Child Protection Policy & Smartrugby

SmartRugby

SmartRugby is an occupational health and safety program for Australia's Rugby participants. It is a compulsory minimum requirement for every coach and referee participating in Rugby where there is a tackling component.

SmartRugby is mandatory requiring qualification every two years. To be fully effective it requires ongoing commitment rather than just occasional attention.

What are the Benefits?

SmartRugby will only really have an impact if coaches and referees get behind it by learning about it, following its training techniques and 'transferring the knowledge' to players.

The benefits are many - not just fewer injuries, which makes for happier parents and players, and fewer coaching selection crisis, but more effective tackles and scrums, and a greater focus of team effort at the breakdown, lineouts and restarts.

Qualification Details

SmartRugby is mandatory requiring qualification once every (2) years. It is the minimum requirement for every coach and referee participating in Rugby where there is a tackling component. For 2007, participants will be able to re-qualify on the internet using the on-line resource.

SmartRugby participants will receive a free booklet and CD-Rom upon attendance. Participants will also receive a MyRugbyCard which outlines current coach and match official qualifications and accreditations (Please allow for 8 weeks delivery time).

Please refer to RGC Coach Education Pathway 2007

Blue Cards

RGC has made it mandatory for associated club coaching/managment staff that have contact with minors (under 18) to have on display at all times a Child Protective Services BLUE CARD and Smartrugby Card in the RGC lanyard supplied to all clubs. THIS IS MANDOTORY AND IS PART OF THE RGC CHILD RISK MANAGMENT PROGRAM, WHICH BY THE SEASON END WILL BE PART OF YOUR CHILD RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES WHEN DEALING WITH CHILDREN FOR

: Coaches and Officials

Coaches and officials need to be aware that not all children will understand an action or request in the same manner. One child may see an action as usual or acceptable behavior while another may find it unacceptable. A child’s interpretation of an action may also be influenced by cultural and religious differences, gender and prior experiences. It is important therefore to be aware of your communication style.

The following principles or actions may help coaches provide a safe environment.

Ensure your actions are at all times unambiguously professional. Give a verbal explanation, in front of all players (and preferably parents as well) of how, where, when and why you may need to touch players.
Remember that the welfare of the child or children is always of paramount importance.
Know the policies, complaint processes and guidelines under the Child Protection Risk Management Program and how they apply to you.
Understand and commit to the rugby union coaches and officials codes of conduct.
Understand how the child protection legislation in your state/territory may affect you.
Ensure that any physical conduct with children is appropriate to the development of skills required for rugby union e.g. it would be appropriate to teach a child to tackle by putting your arms around the upper torso, but it would not be appropriate to make contact around the groin region as this is not essential to the development of tackling skills. Generally physical contact with players should be to develop skills, to give sports massage, to treat an injury or to prevent or respond to an injury.
Be careful about which part of your body is and how much of it is in contact with a child’s body.
Avoid unaccompanied and unobserved activities with children. Try not to separate yourself and a child from the line of sight of other people. If you need to have a private talk with a child about their ability or behavior, do this in an open place near others. Invite another coach or support person to join the conversation or talk to more than one child at a time.
Have sufficient coaches/assistants for effective supervision based on the age and number of children involved. Provide for disability considerations in regard to supervision.
Use positive and age-appropriate language when talking to and in the presence of children. Avoid bad or aggressive language that could intimidate a child or set a bad example.
Before entering change rooms knock or announce that you will be coming in and try to have at least one other adult with you. Do not isolate yourself and a child from others in the change room.
Follow the club policy that if a parent is late picking up their child that the second to last child and their parent or guardian will wait with you and the child. This will also enable you to concentrate on making contact with the parent.
Avoid the risk of being left alone with a child by having a parent, guardian or support person assist you with the training. Require that person to wait with you until all children have left.
Do not engage in or let others engage in any of the following: -
- Abusive initiation or team bonding activities
- Forcing children into ‘macho type’ activities
- Rough, physical hurtful or sexually provocative games
- Regular scapegoating, ridiculing, rejecting, isolating or taking the ‘mickey’ out of a child
Maintain control – avoid losing your temper (verbally or physically). If you find you regularly loose your temper with children you should seek support or consider whether you have the patience to work with children. Some ideas to assist with maintaining control include: -
- Set up basic rules at the beginning of the season, such as follow instructions, have a go, no put-downs. Make sure children are aware of these rules.
- Give positive messages.
- Have a time out area for children that are not behaving.
- Adopt a card system to express concerns with a child’s behaviour rather than becoming verbally agitated e.g. a yellow card is a warning, two yellow cards means time out for 2 minutes, a red card could mean the child misses out on next weeks game.

< Prev		Next >