Our Teams

Each age group is supervised by a minimum of one qualified coach, although the norm is for the Head Team Coach to be supported by two or more qualified Assistant Coaches. Each team also has a Team Manager who looks after the administration side of things. All officials and helpers are subject to Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks and all coaches are actively encouraged to attend RFU approved coaching courses. This ensures that our coaching staff have the latest coaching information and techniques available.

We also have a child protection policy in place with a registered Child Welfare Officer identified to help ensure your child will benefit from a safe and happy experience through their early rugby playing years.

Players join a particular team according to their age at 1st September. A child who is nine years old at 2nd September and hence in year four in the current school year will play in the U9 team. This is because he/she was under nine years old at 1st September. A child who was ten in June, and hence in year six at school in September, will play in the U11 team. A team therefore will have players with up to one year age difference.

· Mini Rugby Teams:- U7, U8, U9, U10, U11 & U12s
· Junior Rugby Teams:- U13, U14, U15, U16, U17s

Most officials are parents who were interested in becoming involved with the coaching or other aspects of running the club. We are always looking to encourage parents or guardians to support their child not only on the touchline but also by helping out wherever they think they can. Perhaps dad used to play! Why not dust those old boots off, we are always looking for new coaches, trainers, or helpers. We would ask anyone with an interest in doing so to contact a team manager or member of the coaching staff. You can bet they will be pleased to hear from you!

Photography and Use of Photographic Materials for Promotion Purposes

The club recognises that publicity and pictures of young people enjoying rugby are essential to promote the sport and a healthy lifestyle. There are though real concerns nowadays about the potential for inappropriate photographs or recorded images to be taken. At its worst, inappropriate use, adaptation or copying of images could occur for use on child pornography websites. While this might be rare in rugby, the club believes that all those involved have a duty of care to young people to ensure that this risk is as small as possible.

The club therefore operates a number of rules designed to reduce the risk of this occurring and asks all officials, members, parents, guardians and spectators to abide by the following:

· All parents/guardians registering players are asked to identify within the relevant section of the registration form whether or not they are willing to let photographs of their child be taken and published.
· All young people must be appropriately dressed for photography to take place. Generally this is defined as the torso being covered with outer garments from the bottom of the neck to the thigh.
· Photography should focus on the activity rather than a particular young person.
· Anyone taking photographs or recording video at any club event must have a valid reason for doing so and seek the permission of the club.
· They should make themselves known to the club and be able to identify themselves if requested to do so.
· Where the club uses a photograph or video image for promotional or training reasons then the personal details of the people in the image will not be revealed.
· Should a story or article concern an individual, then particular attention will be paid to ensuring permission is gained from the parent or guardian and player involved.
· Any participant, club official, parent or guardian that has a concern about inappropriate or intrusive photography/filming should report their concerns to the event organiser or senior club official present.
· The club will challenge any person taking photographs who has not made his/herself known to it. This might include referral to the local Police force if the person continues to record unauthorised images.

These rules have been adopted to ensure the safety of all young people involved with the club. We ask for everyone’s cooperation in operating and policing them.

Club Rules

Nuneaton RFC is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the well being of all its members. The club believes that it is important that members, coaches, administrators and parents/carers/guardians associated with the club should at all times show respect, and be encouraged to be open and to share any concerns or complaints that they may have about any aspects of the club with the Section Chairperson, Vice Chairperson or Team manager.

As a member of Nuneaton RFC you are expected to abide by the following club rules:
1. All members must play within the rules and respect officials and their decisions.
2. All members must respect opponents.
3. Members should keep to agreed timings for training and competitions or inform their coach or team manager if they are going to be late.
4. Members must wear suitable kit – [Warm clothing, gum shields and approved Rugby studs] – for training and match sessions, as agreed with the coach/team manager.
5. Members must pay any fees for training or events promptly.
6. Junior members are not allowed to smoke on club premises or whilst representing the club at competitions.
7. Junior members are not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs of any kind on the club premises or whilst representing the club.
8. For Junior members, receipt of two yellow cards or one red card in a season is a disciplinary offence.

Equity Policy

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 ages, 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 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.

Code of Conduct

Club Officials and Volunteers
The essence of good ethical conduct and practice is summarised below.

All volunteers must:
1. Consider the well-being and safety of participants before the development of performance.
2. Develop an appropriate working relationship with performers, based on mutual trust and respect.
3. Make sure all activities are appropriate to the age, ability and experience of those taking part.
4. Promote the positive aspects of the sport (e.g. fair play)
5. Display consistently high standards of behaviour and appearance.
6. Follow all guidelines laid down by the national governing body and the club.
7. Hold the appropriate, valid qualification and insurance cover.
8. Never exert undue influence over performers to obtain personal benefit or reward.
9. Never condone rule violations, foul play or use of prohibited substances.
Code of Conduct for Parents/Carers

The Club believes the conduct of Parents and Carers is equally as important as that of Club Officials and Players.

We believe that parents and Carers should:
1. Encourage your child to learn the rules and play within them.
2. Discourage unfair play and arguing with officials.
3. Help your child to recognise good performance, not just results.
4. Never force your child to take part in sport.
5. Set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding the good performances of all.
6. Never punish or belittle a child for losing or making mistakes.
7. Publicly accept the judgments of officials.
8. Support your child’s involvement and help them enjoy their sport.
9. Use correct and proper language at all times.
Code of Conduct for Spectators

The Club requires that Spectators:
1. Set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding the good performances of all.
2. Never belittle a child for making mistakes.
3. Publicly accept the judgments of officials.
4. Discourage unfair play and arguing with officials.
5. Use correct and proper language at all times.

Child Protection Policy

At Nuneaton RFC Mini, Junior and Sunday Colts Section we believe that taking part in our sport should be an enjoyable part of a young person's life.

We want to make sure that our young players are kept safe from emotional, physical, sexual harm and neglect whilst under the responsibility of the club's coaches, helpers, administrators and other volunteers. To do this we have these aims:

· Coaches will attend appropriate RFU coaching courses when they begin to work with the children.
· The club will encourage and help coaches to stay up-to-date with coaching and child protection / welfare issues.
· The club will attend appropriate Sport Coach UK good practice and child protection courses.
· As a club we aim to promote "fair play" and always play within the spirit of the laws of the RFU Continuum and work within the club's Equal Opportunities Policy and Equity Statement.
· All coaches, helpers, administrators, other volunteers and parents will be given a copy of the Fair Play Code of Conducts and will be expected to keep to them at all times.
· The club will keep records of attendance, parental consent and any serious accidents.
· The club will identify a Child Welfare Officer whose role it is to deal with any concerns about emotional, physical, sexual harm and neglect within the club;

The current Child Welfare Officers are :
 Michelle Guilfoyle, Tel. 02476 343935
Mark Howard, Tel. 02476 346799

· All suspicions or accusations reported of poor practice or abuse will be recorded on an RFU Incident Record Form and retained on club files by the Child Welfare Officer as above.
· Personal data retained on club files, including computers, will be secured.
· All coaches, helpers, administrators and other volunteers will be required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure Form.
· The club will ensure guidelines are in place to control and monitor the use of photographic images of children.

Constitution

1. Name
The Club shall be called Nuneaton Rugby Football Club Mini, Junior and Sunday Colts Section and be affiliated to the Rugby Football Union.

 
2. Aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of the club will be:
1. To offer coaching and competitive opportunities in Rugby Football Union.
2. To promote the club within the local community and Rugby Football Union.
3. To manage the Nuneaton RFC Mini, Junior and Sunday Colts Section.
4. To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club.
5. To provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone.
6. To ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment.

3. Membership

Membership should consist of officers and members of the club.
All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the club will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of conduct that the club has adopted.
Members will be enrolled in one of the following categories:
1. Full member to Nuneaton RFC
2. Social members

4. Membership fees

Membership fees will be set annually and agreed by the Executive Committee or determined at the Annual General Meeting.
Fees will be paid annually in September.

5. Executive Officers of the club

The officers of the club who form the Executive Committee will be:
1. Chair
2. Vice Chair
3. Honorary secretary
4. Treasurer

Officers will be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. All officers will retire each year but will be eligible for re-election .No member can be elected to the role of Chair without having served on the Management Committee for a period not less than one year.

6. Coaches and Managers

Chief Coaches for all Mini and Junior age groups will be appointed by the Executive Committee in discussion with the Club Coaching Coordinator and declared at the Annual General Meeting. The Coaching team and Manager for that age group will be appointed by the respective Chief Coach.

7. Committee

The club will be managed through the Management Committee consisting of:
1. Chair
2. Vice Chair
3. Honorary Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. 2x Fixture Secretaries
6. Publicity Officer
7. Schools liaison Officer
8. Social Officer
9. Welfare Officer
10. Registration Secretary
11. Chief Coaching Officer
12. 12x Team Managers

Only these posts will have the right to vote at meetings of the Management Committee.
Votes will be per person, not per role.
The Management Committee will be convened by the Secretary of the club and held no less than 12 per year.
The quorum required for business to be agreed at Management Committee meetings will be 8.
The Management Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of conduct and rules that affect the organisation of Nuneaton RFC Mini, Junior and Sunday Colts Section.
The Management Committee will have powers to appoint sub-committees as necessary and appoint advisers to the Management Committee as necessary to fulfill its business.
The Management Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules / regulations / constitution. The Management Committee with support from the senior club secretary will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

8. Finance

All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the club.
The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the club.
The financial year of the club will end on 30 April.
An audited statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.
Any cheques drawn against club funds should hold the signatures of the Treasurer plus up to two other officers.
The income and property of Nuneaton RFC Mini Junior and Sunday Colts Section shall be applied solely to its stated aims and objectives. No member of the Section shall received payment for his / her services as a member except following a majority vote of the Management Committee.
 The Management Committee and members will not be liable to any debts incurred by the Section

9. Annual General Meetings

Notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be given by the Club Secretary.
Not less than 21 clear days' notice to be given to all members.
The AGM will receive a report from officers of the Executive Committee and a statement of the audited accounts.
Nominations for officers of the Management Committee will be sent to the Secretary prior to the AGM.
Election of officers is to take place at the AGM.
All adult members have the right to vote at the AGM.
The quorum for AGM’s will be Number 30.
The Management Committee has the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM’s) outside the AGM. Procedures for EGM’s will be the same as for the AGM.

10. Discipline and appeals

All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be submitted in writing to the Secretary.
The Management Committee will meet to hear complaints within 7 days of a complaint being lodged. The committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership.
The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 7 days of the hearing.
There will be the right of appeal to the Management Committee following disciplinary action being announced. The committee should consider the appeal within 7 days of the Secretary receiving the appeal.

11. Dissolution

A resolution to dissolve the club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM of eligible adult voters, which a majority of three quarters of the meeting present must approve dissolution.
In the event of dissolution, any income and assets of the club shall not be distributed amongst the members but devoted to Mini and Junior Rugby Football in Nuneaton and District.

12. Amendments to the constitution

The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.

13. Declaration

Nuneaton Rugby Football Club Mini, Junior and Sunday Colts hereby adopt and accept this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.