Child Welfare
Club Safeguarding Officer (previously child welfare officer)
Madeleine Douglas
madeleine@douglas600.fsnet.co.uk
07872017292
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
• Do not tolerate verbal abuse
• Shower with young players - agree with the coaches a timetable
• 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 you have 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
• 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 you by young people or adults
PETERSFIELD RFC & UNDER SIX PLAYERS
Petersfield RFC welcomes all players who would like to learn the game of rugby. However before you register your child with the club we hope that you will read the following statement & guidelines on the participation of very young players in Rugby Union.
This club acts in strict compliance with the rules of the Rugby Football Union Continuum & there are fairly clear guidelines about those players who fall into the Under Six category. (In essence what this means is that a child who will become seven at any time between 1 September of the current playing season and 31st August of the following year will be an Under Seven player and a child younger than this is an Under Six.)
The RFU Continuum rules state than Under Six players may not take part in competitive games or tournaments, however there should be provision for teaching them a broad range of skills in preparation for the game of Tag Rugby at Under Seven. Petersfield RFC recognises that young children learn at different rates and that they are not able to deal with too much complexity. What we aim to provide are rugby related activities in a safe, enjoyable and un-pressurised environment and an introduction to the concepts of fair play, sharing and co-operation.
To this end, the Youth Committee have agreed the following principles for good practice with respect to Under Six players
1. Training will only last for 1 hour
2. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult who remains on pitchside during the session.
3. A parent/responsible adult may withdraw a child from a session at any time during a session if they deem that child to be tired or losing concentration.
4. The coach must be informed if a child is being removed from a session.
5. The coaches and helpers will all have a CRB check.
6. The coach reserves the right to ask a parent to remove a child from a session if he/she feels that that child’s continued participation is detrimental to their own development or that of the others in the group.
Petersfield RFC hopes that your child will learn some useful skills for however long they remain a part of the club.
PETERSFIELD RFC MEDIA GUIDELINES
PRFC in line with the RFU & RFUW recognises that publicity & pictures of young people enjoying rugby are essential to promote the sport and a healthy lifestyle. To facilitate this, it is therefore essential that the following principles and rules are observed.
A. PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES
1. Ensure parents/guardians/young people have granted their consent to taking & publication of photographic images & have signed appropriate consent forms
2. All young people should be appropriately dressed for activity taking place.
3. Photography or recording should focus on activity rather than a particular young person & personal details should never be revealed.
4. Where an individual has achieved success in the game (eg selected for representative side) permission must be gained from parent/guardian & young person to use photographs/recordings & relevant details.
5. Where possible photographs/recordings should represent the diverse range of young people participating in rugby.
6. Anyone taking photographs or recording at any rugby event must have a valid reason for doing so & seek permission of the organisers/persons in charge.
7. They should make themselves known to the event organisers/persons in charge & be able to identify themselves if requested during the course of the event.
8. All concerns surrounding inappropriate or intrusive photography should be reported in confidence to the RFU Equity & Ethics Manager via Petersfield RFC or Hants Safeguarding Officer.
The RFU recognises that clubs’ or organisations’ coaches should still be allowed to use video equipment as a legitimate coaching aid & means of recording special occasions. However care should be taken in the dissemination & storage of the material.
If professional photographers are commissioned or the press is invited to a rugby activity or event then the following steps should be taken
• Must have bona fide identification & be able to produce it on request. Must also sign the Event registration Form
• Participants/parents must be informed that photographer will be in attendance & consent to taking & publication of films/photos
• Do not allow unsupervised access to rugby players or one-to-one photo sessions
• Do not allow photo sessions outside event or at player’s home
B. WRITTEN PIECES FOR PRESS
1. PRFC has a press officer so all pieces must go through him/her
2. Write to length & put players names in capital letter to avoid spelling mistakes
3. Don’t use nicknames
4. Put in good & bad news
5. Treat local paper with respect
6. Try to vary names of players mentioned
7. Learn from yours & others mistakes (see what reads well)
8. Submit photos as well, bearing in mind above rules on photography
C. WEBSITE
1. Upload reports as soon as possible after game/event.
2. Don’t use nicknames
3. Try to vary names of players mentioned, but not too many in each report.
4. Make sure young people are not identifiable by picture if pictures are used nor should they be identifiable from text that accompanies a picture
5. There must be no player profiles with pictures on age group pages
6. Committee reserves right to remove any article/picture if it deems it offensive or feels that it puts a young person at risk
7. Remember to check that if a child is under a care order there may be an embargo on publishing his/her name.
8. Webcams are becoming increasingly common but control is difficult so if one is ever used ALL people likely to be caught on webcam must give their consent
D. MOBILES
1. Club Officials & Coaches should not communicate with individual children by text or on-line (however a group communication is acceptable).
D. GENERAL GUIDELINES ON BEING CONTACTED BY PRESS
1. THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK
2. If phoned find out journalist’s name and phone number & then determine exactly what he/she knows about the game/incident/event
3. Ask to see/hear any comments/accusations if there have been some.
4. Find out when they require a response
5. Issue response as written statement if any concerns about (not if just to advertise an event, obviously)
6. Remember that if it relates to subject undergoing disciplinary hearing it would be very unwise to comment.
PRFC ANTI-BULLYING POLICY
PRINCIPLES
• Bullying of any kind is not acceptable within any Club or Constituent Body (CB) providing playing opportunities for children and young people.
• The RFU/W are a ‘telling’ culture and anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell their Club Welfare Officer.
• Bullying will be taken seriously, responded to promptly, and procedures followed to deal with the situation.
• It is the responsibility of every adult working in rugby union whether professional or volunteer, to ensure that all young people can enjoy the sport in a safe enjoyable environment.
WHAT IS BULLYING?
Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.
Bullying can be:
• Emotional – being unfriendly, excluding (emotionally and physically), tormenting (e.g. hiding rugby kit, threatening gestures including sending threatening text messages).
• Physical – pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence.
• Racist – racial taunts, graffiti, gestures.
• Sexual – unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments.
• Homophobic – because of, or focusing on the issue of sexuality.
• Verbal – name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing.
OBJECTIVES OF THE POLICY
• All Club members, coaches, volunteers and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
• All Club members, coaches and volunteers should know what the RFU/RFUW/Club/Constituent Body policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
• All players and parents should know what the RFU/RFUW/Club/Constituent Body policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
• Players and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported
• Bullying will not be tolerated.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Children and Young People have described bullying as:
• being called names.
• being teased.
• being hit, pushed, pulled, pinched, or kicked.
• having their bag, mobile or other possessions taken.
• receiving abusive text messages.
• being forced to hand over money.
• being forced to do things they do not want to do.
• being ignored or left out.
• being attacked because of religion, gender, sexuality,
disability, appearance or ethnic or racial origin.
OTHER SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
A child:
• doesn't want to attend training or club activities.
• changes their usual routine.
• begins being disruptive during sessions .
• becomes withdrawn anxious or lacking in confidence.
• has possessions going missing.
• becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable.
• starts stammering.
• has unexplained cuts or bruises.• is bullying other children.
• stops eating.
• is frightened to say what's wrong.
These signs and behaviours may not constitute bullying and be symptoms of other problems. PRFC members, coaches and volunteers need to be aware of these possible signs and report any concerns to the Club Safeguarding Officer.
PROCEDURES & MANAGEMENT OF BULLYING
1. Report bullying incidents to the Club Safeguarding Officer, record (using the RFU Incident Record Form). If the incident is an adult bullying a young person, the Club Safeguarding Officer will report the incident to the RFU Child Protection Officer. If the incident is a young person bullying a young person, the club will manage this, and can access advice and support from the Club Safeguarding Officer, CB Welfare Manager or RFU Child Protection Officer at any stage of the process.
2. Parents may be informed and asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem.
3. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted.
4. If mediation fails and the bullying is seen to continue the Club/CB/RFU can initiate disciplinary action under the relevant constitution.
