Everyone in Rugby League has a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.
Rugby League prides itself on being a family game, which prioritises creating a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for all to enjoy and achieve their full potential.

Unacceptable behaviour we want to end includes:
• Abuse of match officials
• Racism
• Sexism and homophobia
• Poor touchline behaviour of over competitive parents, spectators and coaches.

The positive behaviour we want to encourage, centres on the benefits the player gets from the game:
• Self-esteem
• Fun and enjoyment
• Friendships
• Health and fitness.

A coach is an important role model and has the biggest single impact on a player’s experience of the game. This Code of Conduct provides a framework and an opportunity for you to ensure all players have a positive and enjoyable playing experience.

On and off the field I will:
• Show respect to others involved in the game including match officials, players,coaches, managers, parents, RFL staff and spectators
• Adhere to the playing laws, operational rules and spirit of the game
• Promote and adhere to RESPECT and Tackle it!
• Demonstrate high standards of coaching and personal behaviour
• Always respect the match officials decision
• Never engage in public criticism of the match officials
• Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour
• Adhere to Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Vulnerable Groups guidelines.

When working with players I will:
• Place the physical and mental well-being, safety and enjoyment of each player above everything, including winning ensuring every player has an equal opportunity to take part in training and matches, within the rules of the playing competition
• Explain exactly what I expect of players and what they can expect from me
• Ensure all parents/carers of all players under the age of 18 understand these expectations
• Never engage in or tolerate any form of bullying
• Develop mutual trust and respect with every player to build their self-esteem
• Respect and value the diversity of players and endeavour to meet their individual needs
• Encourage each player to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance
• Ensure all activities and practices that I organise are appropriate for the players’ ability, age and maturity to make the experience of players as enjoyable as possible
• Co-operate with others in Rugby League (e.g. officials, RFL staff, club staff,) to ensure the best interests of the players are met.

I understand that if I do not follow the Code, any/all of the following actions may be taken by my Club, League or the RFL:
• Required to apologise
• Required to meet with club, league or RFL staff
• Monitored by another coach
• Required to attend an RFL education course (s)
• Suspended by the club from attending matches/training sessions
• Suspended or fined by the League
• Required to leave the club
• Removal of coach licence to practise by the RFL including the removal of insurance cover
• Any memberships or benefits may be withdrawn.
I have read, understood and agree to abide by the terms of the RFL Coach Code of Conduct and that this forms part of the RFL Coach Licence scheme. I understand that failure to adhere to the Code of Conduct may result in further action being taken against me and the removal of my Coach Licence.

THE COACHING ENVIROMENT

Confidentiality
The coach and performer must reach agreement about what is to be regarded as confidential information, within the boundaries of the safeguarding policy.
Confidentiality does not preclude disclosure of information to persons who can be judged to have a right to know. For example:
• Evaluation for selection purposes
• Recommendations for employment
• In matters of discipline within the sport
• In matters of disciplinary action by a sport organisation against one of its members
• Legal and medical requirements
• Recommendations to parents/family where the health and safety of performer might be at risk
• In pursuit of action to protect children and young persons from abuse

Personal Standards
Rugby League Coaches within the coaching/playing environment must not attempt to exert undue influences and pressures in order to obtain personal benefit or reward.
Coaches must display high personal standards that project a favourable image of Rugby League including:
• Good personal appearance that projects an image of health, cleanliness and functional efficiency
• Coaches should never smoke when in the coaching environment
• Coaches should refrain from drinking alcohol prior to or whilst performing any session of Rugby
League or whilst in the presence of young participants (Coaches’ Code of Conduct).

Competence
All coaches must be appropriately qualified as per the requirements of the RFL. Coaches should regularly seek ways of increasing their personal and professional development (CPD).
Coaches must be receptive to employing systems of evaluation that include self-evaluation and also external evaluation in an effort to assess the effectiveness of their work.
Coaches must be able to recognise and accept when to refer or recommend performers to other coaches or structures. It is the coach’s responsibility as far as possible to:
a. Verify the competence of the performer
b. Verify the competence and integrity of any other persons or structure to whom they refer the performer

Safety
Within the limits of their control coaches have a responsibility to:
• Establish a safe working environment
• Ensure as far as possible the safety of the players with whom they work
• Protect children from harm and abuse
• Fully prepare their players for the activities and make them aware of their personal responsibility in terms of safety
• Ensure all activities undertaken are suitable for the experience and ability of the performers and in keeping with the approved practices as determined by the RFL
• Communicate and co-ordinate with registered medical and ancillary practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment and management of their performers’ medical and psychological problems.

Complaints Procedure
Any individual or organisation wishing to make a complaint against a Rugby League Coach, within the context of this code should follow the procedure below:
• Report the matter to the employer of the sports coach and to the RFL member of staff or Club and Competition Manager responsible for that area of the game including the relevant junior playing league.
NB: (Employer in this instance refers to the organisation who commissioned the coach to do the coaching whether this is paid or unpaid employment).
• Complaints which refer to the protection of children should be dealt with in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Rugby League Safeguarding Policy.

Coaching
• Children play for fun and enjoyment
• Be reasonable in your demands on children’s time, energy and enthusiasm - remember they too, have other interests.
• Never ridicule or shout at a child for making mistakes at training or during games
• Avoid over playing the talented players. The average ones deserve equal time and attention.

Time should be afforded to all.
• Always group players according to age, height, skill and physical maturity whenever possible
• Follow the advice of medical personnel when deciding if a player is fit to take part
• Teach your players the rules of the game
• Teach children to respect the judgment of officials
• The successful Coach invests more in the wellbeing and interests of players than in their own winloss record
• Create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all children. Officiating
• Sportsmanship and fair play are not a set of rules - they are a code of living
• Condemn gamesmanship and emphasise respect for fair play
• Be consistent, objective and courteous when dealing with all decisions during a game
• Use common sense to ensure that the spirit of the game is not lost
• Compliment both teams on good play when such praise is deserved
Administrating
• Strive for competent levels of planning and communication
• Make sure that venues and facilities meet the needs of the children
• Ensure all activities are supervised and appropriate for the players

DBS CHECKS
Individuals are now able to complete and submit their DBS applications online.
Applicants can access the new system by going to the RFL website and searching for DBS.To begin the process you will need to enter the reference for your club, a list of which can be found by on the
website along with the password rfl123.
Once you have submitted your application you will still need to visit an RFL approved verifier to have your identity checked. A list of verifiers can also be found on the website. Once your application has been verified it is automatically submitted to the RFL. It is then countersigned and sent to the DBS for processing.
Your disclosure certificate will now only need to be sent to The RFL if it contains information which requires us to carry out a risk assessment. We will be notified by the DBS of the disclosures we need to see.
Please note this only applies to applications submitted online, if you have completed a paper application your disclosure certificate still needs to be sent to The RFL regardless of whether it contains ‘information’ or not.
The Disclosure and Barring Service (formally the CRB)
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks help The RFL assess who may be unsuitable to work with children within Rugby League by looking at previous criminal convictions.
DBS checking plays a significant role in contributing to the safe and effective recruitment of volunteers. However, it must be stated that DBS checking is only part of an effective recruitment and selection process. It is important that clubs undertake references (forms available on the Downloads section) prior to employment/deployment and utilise ongoing performance appraisals.
Self-Declaration forms also play an important role in Safeguarding children. These are completed by the applicant themselves and gives them the opportunity to declare any convictions they may have had. It is therefore essential that clubs store this information sensitively before sending on to the RFL.
Self-Declarations should be used in conjunction with DBS checks - they are not an alternative.
It must be noted that having a criminal record is not necessarily a bar on being able to work within Rugby League. For further details please see the RFL’s Policy on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders, DBS Positive Disclosure FAQ and the Risk Assessment Policy.
For guidance about which volunteers should be DBS checked, please see the RFL Policy on who should be DBS checked. Voluntary positions at clubs receive DBS checks free of charge.
To obtain a DBS Application Form please visit www.rugby league.com/the_rfl/child__player_welfare
The RFL can provide any of the Safeguarding resources in audio format or Braille on request so please let us know if you need resources in either of these formats.
Also, if you require any of the RFL Safeguarding resources in another language, please contact the RFL Safeguarding team and we will endeavour to provide the resources in your chosen language.

WHAT TO DO IF
There will be occasions within Rugby League where concerns emerge relating to the behaviour of individuals. Where a child or young person may be in immediate danger or needs medical attention, 999 should be called.
For serious concerns, issues can be reported to the Child Protection Units at the Local Police, or Children’s Social Care Services (formerly Social Services) or the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.
The RFL recommend all Club Welfare Officers to have contact details for the above agencies.
The RFL encourage everyone in the game to report all concerns to the RFL (either directly or through a Club or Regional Welfare Officer) no matter how minor they may appear.
To report a concern to the RFL, please complete an Incident Report Form or call the Safeguarding team on 0844 477 7113 (option 6). The RFL’s Reporting Procedures can be viewed on the RFL website.
The RFL has taken every care to ensure that this content is current and correct and it has been produced in good faith. However, The RFL cannot guarantee the correctness and completeness of the content and no responsibility is taken for any omissions or errors.