RFU Club Accreditation Scheme The club undertakes a simple self review of its activities in line with the fifteen statements below. This can be done before you meet with the RDO or you can do this together. Since this is your accreditation, the RDO will simply coach you through the session, asking questions and probing detail in order to elicit information that will strengthen your review. Statement Demonstrates and promotes rugby s core values Club Review Yes. The clubs code of conduct and information to parents and players supports the core values of the game. This information is on the web site and coaches are required to respond to any breaches of the code of conduct which could ultimately result in formal action being taken. Details of the RFU s core values are embedded within the clubs own code of conduct with is posted on the notice board and is included in the individual coaches manual which is used to support player and parent induction into the club. The club uses a plan do review, approach to ensuring we actually operate in line with the values, via Youth organising Committee (YoC) & Senior Rugby meetings. The YoC consists of a Chairman, CCC, Safeguarding Officer, Head of Minis, Treasurer, Fixtures secretary, Secretary, First Aid Officer and Ents Officer Having set the expectation, the YoC look at feedback from all stakeholders within the club, particularly via the monthly Coaches & Team Managers Meetings. We respond either on and individual basis or collectively. For example if a complaint is made about the attitude/performance of a parent the Safeguarding Officer and Chairman investigate and agree a plan of action to address any concerns. Has appropriately qualified coaches with recommended coach/player ratios for all teams Yes. The club ensures that coaches are qualified to the appropriate level and to the necessary numbers across the club and continues to recruit and train new coaches. The clubs coaching co-ordinator is responsible for monitoring this and ensures coaches maintain their CPD. We work on the basis of the ratios outlined in the RFU safeguarding policy & have permanent Head Coaches at U6 and U7 to help induct new coaches as quickly as possible. The CCC has ensured that each age group has a coaching team with at least the Head Coach qualified at level one at minis and lecel 2 at juniors. We also rotate coaches who may have specialist skills eg scrummaging to work across all relevant age groups. Our Youth Academy has expanded to include the 14s, 15s & 16s from next season Under an experienced senior rugby coach, with access to first team squad players for position specific coaching. We also have a very experienced set of coaches who review each others practice and share ideas through a process of peer review either on the training area on via the monthly coaches meeting. We ensure coaches maintain their CPD by offering places on courses which the club funds and by running courses at our club. Our CCC has also worked on building a good relationship with our Kent RDO to support any local initiatives and ensure we stay up to speed with current best practice. Senior Rugby has suitably qualified coaches at all levels of the club, which has allowed us to field up to 5 sides next season. Senior & Junior Rugby coaches are on the same distribution list for CPD, with Senior Rugby Coaches being guided by the Director of Rugby Gavin Lach re any courses they should be taking
Has appropriate systems in place to minimise injury and to support injured players Meets the needs of players by providing regular, relevant and enjoyable competition Actively addresses succession planning by recruiting players in targeted areas Welcomes and encourages new players from all sectors of the local community Provides regular support and training opportunities for volunteers, coaches and referees We have a First Aid co-ordinator to ensure appropriate qualified first aid cover for each age group. Use of additional first aid cover for festivals e. g the Red Cross. The club has also recently been approved by the London Ambulance Service to be part of the Heartstart initiative which provides a de-fib, training and on going support to users. For all senior games qualified medical cover is provided. The club has a treatment room and a rehab/treatment service is provided for all players. The physio facility is available twice weekly to all players in the club. The clubs is also working with the charity CRY and has arranged a cardiac screening service for young player from the ages of 14 35 All age group coaches and volunteers received the Headcase and Graduated Return to Play Scheme advisory information and this was discussed at the Monthly Coaches meeting. We have incorporated it into our injury reporting system, with all cases having to be referred to the First Aid co-ordinator Full fixture list across all sides/age groups including competitive league, events, fixtures and tours. In addition the club focuses on enjoyment and inclusion and this is re-enforced by the coaches. The club has experience on going and continued growth in membership numbers and achieved on going success on the pitch with the senior first XV achieving regular promotions. The senior club is running five sides currently including an occasional Vets team. Feedback from members indicates that we are providing an experience which exceeds expectations. We also run a summer touch rugby event for parents and less experienced players The club has consistently increased player membership numbers across all sides/age groups. The academy is used to support player retention and transition to adult rugby. Links with schools and local community assist with recruitment. Coaches actively work with existing players to help recruit new players. We run a tag festival for state primary schools most seasons & run summer taster events & bring a friend to rugby days to help build numbers. Our Coaches are also encouraged to build relationships with local state schools, our two strongest currently are Coopers and Ravens Wood The club operates an open recruitment policy with no barriers to supporting recruitment of players from all areas of society. This is also expressed in club policy. The club is fully inclusive and provides opportunities for all sections of the community regardless of any protected characteristics as specified under the Equalities Act. This can be evidenced for example by the range of schools children come from and the diversity of the ethnic origin of players. Club is fortunate in that the U7 s coach maintains that role and has done so for 16 seasons. This provides an excellent foundation for young people wanting to experience rugby. The effectiveness of this approach results in a level of consistency which engages parents to take on coaching and other volunteer roles moving forward. No players would be turned away because they / their parents can t afford the membership The club encourages all volunteers, coaches and referees to improve their knowledge and experience. The club provides financial support for courses and encourages people to operate across sections/age groups. The club has a volunteer coaching co-ordinator who is responsible for this. The club has also hosted several CPD events, which provides easier access to our coaches. The club has hosted a number of training events and going forward aims to develop a more formal link with the RDO to make the club available to host more events to the benefit of the local rugby community as a whole. From this season the Head Academy Coach (HAC) has set aside six weekends to help coach the junior teams from 14+. This is for all players and coaches, with the objective of ensuring the junior coaches learn best practice. Additionally the HAC set up a coach the coaches meeting, once a month for
selected junior coaches to cover more technical aspects of the game. This aimed at Head / Deputy Head coaches. Referee recruitment is part of the Key Action Plan, with the objective of- Put 10 new people through the RFU referees course & have them refereeing regularly at OEs and local schools. To help this we have appointed a Club Referee coordinator to ensure this objective is delivered & focused on going forward Regularly recognises and rewards the efforts and achievements of volunteers, coaches and referees Actively addresses succession planning by recruiting new referees, volunteers and coaches Has secured regular access to appropriate facilities to meet players needs Operates a disciplinary process to deal with contraventions of RFU regulations Manages club finances effectively and files annual figures to meet current RFU regulations Maintains and operates a health and safety policy and practices complying with The contribution of volunteers, coaches and referees is recognised by the club across all teams/age groups at end of season presentations events and throughout the season in various ways e.g formal reports at meetings, awards made at the AGM and other events eg, the Foxbury Festival. Volunteers have also been nominated for Jack Petchy foundation awards In addition we entered the Kent 2015 Volunteer Awards with our u12s manager winning an award We have recently been made aware of the RFU President Awards and will look to enter at the next opportunity The club has a clear structure to support coaching, team management and player development and reviews future needs on a regular basis and annually. The provision of volunteers in all areas of the club is discussed on a regular basis via the YoC. With the development of the club more volunteers, coaches and referees have been recruited. For example, the U6 & 7 s coach remains constant and each year new coaches are recruited to take the U8 and follow the age group through to the academy and adult rugby. We have recruited additional team managers, first aiders using a process of succession planning, training and induction. The benefit of having a constant at U7 level results in the development and succession of coaches and volunteers. There is no concern about having to find a new coach at the entry level every year. The U7 develops coaches and ensures that they are ready to take over at U8 level. The club has recently moved from it s old base (Foxbury in Chislehurst), with Youth rugby based at Eltham College SE9 and Senior Rugby based at The Queen Mary s Ground in Chislehurst. The plan is that both sections will be based at College Meadow, adjacent to Eltham College for the 2016-17 season. This is while the club and the school agree planning permission for a 3g pitch & stand in line with requirements for National League Rugby The playing facilities at both current bases are substantially better than our previous base. At Youth rugby we can accommodate all our teams at home on the same day, when previously we would need at least 4 to be off site The lack of a normal club house for youth rugby is the main draw back currently, although we do have access to a pavilion for coffees, teas, bottle bar etc The club has a clearly identified policy to deal with performance and conduct issues, which deal with contraventions of the RFU regulations, and the clubs own rules and regulations applicable to members. This is posted on the web site and there is evidence of taking action in response to complaints / allegations in breach of the policy. The policy operates at several levels resulting in a formal hearing if necessary. Both Youth & Senior Rugby held a number of disciplinaries last season in line with RFU regulations. As of this season the advise has been added to the Coaches Manual The club managers it accounts in line with standard accounting practice and current RFU regulations and can demonstrate consistently financial viability. The section has its own accounts and reports the financial position to its members at the AGM. Both senior & youth rugby pay an agreed annual rental to their respective landlords The club operates in line with its statutory duties, in line with health and safety legislation and it own policies and procedures. The club has processes
statutory requirements for identifying issues of concern and addressing these. All facility health & safety policy is run by Eltham College & Queen Mary s University respectively
Has a transparent constitution incorporating an equity policy in line with RFU regulations Has a clear understanding of the local community and ensures that rugby makes a positive contribution to its wellbeing The club has a contemporary constitution which is in line with RFU policy relating to equality and inclusion. Details of the equity policy are available to all members & posted on our website. Coaches, volunteers and referees are expected to operate in line with the policy. We have an annual AGM where the post of Head of Junior & Head of Mini Rugby, both within the YoC are put up for nomination The current Chair and Mini chair have been in position for 18 months The YoC meet monthly and information is filtered down via the monthly coaches and Mini Managers meeting Where relevant items are added to the weekly fixtures note to Head Coaches and Managers for distribution to their age groups The clubs commitment to the local community demonstrated its understanding of the contribution it makes to well being e.g staging of Kent schools tag festival, arrangements to support local schools to develop the game. The club has formal links with the following schools: Farringtons, Ravens Wood and Coopers. We are looking to extend our reach into the Lewisham borough by extending our Primary School Tag Rugby festival to include schools from this area. Additional Mini & Youth Statements Has an RFU trained Safeguarding Officer who follows RFU CRB requirements and ensures the club has a safeguarding policy Provides an appropriate number of coaches and volunteers who have undertaken safeguarding training in line with RFU recommendations and size of the club Manages an up to date record of parent/carer contact details Provides coaches / managers with relevant up to date medical information of all players Meets the needs of parents/carers by providing regular and appropriate communication utilising modern methods of communication Operates a pricing policy that allows all members who wish to play with an opportunity to do so, ensuring families are catered for appropriately Yes. The safeguarding officer is a member of the organising committee and therefore has direct access to officers and coaches to champion safeguarding and to raise issues as necessary. Yes. The coaching co-ordinator ensures that there are sufficient numbers of coaches and volunteers who are appropriately trained in safeguarding. Each age group has its own trained child welfare officer Yes. The club as a membership lead who maintains the overall database of contact details via the RFU GMS. Each age group has its own team manager who also holds contact details. Yes. The membership ensures that when information is disclosed that team managers and head coaches are made aware of any risks/issues. Details are available at all training sessions and fixtures. The club has an effective web site and other age group/team systems to communicate with parents, carers and players using text, e-mail and written communications. There are notice boards within the club which provide information. A regular weekly e-news letter is posted out to members updating on fixtures, general news and events. Via the web site there are links to facebook and twitter, however the Youth section has agreed a policy to only use Twitter currently as easier to protect children s security The club subscription policy allows for reduced contributions for siblings and to support parents/carers who are suffering hardship. The fees are reviewed annually by the organising committee to ensure that the club is in line with benchmark prices locally. We also operate a system of kit swapping which passes kit around to allow new members to wear the club kit if they suffer hardship. No player would be turned away because they couldn t afford the membership Additional Women & Girls Statements Manages an up to date records of female player registrations complying with statutory requirements of the RFU Yes. Information on all members including girls is kept on the membership database. This information is provided to coaches and the organising committee to review.
Meets the needs of female players by providing regular, relevant and enjoyable competition whilst also signposting those talented players towards the player development pathway Has appropriately qualified coaches with recommended coach/player ratios for all female teams Has secured regular access to appropriate facilities to meet female players needs Although the club has female players it does not as yet have a dedicated womens section. Please see above. The club has separate changing room facilities with their own showers and separate access away from the male facilities
Key Actions Plan: 1) 2) 3) Finalise the move of both Youth & Senior rugby to College Meadow by the start of the 2016-17 season. To include new Stand, 3g pitch & club house. This to be achieved by meeting with the landlords (Eltham College), with the support of the main club sponsor Secure Trading. Embed new Academy structure for u14s to u18s & build clear pathway to Senior rugby via Senior rugby s new Player Development Manager role. This to be achieved via collaboration between the Director of Rugby, CCC, Head of Youth Rugby and Head Academy Coach. Put 10 new people through the RFU referees course & have them refereeing regularly at OEs and local schools. The main focus will be on level 1 courses to encourage early adoption, with an additional focus on Level 2 to increase numbers of Refs for the older age groups Club Name Old Elthamian RFC Club Contact Name I confirm that the club named above has provided all the necessary evidence and an appropriate Key Actions Plan for RFU Club Accreditation Date Signature RDO Name Mike Marsh I confirm that the club has undertaken the RFU Club Accreditation Date sent to Twickenham Signature