Ruan GAA Club wishes to provide the best possible environment for all young people involved in our games.  Young people deserve to be given enjoyable, safe sporting opportunities, free from abuse of any kind.  These players have rights, which must be respected, and responsibilities that they themselves must accept.  Young people should realise that they have responsibilities to treat other players and sports leaders with fairness and respect.

Young players are entitled to:

• Be safe and to feel safe.

• Be listened to and be believed.

• Be believed.

• Be treated with dignity, sensitivity and respect.

• Have a voice in the club.

• Participate on an equal basis.

• Have fun and enjoy sport.

• Experience competition at a level at which they feel comfortable.

• Make legitimate complaints and have them dealt with.

• Get help against bullies.

• Say NO in situations which appear threatening.

• To protect their own bodies and refuse inappropriate touches.

• Confidentiality.

Young players should always:

• Treat all coaches, managers, selectors, club and match officials with respect and obey by their decision.

• Play fairly at all times, do their best and enjoy themselves.

• Respect team members, even when things go wrong.

• Respect opponents, be gracious in defeat, shake hands.

• Abide by the rules set down by team managers when travelling to away events.

• Behave in a manner that avoids bringing the sport of Gaelic Games and Ruan Hurling Club into disrepute.

• Talk to Child Liaison Officer if they have any problems.

• Respect Club grounds and property and ensure that it is not damaged.

• Accept opponent’s apologies when given.

Young players should never:

• Use unfair or bullying tactics to gain advantage on or off the field.

• Cheat.

• Use violence or physical contact that it not allowed within the rules.

• Shout or argue with match or club officials, team mates, opponents, coaches or selectors.

• Harm team members, opponents or their property.

• Bully or use bullying tactics to isolate another player.

• Take banned substances.

• Keep secrets, especially if they have caused harm.

• Tell lies about adults/young people.

• Spread rumours or malicious gossip about another player or adult.

• Use cameras, camera phones, anywhere in the vicinity of changing rooms.
  

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  • Guidelines for Parents/Guardians

Ruan hurling club is committed to providing a safe and fair environment for all juvenile players.  Our first priority is the welfare of young players and we are committed to providing an environment, which will allow participants to perform to their best ability free from bullying and intimidation.  Parents and Guardians have an important role to play in assisting young people to adopt positive attitudes and encouraging them to maintain an active involvement in the game of hurling.  They should not attempt to meet their own needs for success and achievement through their children’s participation in Gaelic games.  The Club believes that parents/guardians should:

• Be a role model for your child and maintain the highest standards of conduct when interacting with children, other parents, with officials and organisers.

• Encourage your child to play by the rules.  Teach your child that honest endeavour is as important as winning and do all you can to encourage good sportsmanship.

• Always behave responsibly on the sidelines and do not seek to unfairly affect the game or the players on the field.  If you are not directly involved with an individual team as a coach/mentor etc. do not enter dressing rooms prior to or during games.

• Take care not to expose any young player, intentionally or unintentionally, to embarrassment or disparagement by the use of flippant or sarcastic remarks.

• Always recognise the value and importance of the volunteers who provide sporting/recreational opportunities for your child.  Do not publicly question the judgement of competition organisers.  Respect all officiating match officials and team management.

• Ensure that your child is safely attired e.g. helmets are fitting properly and correctly fastened, all boots have laces tied and that hurleys are the appropriate weight/length for the players height and size.  Helmets must be worn at all times i.e. for the duration of drills as well as matches.  (It is now compulsory for all under-age players to wear helmets.).

• Ensure that your child is collected promptly after training and matches and is not allowed to loiter within the confines of the Club premises or elsewhere – remember that this is essential in the interest of the overall safety of the child.

• Respect referees, coaches, organisers and other players.

• Do not publicly question the judgement or honesty of referees, coaches or organisers.

• Set a good example by applauding good play on both sides.  Encourage mutual respect for team mates and the opposition.

• Parents should support all efforts to remove abusive behaviour and bullying in all its forms.

• Ensure that your child is fully aware of the contents of the Code of Ethics & Good Conduct for Young People in Ruan hurling Club, particularly the section dealing with the code of conduct for Young Players.

DO’s

• Do show approval for effort, not just results.

• Do try to make words and actions match.

• Do attend games on a regular basis and volunteer to assist in the organisation of the Club.

• Do give advice on the importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle.

• Do listen to what young people have to say.

• Do try to appreciate the strength of your persons emotions, positive or negative.

• Do realise the power of example.

DON’T’s

• Don’t exert undue pressure on young people.

• Don’t say one thing and do another.

• Don’t make promises you cannot keep.

• Don’t ask “how much did you score/win or lose by”

• Don’t just show approval when the team wins.

• Don’t criticise playing performances – seek to identify areas where improvements can be made.

All our coaches in Ruan Hurling Club are club members, fully qualified and garda vetted .

A full copy of the Code of Ethics & Good Conduct Policy is accessible on the club website or available on request from any Ruan GAA club officer.