HAC RUGBY

Selection Policy

Selections

For the HAC RUGBY to remain competitive and enjoy sustained success, new talent must be identified and nurtured EVERY YEAR. For this reason, all coaches must do more than simply build a winning team and Club. Consequently, there are occasions when the Club Coach - in agreement with the respective Grade Coaches - may play and/or trial a player in any given team. This should be seen for what it is, an initiative intended to benefit the individual, the respective team or coach and ultimately - and most importantly - to benefit the Club.

Conversely, the Club Coach must also have the flexibility, again in agreement with the respective Grade Coaches, to demote a player. This will only happen when the Coaches believe that the player in question is not performing to the required standard, be it through injury, loss of form, ill discipline or, unavailability.

The Selection Process

  1. The Club Coach, other coaching staff, & Club Captain meet on Tuesday to formulate the team selections for the upcoming match.
  2. In the normal course of selections, players will only be promoted/demoted one grade, unless agreed to by all parties (ie. Coaches and players involved).
  3. Players that don't attend training, and haven't notified their coach with a valid reason beforehand, will be demoted from the grade they were selected in or not selected at all for the upcoming round.
  4. It is a player's responsibility to notify coaches directly of any unavailability through the season, and certainly by 6pm Sunday night prior to the next match.
  5. Team lists are to be posted each Tuesday evening at training by 6.45pm. If someone is promoted/demoted the coaches of the particular grades concerned have a duty to explain to the individual concerned (prior to the announcement of the teams):
  6. If a player is promoted / demoted, the coaches of the particular grades have a duty to clearly explain to those players:
  • The reasons why a particular course of action has been taken.
  • Specific areas that the individual needs to concentrate on in order to improve and/or regain their position
  • Players going down a grade will be given priority selection in the lower grade.

All players listed as available on Thursday evening will be given priority over unlisted / unavailable players on game day.

Players cannot arrive ongame daywithout notice and expect any game time.

Again, it is the players responsibility to ensure their respective coaches are aware of their availabilty.Players with doubts over injuries can be bracketed with their potential replacement, if a decision on their availability is to be delayed until game day.

Specialised skills (ie. Goal kicking, scrummaging etc.)

Some positions on the rugby field are highly specialised and require special skills or training to play. Players may be selected on the basis of these skills or training.

Willingness to play in the selected position

The club recognises that some players may wish to play in positions, which coaches do not consider to be their optimum ones. While this will be accommodated where possible, players must accept that in many cases it may result in lower grade selection.

Reliability

  • Players are to arrive at the ground 45 minutes before the game and report to their Coach and Manager.
  • After each game all players are to stretch, warm down, keep boots on and stay together as a team, to be available as a reserve if needed and to support the next playing team.
  • Players who FAIL to show or who show up unacceptably late on game days without reasonable excuse may be dropped arbitrarily at the coach’s discretion. A history of unreliability (reasonable or not) may adversely affect future selections. It is the player’s responsibility to inform their coach or manager if they will be unable to play on a given weekend on the TUESDAY morning preceding the match. Early advice will benefit the club, as it will enable team selections to be finalised at training.
  • Communicate – If you are injured, sick or unavailable, please tell your coach or manager personally (phone numbers and e-mails in this handbook). Do not leave messages with other players to pass on. Your absence may affect all teams.

Injury / Absence

Players returning from injury or absence will, under normal circumstances will return through the grade they left or the grade below. The final decision for this rests with the Club Coach, based on the injury, the reason for the absence, the time away from the game and the performance of the player who took their original place.

The decisions made in this respect will be explained to the players concerned, through the normal selection procedure, above.

Grievances / Concerns

Players with any concerns regarding selections should in the first instance discuss this with their respective coach. If a player is uncomfortable with this or feels that they are not receiving a fair hearing, they should then discuss their concerns with the Club Coach or the Club Captain. The Club Coach / Captain will follow up these concerns on their behalf

HAC RUGBY Club - CODE OF CONDUCT

All members of the HAC RUGBY Club must agree to be bound by this Code.

All MEMBERS

No person attending a match or HAC RUGBY function shall :

(a) Use of offensive or obscene language to any player, referee, touch judge, official or another spectator or any other person.

(b) Enter the field of play during the course of a match without prior approval.

(c) Dispute the decision of a referee or touch judge.

(d) Assault or act with aggression to any other person.

(e) Behave in any way contrary to the spirit of the game.

(f) Behave in any way, which disturbs the enjoyment of the match or social functions by any other person or brings discredit to the Club.

(g) Act in such a way as to exhibit racial intolerance by language or conduct to any other person.

(h) Refuse to accept the reasonable direction of Ground Manager, or Official of the Club, or Officials of the premises used by HAC RUGBY Club.

(i) Contravene any code of conduct associated with the premises used by the HAC RUGBY Club. Ie Sporting Clubs, Hotels, Sponsors premises.

Any person contravening this Code may be reported by any club member to the Management Committee for disciplinary action.

THE PLAYER

You are reminded that the purpose of this Code is to provide you with an enjoyably and safe environment, where you are able to develop as a player, gaining personal fulfilment and satisfaction through friendly competition. ALL PLAYERS should:

1. Play within the rules

2. Be a good sport on and off the field

3. Never become involved in foul play

4. Shake hands with and thank the opposition players and officials after the match win, lose or draw 5. Respect the Referee's decision. Leave any questions to your Captain

6. Never use bad language.

7. Sledging against opposition players, supporters or officials

8. Remember that winning should be strived for but only by using fair means

9. When the game is lost we must be good sports

10. Never abuse your own team mates

11. Remember: - If you do become involved in illegal or any other poor behaviour you may:

  • - Be removed from the field by the coach
  • - Sin binned
  • - Sent off
  • - Face Judiciary and Suspension And you will always lose the respect of good judges. f