SHARLSTON ROVERS JUNIORS
Code of conduct
Sharlston Rovers Juniors is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its members. The club believes that it is important that members, coaches, administrators and parents associated with the club should, at all times, show respect, be encouraged to be open at all times and to share any concerns or complaints that they may have about any aspect of the club with the club secretary Michelle Potter or the Child Welfare Officer.
As a member or guest of Sharlston Rovers Juniors, you are expected to abide by the following:
Code of Conduct - General:
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person within the context of rugby league.
• Treat everyone equally and not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, religious belief, class or social background, sexual preference or political belief.
• Not condone, or allow to go unchallenged, any form of discrimination if witnessed.
• Place the well-being and safety of children above the development of performance.
• Ensure activities are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the individual.
• Display high standards of behaviour.
• Promote the positive aspects of rugby league, For example fair play.
• Encourage all participants to learn the laws and rules of rugby league.
• Must play within the rules and respect officials and their decisions.
• Actively discourage unfair play, rule violations and arguing with match officials.
• Recognise good performance not just match results.
• Must respect opponents and set a good example.
• Should keep to agreed timings for training and competitions or inform their coach or team manager if they are going to be late.
• Will wear suitable kit for training sessions as agreed with the coach/team manager.
• Pay any fees for training or events promptly.
• Not smoke, drink or use banned substances while working with children in the club.
• Junior members are not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs of any kind on the club premises or whilst representing the club.
• Not provide children with alcohol when they are under the care of the club.
• No person under the age of 16 is allowed on club premises without adult supervision.
• Follow Sharlston Rovers Juniors safeguarding policy
• Respect children’s opinions when making decisions about their participation in rugby league.
• Never punish or belittle a child for losing or making mistakes.
• Support your child’s involvement and help them to enjoy their sport.
• Always use correct and proper language.
• Make sure all children must be changed out of their kits after every game and must wear their club polo shirts and tracksuits / club shorts.
• Parents and children must always conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, including training sessions, matches or events within the club or outside of the club. Any fine that is incurred through your inappropriate behaviour will be payable by you.
• If any unreasonable behaviour is reported to a member of the committee then the committee will invite you to a meeting to decide action required.
• As the pitch is owned by the parish council then alcohol is not permitted to be consumed at any time this includes during training sessions and match days.

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.
As a player, your child has a big part to play. That’s why together with the RFL, Sharlston Rovers Juniors is asking every player to follow a Respect Code of Conduct, please read this with your child.
When playing rugby, I will:
• Always wear the correct kit
• Always play to the best of my ability
• Play fairly – I won’t cheat, complain or waste time
• Respect my team-mates, the opposition team, the referee or my coach / manager
• Play by the rules, as directed by the referee
• Shake hands with the other team and referee at the end of the game
• Listen and respond to what my coach / team manager tells me
• Talk to someone I trust or the club welfare officer if I’m unhappy about anything at my club.

I understand that if I do not follow the Code, any / all the following actions may be taken by my club or the Yorkshire Junior League:
I may:
• Be required to apologise to my team-mates, opposition team, referee or team manager
• Receive a formal warning from the coach or the club committee
• Be dropped or substituted
• Be suspended from training
• Be required to leave the club.
In addition:
• My club may make my parent or carer aware of any infringements of the Code of Conduct
• The Yorkshire Junior League could impose a fine and suspension against my club.

Codes of Conduct – Parents, Carers and Spectators
We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game. Sharlston Rovers Juniors is supporting The RFL’s Respect program to ensure Rugby League can be enjoyed in a safe, positive environment. Remember children’s Rugby is a time for them to develop their technical, physical, tactical and social skills. Always play your part and observe The RFL’s Respect Code of Conduct for spectators and parents/carers.
I will:
• Ensure my child is brought to training and matches at the correct time.
• Ensure my child wears the correct clothing, including protective head guard.
• Remember that children play for FUN
• Applaud effort and good play as well as success
• Always respect the match officials’ decisions
• Remain outside the field of play and within the Designated Spectators’ Area
• Let the coach do their job and not confuse the players by telling them what to do
• Encourage the players to respect the opposition, referee and match officials
• Remain outside the field of play and within the Designated Spectators’ Area
• Avoid criticising a player for making a mistake – mistakes are part of learning
• Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting, or abusive language or behaviour.
• Remember children develop at different rates, the coaches recognise this and provide coaching / match play at a level suitable for the particular child

I understand that if I do not follow the Code, any/all the following actions may be taken by my club or the Yorkshire Junior League:
I may be:
• Issued with a verbal warning from a club or league official
• Required to meet with the club or Yorkshire Junior League
• Required to meet with the club committee
• Obliged to leave the match venue by the club
• Requested by the club not to attend future games
• Required to leave the club along with any dependents.
In addition:
• The Yorkshire Junior League could impose a fine and/or suspension on the club.

Additional code of conduct for club officials and volunteers
The essence of good ethical conduct and practice is summarised below. All volunteers must:
• Abide by all the above code of conduct.
• Have been appropriately vetted, if required.
• Hold the appropriate, valid qualifications and insurance cover (provided by Sharlston Rovers Juniors through the RFL)
• Attend appropriate training to keep up to date with their role, especially with respect to the safeguarding of children.
• Always work in an open environment ((i.e. avoid private, or unobserved, situations and encourage an open environment) NB this includes the online world – club officers and volunteers are actively discouraged from online or other electronic communication with children – any such communication should be via parents.
• Inform players and parents of the requirements of rugby league.
• Know and understand the RFL’s & Sharlston Rovers Juniors safeguarding policy.
• Consider the well-being and safety of participants before the development of performance.
• Develop an appropriate working relationship with performers, based on mutual trust and respect.
• Make sure all activities are appropriate to the age, ability and experience of those taking part
• Ensure physical contact is appropriate and necessary and is carried out within recommended guidelines with the young player’s full consent and approval.
• Not engage in any form of sexually related contact with a young player. This is strictly forbidden, as is sexual innuendo, flirting or inappropriate gestures and terms. The RFL adopts the Home Office guidelines. These recommend “people in positions of trust and authority do not have sexual relationships with 16-17year olds in their care”
• Promote the positive aspects of the sport (e.g. fair play)
• Display consistently high standards of behaviour and appearance
• Follow all guidelines laid down by the national RFL and the club
• Never exert undue influence over performers to obtain personal benefit or reward
• Never condone rule violations, rough play or the use of prohibitive substances

Equity policy statement
This club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport England definition of sports equity:
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.
The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.

Version dated 17th February 2020