Juniors
Child protection policy
Coaches Recruitment Guidelines
A Coach at Croydon RFC must agree to;
- Supply details of their part career and any criminal record.
- Supply an Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate.
- Our coaches’ code of conduct and the policy below.
- Encourage all members regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, ethnic origin or religious belief.
Child Protection Policy
We believe rugby should be a positive and enjoyable part of children’s lives. While in our care they must be physically, sexually and emotionally protected. All our coaches must also agree to;
- Go on a Start Coaching Rugby Union course as soon as practicable after starting to work with our children and Qualify at Preliminary Award standard before taking charge of an age group.
- Take part in a Child Protection Workshop with our designated Child Protection Officer.
- Ensure all equipment or protective gear is RFU approved and encourage use of gum shields during all training, practice drills and matches.
- Record attendance, parental consent and accidents.
- Follow our Health and Safety for fire, first aid and emergency procedures.
- GIVE POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT to children and parents regarding “fair play”, including courtesy to opponents and referees.
- GIVE ACTIVE DISCOURAGEMENT to children and parents regarding all forms of verbal abuse and other examples of bad sportsmanship.
- ENSURE parents read this document and are given details of our procedure for dealing with accusations or suspicions of child abuse.
- Encourage parents to show an active interest in the progress of their children by keeping them informed and making them feel welcome at matches and training sessions.
Coaches code of Conduct
A coach at Croydon RFC must agree to abide by All the following code;
Players
- Remember Rugby is only one part of players’ lives.
- Treat games as part of the learning process of rugby, not tests.
- Give equal time in sessions to all players, regardless of ability.
- Value all players equally, never belittle or ridicule, have no “Stars”.
- Learn about your players other interests, families and backgrounds.
- Keep within the physical, emotional and intellectual abilities of the age group you work with.
Rugby Union
- Set a good example regarding “fair play”, rugby would be too dangerous if children didn’t play within this spirit.
- Mix and match teams. Insist on this in practice and games.
- Learn the laws and copy the way good referees enforce them.
- Teach players, by example, to respect the referee ALWAYS.
Coaching
- LOOK like a coach and ACT like a coach.
- PLAN your season and your sessions but be prepared to change things.
- START on time but be prepared to finish early if appropriate.
- NEVER drink alcohol before or during coaching sessions.
- NEVER smoke during coaching sessions.
- Keep up to dale with the LAWS, coaching and other Rugby issues.
- Value ALL players equally, never belittle or ridicule, HAVE NO “STARS”.
Safety
- Mark out a safe area and keep within it. Keep players in sight.
- Make sure all coaching equipment is safe and in good repair.
- Make sure all personal equipment is safe and in good repair.
- Never join in contact drills and games, demonstrate in a controlled way with an assistant coach or use good examples from players.
- Never let players carry an injury, refer them to a sports injury clinic or their doctor.
- Be aware of the effect extreme temperature, hot or cold, could have on young children. Have supplies of drinks available for both eventualities.
- Avoid one to one situations without others nearby. Do not put yourself in a position where your behaviour could be thought inappropriate or offensive in any way.
- Any suspicion of emotional, physical or sexual abuse should be reported to the designated Child Protection Officer.
Remember:
Keep reminding players that winning and losing are only by products of playing a game. It Is better to play well at a good standard and lose than to play poorly against weak opposition and win.
Definitions and signs of abuse
There are four recognised types of abuse and it is important that all staff and volunteers know what they are and how to recognise them.
The following definitions are based on those from Working Together to Safeguard Children (Department of Health, Home Office, Department for Education and Employment, 1999)
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.
Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to, a child whom they are looking after. A person might do this because they enjoy or need the attention they get through having a sick child.
Physical abuse, as well as being a result of an act of commission can also be caused through omission or the failure to act to protect.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve making a child feel or believe that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of, or consents to, what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative acts such as rape, buggery or oral sex or non-penetrative acts such as fondling.
Sexual abuse may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Boys and girls can be sexually abused by males and/or females, by adults and by other young people. This includes people from all different walks of life.
Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
NSPCC
Guidance on how to respond to disclosures of abuse
DO:
- Do treat any allegations extremely seriously and act at all times towards the child as if you believe what they are saying.
- Do tell the child they are right to tell you.
- Do reassure them that they are not to blame.
- Do be honest about your own position, who you have to tell and why.
- Do tell the child what you are doing and when, and keep them up to date with what is happening.
- Do take further action – you may be the only person in a position to prevent future abuse – tell your nominated person immediately.
- Do write down everything said and what was done.
DON’T:
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
- Don’t interrogate the child – it is not your job to carry out an investigation – this will be up to the police and social services, who have experience in this.
- Don’t cast doubt on what the child has told you, don’t interrupt or change the subject.
- Don’t say anything that makes the child feel responsible for the abuse.
- Don’t do nothing – make sure you tell your nominated child protection person immediately – they will know how to follow this up and where to go for further advise.
Reporting Procedures
It is vitally important that any disclosure made in confidence is recorded factually; this is whether or not the matter is taken to another authority.
An accurate account should be made of:
- Date and time of what has occurred and the time the disclosure was made.
- Names of people who were involved.
- What was said or done by whom.
- Any action taken by the group to investigate the matter.
- Any further action, e.g. suspension of a worker or volunteer.
- Where relevant, reasons why there is no referral to a statutory agency.
- Names of person reporting and to whom reported.
Whistle Blowing Procedure
It is important that the project has guidance for staff and volunteers to share in confidence with the designated person concerns they may have about another member of staff or volunteer.
There should also be support planned for workers and volunteers who may be subject to allegations.
Welfare officer Julie Maynard: 0208 657 9117
Deputy Maria Henderson: 0208 657 3990
Police Alec Stow: 020 8649 1468
Duty Socal Worker South East Surrey Assessment Team: 01737 737377
NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000
CRB Helpline: 0870 90 90 811
Signed by Mrs Patricia Golding
Junior Chairman
Croydon Rugby Football Club
Date to be revised: 1st July 2006
Child Protection Incident Record form (3 page pdf)
