Child Protection Policy

Playing in Winter

Fitness and Nutrition

Child Protection Policy

Llantwit Fardre RFC recognises its responsibilities to safeguard the welfare of all young people involved in the game of rugby union by protecting them from any form of child abuse.

Our policy is to follow guidelines as published by the WRU. For full details please click below. The link takes you directly to the official WRU web site and appropriate section detailing the Guidelines about Child Protection, providing the relevant procedure forms in a downloadable format (PDF) and also details the role of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) in the process of Child Protection. Click here

CHILD PROTECTION – PHOTOGRAPHY

Llantwit Fardre RFC Mini & Junior Section recognises the need to ensure the welfare and safety of all children and young people in sport.

In accordance with our child protection policy we will not permit photographs, video or other images of children and young people to be taken without the consent of their parents or guardians.

We propose to keep this website up-to-date and include photography, eg current squads. Plus other photography for rugby coaching, associated activities and promotions. Llantwit Fardre RFC Mini & Juniors will take all necessary measures to ensure these images are used solely for the purposes they are intended. Please click on link below to download the consent form required by all parents to complete and return to their respective coach.

FORM OF CONSENT FOR THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEO Consent Form (68 K)

Mini and Junior Players are the life blood of this club and are well looked after by our coaches and committee. Should any of these young players feel intimidated, harrassed or bullied then they should contact our Child Protection Liaison Officer Mr. Cliff Davies by email, click here.

If they feel that they cannot contact any member of the club then they can contact :

WRU Child Protection Unit
Tel: 029 2082 2442
24 Hour Child Protection Contact Number
Mob: 07738 311 366
(for use by professionals and people wishing to report Child Protection or Equity incidents outside of office hours)

CRB Officer
Tel: 029 2082 2442
email: crb@wru.co.uk

Postal Address
Child Protection Unit, Welsh Rugby Union, Westgate Plaza, Millennium Stadium,
Westgate Street, Cardiff CF10 1NS

Playing in Winter - Stay Dry and Warm

Players should wear clothing appropriate to the conditions. The wearing of at least a couple of layers under the jersey is recommended during the depths of winter. Gloves and hats are optional. In winter you should consider the following:

• Clothes to get to and from game
• Warm up clothing
• Match kit (including pitch-side wear - you may be a reserve or get injured)
• Towel

Basically, donʼt just turn up in match shorts and socks!

Parents – why not show your support for your teams by purchasing a rain-jacket, fleece, ski-hat in Llantwit colours available from the club. Please remember all purchases of kit help to bring more much needed funds into the mini and junior section.

Fitness and Nutrition

All children already have the basic level of fitness that will allow them to take part in mini rugby. Their fitness will improve over the course of the season as long as they attend training on a regular basis.

Although rugby can be very physical, weight conditioning is not recommended for children whose bodies are still developing and consequently we will focus on aerobic exercise. The best contribution that can be made outwith training is to follow a healthy diet. In particular, before training and matches it is important to avoid foods like:

• Chocolate Bars
• High sugar biscuits and/or cakes
• Sweets
• High fibre muffins
• Beans
• Fizzy Drinks

These cause a sudden increase in the blood sugar levels and, in response, the body produces insulin to bring these back down. The overall effect is that the blood sugar levels drop below the normal level, making the player feel tired, meaning they run out of energy before the end of the game. It is also recommended that you avoid the ʻtraditionalʼ Sunday cooked breakfast and you should discourage children from eating hamburgers between matches at tournaments. You should instead serve up easy to digest foods - high in carbohydrate, moderate fat and low in fibre such as:

• Cereals
• Ripe bananas
• Yoghurt
• Sandwiches peanut butter, lean ham
• Sports bar
• Sports drink
• Pasta

Most important of all – make sure they drink lots of water. Dehydration can cause depletion of muscle stores. Also avoid energy drinks which contain caffeine – they not only make some childrenʼs behaviour difficult to control they also act as diuretics meaning more sweating and more frequent visits to the toilet.