (see RFU Guidance Document, Appendix 4);

j) Make sexually suggestive remarks to a young person even in fun;

k) Use inappropriate language or allow young people to use inappropriate language unchallenged;

l) Allow allegations by a young person to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon;

m) 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 (please note that it is recognised that some young people will always need help with things such as lace tying, adjustment of Tag belts, fitting head guards and it is also recognised that this does not preclude anyone attending to an injured/ill young person or rendering first aid);

n) Depart the rugby Club or agreed rendezvous point until the safe dispersal of all young people is complete;

o) Cause an individual to lose self esteem by embarrassing, humiliating or undermining the individual;

p) Treat some young people more favourably than others; or

q) Agree to meet a young person on their own on a one to one basis.

Appendix C

3 Positions of Trust

3.1 All adults who work with young people are in a position of trust which has been invested in them by the parents, the sport and the young person. This relationship can be described as one in which the adult is in a position of power and influence by virtue of their position. Sexual intercourse or touching by an adult with a child under the age of 16 years is unlawful, even where there is apparent consent from the child. A consensual sexual relationship between an adult in a position of trust within the rugby setting and a child over 16 years of age is contrary to the Policy and Procedures for the Welfare of Young People in the Sport of Rugby Union.

3.2 Adults must not encourage a physical or emotionally dependant relationship to develop between the person in a position of trust and the young person in their care.

3.3 All those within the organisation have a duty to raise concerns about the behaviour of coaches, officials, volunteers, administrators and professional staff which may be harmful to the children, young people in their care, without prejudice to their own position.

 

4 CRB Disclosure

4.1 All adults who have ‘regular supervisory contact with young people’ must undertake CRB disclosure within eight weeks of their appointment to a position which involves regular supervisory contact with young people.

These adults will include;

Professional Staff

All coaches/assistant coaches

Heads of Mini/Midi Rugby sections

Heads of Youth Rugby Sections

Team Managers

All Referees who regularly officiate mini/midi and youth games

Welfare Officers

Physiotherapists

Club administrators.

4.2. CRB disclosures must be conducted through the RFU Child Protection Department who have jurisdiction to deal with any matter arising from any such disclosure.

Appendix D

 

PROCEDURES TO MANAGE ALLEGATIONS

ww.rfu.com/community

As a volunteer coach, parent or member in an RFU/RFUW club or Constituent Body the following guidelines should be followed where there is a concern relating to the welfare of a young person:

If the young person is in immediate danger or has been physically injured, ensure they are safe and contact police or social services.

If the young person is not in immediate danger but you have concerns either:

- discuss the concerns with the club welfare officer or club official who will advise on the correct procedure for referring your concern appropriately.

OR

- contact the RFU Child Protection Helpline.

Make a note of what you have seen or heard but do not delay in passing on the information. Complete an RFU Incident Record Form as soon as possible.

Please remember it is not the responsibility of those working in the sport of rugby union to decide that abuse is occurring but it is their responsibility to act on any concern. (Please refer to Club Welfare officer)

RESPONDING TO SUSPICIONS

If you become aware of anything which causes you to feel uncomfortable you should talk to the Club Welfare Officer or CB Welfare Manager.

This means being aware of the attitudes of staff, coaches and volunteers and of the interactions between them and the children and with each other.

If the behaviour is contrary to the Club or RFU/RFUW Welfare Policy and Procedures and young people are at risk then action must be taken.

Adults must also be alert to any unusual incidents or activities which take place where staff, coaches or volunteers are putting young people and themselves in a vulnerable position.

In all cases of reported poor practice/abuse the following principles should be adopted:

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Stay calm – do not rush into inappropriate action.

React calmly in order not to alarm the young person.

Reassure the child – that they are not to blame and confirm that

you know how difficult it must be to confide.

Listen sympathetically – to what the child says and show that you

take them seriously.

Keep questions to minimum – the law is very strict and child abuse

cases have been dismissed where the child has been led or words

and ideas have been suggested. Only ask questions to clarify.

Ensure you clearly understand what the child has said – in order

that the information can be passed on to the appropriate agencies.

Appendix E

GOOD PRACTICE IN THE RUGBY SETTING

It is the aim of the RFU/RFUW that all young people enjoy the game in a safe enjoyable setting. The following section sets out Good Practice Procedures which all those involved in the delivery of the game of rugby union to young people should adhere to.

Codes of Good Conduct for Coaches and Officials

Codes of Conduct will ensure that all children and young people and the individuals who work with them will enjoy the game in a safe environment.

When working with young people coaches and officials must adopt the

following guidance:

1. They must always be publicly open when working with young people. They must avoid situations where the adult and an individual child are alone and/or unobserved, e.g. individual skill session after a team training session. They must work in pairs and never alone with a group or individual.

2. Rugby is a physical game. Situations will occur when, in order to teach or coach certain techniques, it is necessary to make contact with the player. However the following must apply:

Parents and young players must be made aware of situations in which this may happen when they join the club.

Physical handling must only be used for safety reasons or where there is no other way of coaching the technique and always with the permission of the child/young person and their parent/carer.

3. Any contact or touching which is inappropriate (not directly related to the coaching context) or is aggressive is poor practice and is unacceptable.

4. If groups are to be supervised in changing rooms, always ensure that individuals work in pairs, and that gender is appropriate. Children/young people must not change at the same time or in the same place as adults.

5. Where mixed teams compete away from home they must always be accompanied by at least one male and one female adult.

6. Volunteers and professionals must respect the rights, dignity and worth of all and treat everyone with equality.

7. Coaches must place the well-being and safety of the player above the development of performance. This means that coaches must adhere to the following guidelines:

Avoid overplaying of players (particularly talented players). All players need and deserve equal opportunity to play and to rest.

Remember that children/young people play for fun and enjoyment and that winning is only a part of it.

Motivate youngsters through positive feedback and constructive criticism.

Ensure that contact skills are taught in a safe, secure manner paying due regard to the physical development of young players.

Never allow young players to train/play when injured. If unsure, err on the side of caution.

Ensure equipment and facilities are safe and appropriate to the age and ability of the players.

8. At least one coach per age group must hold a current RFU coaching award or a recognised award. All other coaches should hold a current RFU coaching award or be working towards one.

9. Coaches must keep up-to-date with knowledge and technical skills and should be aware of their own limitations. Coaches must only work within the limitations of their knowledge and qualifications.

10. Coaches must ensure that the activities which they direct or advocate are appropriate to the age, maturity and ability of the players.22

11. Coaches, managers, volunteers and parents must always promote the positive aspects of their sport (e.g. fair play), and never condone law violations or use of prohibited substances.

12. Coaches and team managers must consistently display high standards of personal behaviour and appearance.

13. Coaches, volunteers and parents must never overtly criticise players or use language or actions which may cause the player to lose self esteem or confidence.

14. Young people must not be allowed to drink alcohol or encouraged to drink alcohol if they are under the legal age to do so.

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COACHES' CODE OF ETHICS

1. All rugby coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every child and young person with whom they work and treat them equally.

2. All rugby coaches must place the physical and emotional wellbeing of all young players above all other considerations, including the development of performance.

3. The relationship that a rugby coach develops with the players with whom they work must be based on mutual trust and respect.

4. All rugby coaches must ensure that all activities undertaken are appropriate to the age, maturity, experience and ability of the players.

5. All rugby coaches will encourage young players to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.

6. All rugby coaches should clarify with the young players (and their parents/carers) what is expected of them both on and off the rugby field and also what they are entitled to expect from the coach.

7. All rugby coaches should work in partnership with others within the game (officials, doctors, physiotherapists, sports scientists) to ensure the wellbeing, safety and enjoyment of all young players.

8. All rugby coaches must promote the positive aspects of the sport e.g. Fair Play.

9. Violations of the Laws of the Game. 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.