Middlesex County Midi Rugby Festival
Good Festival Guide
This guide is adapted from the RFU Good conduct guide and is intended to help ensure that everyone enjoys their day. Please ensure that all players, coaches and parents have received a copy of this guide.
THE GOOD MATCH OFFICIAL’S CODE:
Match Officials should:
(a) Recognise the importance of fun and enjoyment when officiating players.
(b) Provide positive verbal feedback in a constructive and encouraging manner during games.
(c) Emphasise the spirit of the game.
(d) Appreciate the needs of the players before the needs of the sport.
(e) Understand the physical and behavioural development of players.
(f) Be a positive role model. Set an example, and as such, comments should be positive and supportive.
(g) Look to self-improvement e.g. participation in training courses.
(h) Recognise that the safety of players is paramount.
(i) Explain decisions - all players are still learning and parents will understand the game better.
(j) Always penalise foul play.
(k) Play advantage whenever possible in order to let the game flow.
(l) Show empathy for the age and ability of players.
(m) Be consistent and objective.
(n) Be familiar with the Good Spectators Code and ensure that verbal abuse from players, coaches or spectators is not tolerated and is dealt with immediately. DO NOT TOLERATE ABUSE OF ANY KIND STOP THE GAME AND DEAL WITH IT.
(o) Be aware of, and abide by, the RFU Child Protection Guidance policies and procedures.
(p) Officiate to the rules laid down in the Rugby Continuum and check you are up to date on rule changes.
(q) The Club has provided a qualified first aider, but check that ambulance access has not been obstructed and that appropriate equipment is available along with someone trained in its use before starting play.
(r) Before matches check that studs and other clothing are in accordance with the IRB Laws of the Game.
Please note Festival Rules specifically cover Blades, Mouth Guards and Tracksuits with zips
THE GOOD COACHES’ CODE:
Coaches of players should:
Recognise the importance of fun and enjoyment when coaching players.
Understand that most learning is achieved through doing.
Appreciate the needs of the players before the needs of the sport.
Coaches should alert the referee immediately in cases of an unseen injury
Be a positive role model - think what this implies.
Ensure that your Parents respect the officials, players and fellow supporters at all times by following the appropriate Codes of Conduct. Play an active role in ensuring that abuse and dissent are dealt with immediately by any Adult, Player or Supporter. Respect all referees and the decisions they make, even if they appear to make a mistake, (remember it could be you refereeing next week) and ensure that the players recognise that they must do the same so DO NOT argue with the referees, there would be NO games without them!
Keep winning and losing in perspective - encourage players to behave with dignity in all circumstances.
Provide positive verbal feedback in a constructive and encouraging manner to all players, both during coaching sessions and matches.
Coaches should not enter the field of Play unless dealing with an Injury (9-12) until Half or Full time.
Avoid the overplaying of the best players by using a squad system which gives everybody a satisfactory amount of playing time.
Ensure your team is ready to play at least 5 minutes before KO time.
Never allow a player to train or play when injured.
Ensure good supervision of players, both on and off the field.
Recognise that players should never be exposed to extremes of heat, cold or unacceptable risk of injury.
Coach to the rules laid down in the Rugby Continuum and keep themselves updated on rule changes.
SAFETY:
The RFU strongly recommends the wearing of mouth guards in case of accidental collision. Ideally mouth guards should be custom made from a dental impression of the teeth. The referees WILL INSPECT ALL BOOTS, ERFC have a policy of NO BLADES and ALL studs should be of the all metal RUGBY variety and we would ask all visiting clubs to respect this.
In addition, please ensure that all players are attired in Rugby Shorts; TRACKSUIT BOTTOMS with any zip or metal fastening are forbidden.
If during the stud inspection any referee deems that studs, footwear or clothing are unsafe that player will NOT be permitted to play until the issue is resolved.
GAMES WILL NOT BE DELAYED WHILE THE PLAYER CHANGES AND SUBSTITUTES WILL HAVE TO BE USED.
Please ensure that spectators stand well back from the touch line to allow touch judges room to move and sight along the Touch line. In particular, Pushchairs, Chairs and similar must be kept AT LEAST 5 Metres from the Touch line to prevent unnecessary injuries. In addition we would ask that babies and small children are also kept well away form the field of player.
ALL COACHES SHOULD ENSURE these rules are observed by their parents.
If a player appears injured, the referee must blow the whistle and stop play immediately. Obviously the referee must use judgment - players don’t want to stop for every slight knock - but it is usually possible to tell when a player is hurt.
First Aiders and Coaches are required to manage the situation. If it hurts them to move, or if there is any doubt whatsoever let them stay where they are (if this will not worsen their injury) and send for expert help.
In all cases it is essential that other people/players are stopped from rushing in and hauling the player to their feet. They may mean well, but they could make any damage even worse. In summary, take no chances: act fast but act with caution.
If there is any bleeding, the player must leave the field for treatment.
THE REFEREE and First Aider MUST BE THE FINAL DECISION MAKERS ON WHETHER A PLAYER IS PERMITTED TO CONTINUE PLAYING OR NOT. RESPECT THEIR DECISION
THE GOOD PLAYER’S CODE:
Players should be encouraged to:
Recognise and appreciate the efforts made by coaches, parents, match officials and administrators in providing the opportunity to play the game and enjoy the rugby environment.
Understand the values of loyalty and commitment to adults and team mates.
Recognise that every player has a right to expect their involvement in rugby to be safe and free from all types of abuse.
Understand that if an individual or group of players feel they are not being treated in a manner that is acceptable, then they should tell an adult either at the Club or outside of the game.
Play because they want to do so, not to please coaches or parents.
Remember that skill development, fun and enjoyment are the most important parts of the game.
Be attentive at all training and coaching sessions.
Work equally hard for themselves and their team - both will then benefit.
Recognise good play by all players on their team and by their opponents.
Be a sportsman - win with dignity, lose with grace.
Play to the IRB Laws of the Game and accept, without question, all referees’ decisions even if they appear to you to have erred, the Laws of the Game and the continuum are complex and the Referee has both a difficult role and the best view. Do not argue with the Referee!
Control your emotions. Verbal or physical abuse of team mates, opponents, coaches, match officials or spectators is not acceptable.
Treat all players, as they would like to be treated themselves. Do not interfere with, bully or take advantage of any player.
THE GOOD SPECTATOR’S CODE:
Clubs should encourage Spectators to:
(a) Act as positive role models to all players.
(b) Be familiar with, and abide by, the RFU Child Protection Guidance in relation to verbal and emotional abuse.
(c) Respect guidance from the Club with regard to spectator behaviour.
(d) Remember children play sport primarily for their own enjoyment, not for that of the spectators.
(e) Acknowledge good individual and team performance from all players irrespective of the team in which they play.
(f) Respect match officials’ decisions, even if they appear to make a mistake – remember, they are volunteers providing an opportunity for players to play rugby.
(g) Never verbally abuse players, coaches, match officials or fellow spectators: such behaviour can create a negative environment for players and their behaviour will often reflect this. Remember - The referee has the power to remove any person from the Pitch or sidelines, including the SPECTATORS
(h) Acknowledge effort and good performance rather than ‘to win at all costs’.
(i) Verbally encourage all players in a positive manner, shouting ‘for’, not ‘at’, the players.
(j) Encourage all players irrespective of their ability - never ridicule any individual player, regardless of the team in which they play.
(k) Do not coach the players from the sidelines, leave this to your team coaches.
(l) Do not second guess referees, they see more and are in a better position to decide than you. Do feel free though to qualify, get involved and learn how to do it properly – every club needs to have more referees on the books!
(m) Always support our efforts to eradicate loud, coarse and abusive behaviour from the game.
DANGEROUS PLAY
(a) Dangerous play can cause injury. Coaches and match officials must be particularly vigilant to prevent it.
(b) There will always be knocks and bumps in rugby, but if dangerous play is eliminated, then many serious injuries will never happen.
(c) After a stoppage for injury, restart play with a scrum to the team moving forward, or, if neither team was moving forward, to the team that was last in possession of the ball immediately prior to the stoppage.
DISCIPLINE:
(a) If the referee decides that a player must cease to participate in a match, they must stop the match, call the individual player aside from the other players and invite the coach of that player on to the field. The referee must explain to the coach and the player why they feel the player’s behaviour is unacceptable and may instruct the coach to provide a substitute player. The offending player is to take no further part in the Festival. It is the responsibility of the coach to speak to and educate the player as to why such action was taken. Referees should exercise care in dealing with this process and ensure that both the Coach and Player understand clearly what you are saying. It is recommended strongly that Coaches act early and proactively to avoid forced substitution.
(b) Clubs complying with Section 2 of the Rugby Continuum will have both a Child Protection Policy (which conforms to the RFU’s recommendations) and a player disciplinary procedure. While player indiscipline (including physical and verbal abuse and actions contravening the Rugby Continuum) will in most cases be dealt with in accordance with the player disciplinary procedure it should be recognized that there will be some instances where the relevant actions also fall within the scope of the Child Protection Policy.
(c) In the case of actions on the part of adults involved in Midi Rugby which contravene the Codes of Practice (for parents, spectators, match officials or coaches) contained in the Rugby Continuum, the recommended procedure is as follows:
(1) The match or training session should be stopped and the match officials and coaches should confer and agree on a course of action appropriate to the circumstances. This may include the match officials and relevant coach warning the adult concerned or requesting the relevant adult to vacate the vicinity of the pitch before recommencing the match or training. In extreme cases or where the adult refuses to cooperate, the match or training should be abandoned.
(2) The match officials and coaches should notify the incident to the Festival Chairman. In extreme cases the consequences may include banning the relevant adult from attending matches and/or training sessions for a period and/or submission of a complaint to the relevant Constituent Body.
(3) Where the relevant actions fall within the Child Protection Policy, Clubs and Schools should also institute the procedures contained in such policy.
(d) In all cases where a disciplinary matter has been referred to a Constituent Body, the Constituent Body may require the Club to provide additional information on the incident including confirmation of the action taken and may in exceptional cases refer the matter to the RFU for further consideration and sanctions.
The_Good_Festival__Guide.doc