St John's College | Sport Policy

1. COMMENT

While this policy focuses specifically on Rugby, I would suggest that the principles of the document apply to all school sport. I believe it provides an effective framework for approaching all inter-school sport competition. I recommend that Sports Co-Coordinators apply these principles in all sporting codes, making specific adjustments where required.

2. GENERAL POLICY

The playing and coaching of rugby is part of our education of boys, in this case mainly through physical activities that go “to make a man”.

Sound education principles should underlie coaching and practices.

3. AIMS

To teach the boys to play the game skilfully, unselfishly, and hard – in a sportsmanlike way, especially when under pressure. There are no degrees of debate about sportsmanship, the standards are absolute, self-control is the order of the day no matter what the provocation. Foul play or retaliation of any sort (punching, holding, kicking, swearing, loss of temper, showing-off, finger-wagging, disrespectful behaviour is unacceptable.

Play the ball not the man: Coaches must make this absolutely clear to players.

To teach the boys to play as a team.
Team spirit is of paramount importance.
To teach boys to play as skilfully as possible.
To teach boys to master the basic skills.
To emphasize the value of robust, hard low tackling.
To inculcate physical fitness in the boys.
To teach boys to keep on trying when the going is tough; there should be no giving up.
To teach the boys the value of and necessity for proper hospitality to visiting teams.

4. HOSPITALITY

Coaches should be present at the field of play half an hour before the match is due to commence.

“Opposite numbers” should be met and “looked after”, invited to tea, and any other refreshments deemed appropriate.

Captains and Vice-Captains of teams should always be present to meet and greet visiting teams.

Players should all thank the referee after the match and shake hands with their opponents after the traditional three cheers have been given.

Refreshments should be provided for team after games.

Home team players should escort their guests and wait until all guests have been served first.

Coaches should also invite and accompany referees for refreshments.

To facilitate this, coaches should avoid long ‘post mortems’ with their teams at the end of the game. (Players seldom take anything in at this time, anyway). It is important that, as developing sportsmen, our boys are given the opportunities to leave their rivalries on the field and make new acquaintances and friendships off the field.

In this regard, the players are very aware of the attitudes modeled by their coaches. Tension between opposing coaches before, during and after matches, is invariably reflected in the way the players from opposing teams interact with each other.

5. DRESS

Players must be spotlessly turned-out. Garters, clean boots and laces need particular attention. Tracksuits are recommended for warm-up before the game.

6. INJURIES

Referees should always err on the careful side. First Aid should be available for home games, e.g. St John’s Ambulance. Particular attention should be paid to boys who receive blows to the head. If a player is noticeably dazed he must be removed from the field for the duration of the match.

Boys who are removed from the field by a medical attendant should only return to the field of play with the permission of the medical attendant. If the coach over-rules this, he must sign an authorization slip so that the medical attendant is not held liable.

7. CAPTAINCY

Only the Captain and Vice-Captain should talk on the field, except where other players have been given specific duties.

On the rare occasions on which referee’s decisions may be queried, only the captain should do this.

Players must play to the whistle – always. Captains should set the example in play and sportsmanship, encourage and praise whenever appropriate and never “moan” at players.

8. SCHOOL BOY ETHICS

8.1 Referees being kept waiting while long ritualistic processions take place towards the field could be discourteous and smack of gamesmanship.

8.2 There should be no tunnels through which the teams run.

8.3 Teams should not have their war cries on the field of play either prior to the match or after.

8.4 The traditional school war cry after the game should take place in a positive spirit with the visiting school being given the opportunity to complete theirs first without interruption.

8.5 Any player who postures in a threatening manner to an opponent (this often takes place after a tackle) should be cautioned and should be warned that any repetition would mean him being sent off the field. Players must avoid responding to any form of taunting or baiting from spectators, should this occur. Reactions from players serve only to heighten tensions.

8.6 Any player who chirps the referee should be sent off the field and the normal penalty be given (with the extra metres)

8.7 Any boy who is caught hitting or kicking or biting or head butting a player should be sent off the field and should have a standard punishment agreed upon by all the schools. (Suggestion is a 3 match suspension). These should be no extenuating circumstances and the defence of “provocation” should not be accepted. If the offence is not seen by the referee but subsequently is proved, the boy should have the same suspension (provocation should not be accepted as an excuse). After the match a meeting of the referee, the two 1st XV coaches, the two Sports Co-coordinators/Headmaster would be convened to discuss the matter and suggest punitive action if required. At the very least, the coach should discuss the incident with the referee and obtain a report from him. Once this matter has been investigated and punishment decided upon, the schools should communicate with each other.

8.8 If there is dirty play going on, the player who is ‘the victim’ should complain to his captain and the captain should then pass this on to the referee. The referee should then warn the players that he has received the complaint and state that anything he spots will be severely punished (as in 5).

9 COACHES

9.1 Coaches should be instructed not to criticize the referee in public. Conversation about the game should take place over refreshments and not in front of players or parents. After match functions often include coaches, members of staff and parents, and this should be borne in mind.

9.2 Conduct of coaches and staff should be as what is expected of a school master.

10. MEETINGS

Internal meetings of rugby staff to discuss this policy, coaching and refereeing are vital. The inter-change of ideas is most important.

11. REFEREEING / LINEMES

11.1 It is a responsibility of coaches to keep as up to date with the rules as possible.

11.2 Referees have a responsibility to be as objective and calm as possible.

11.3 Wherever possible, coaches should not referee or be linesman in games in which their own teams are playing.

12. CROWDS

Ropes demarcating spectator “no go” areas are of great assistance, and should be installed where possible. Spectators should be seated and not patrol touchlines. Referees should be requested to halt matches until spectators have moved back from the touchline when this occurs. This often happens at age group level where spectators often end up right on the field.

Schoolboy spectators should not jeer at opposition players, laugh at their mistakes, applaud penalties awarded to their own side, ironically applaud the other schools; war cries, shout insults, etc.

Old Boys and other spectators should not be permitted to bring bottles of alcohol/beer or cold drinks to the touchlines. Cold drinks often are “doctored”, and the carrier makes it plain by his attitude that he delights in people knowing that they are doctored. Headmasters and coaches should not hesitate in speaking to such Old Boys even at away venues.

Spectators should be encouraged to applaud good play by the opposition. Ideally, adult spectators, many of whom are parents, should set the correct example to the schoolboy spectators and players through their bearing and demeanour at all matches they attend.

War-cries’ should be done in an acceptable manner, but players should be shaking hands and taking opposite numbers for refreshments.

Where possible security guards should patrol parking areas and points of access.