Ogonnelloe Hurling Club

Young Players deserve to:

-	Be safe and feel safe
-	Have fun and experience a sense of enjoyment and fulfilment
-	Be treated with respect, dignity and sensitivity
-	Comment and make suggestions in a constructive manner
-	Be afforded appropriate confidentiality
-	Participate in games and competitions at levels with which they feel comfortable
-	Make their concerns known and have them dealt with in an appropriate manner
-	Be protected from abuse
-	Be listened to

Players Should:

-	Play fairly, do their best and enjoy themselves
-	Respect and support fellow team members
-	Respect all coaches, mentors, officials and their opponents
-	Be gracious in defeat and modest in victory
-	Shake hands before and after the game whatever the result/div>
-	Inform their coach/mentor/manager when they are unavailable for training and games
-	Talk to the Club Youth Officer with any concerns or questions they may have
-	Tell somebody else if they or others have been harmed in any way
-	Take due care of club equipment

Players Should Not:

-	Shout at or argue with a games official, with their coach, their team mates or opponents and should never use violence
-	Use unfair or bullying tactics to gain advantage or isolate other players
-	Spread rumours
-	Tell lies about adults or other young people
-	Play or train if they feel unwell or are injured
-	Use unacceptable language

Parents/Guardians

Parents/Guardians have an influential role to play in assisting and encouraging their children to fully participate in games, whether by playing games or attending training or coaching sessions. Parents should act as role models for their children as they participate in Gaelic Games.

Parents/Guardians have the right to:

-	Know their child is safe and to make a complaint if they believe that theirs child's safety is in anyway compromised
-	Be informed of problems/concerns relating to their child
-	Be informed if their child gets injured
-	Complain if they have concerns about the standard of coaching
-	Have a say in relation to decisions being made within the club

Parents/Guardians should:

-	Complete and return the registration/permission and medical consent forms for their child's participation in the club
-	Inform the coaches, and any other relevant club personnel, of any changes in their child's medical or dietary requirements prior to coaching sessions, games or other activities
-	Ensure that their child punctually attends coaching sessions/games or other activities
-	Ensure that their child is collected from coaching session/games on time and not left waiting
-	Provide their child with adequate clothing and equipment
-	Ensure that the nutrition/hydration and hygiene needs of their child are met
-	Listen to what their child may have to say
-	Show approval whether the team wins, loses or draws a game
-	Respect officials' decisions and encourage children to do likewise
-	Show approval for effort, not just results
-	Avoid asking a child or young person, 'How much did you score today or what did you win by or what did you lose by'. Ask them 'did they enjoy themselves
-	Applaud good play from all teams
-	Adopt a positive attitude to their children's participation in the game

Parents/Guardians should not:

-	Exert undue pressure on your child
-	Ever admonish your own child or any other child for their standard of play
-	Ever embarrass a child or use sarcastic remarks towards a player
-	Ever Criticise playing performances, but identify how improvements maybe made
-	Seek to unfairly affect a game or player
-	Enter the field of play unless specifically invited to do so by an official in charge
-	Attempt to meet their own needs and aspiration for success and achievement through their children's participation in games

Parents/Guardians should assist their club by:

-	Showing appreciation to volunteers, mentors and club officials
-	Attending training and games on a regular basis
-	Assisting in the organizing of club activities and events as requested
-	Respecting the rights, dignity and worth of every person and by treating each one equally regardless of age, gender, ability, ethnic origin, cultural background or religion

Coaches, Mentors and Trainers

All coaches, mentor and trainers should ensure that young people and children benefit significantly from our games by promoting a positive, healthy and participatory approach to our work with under age players. In developing the skills levels of every player, coaches should always encourage enjoyment and fun while ensuring meaningful participation in our games and activities. Coaches should always remember that they are role models for the players in their care.

Coaches Should :

-	Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person
-	Treat each person equally regardless of age, gender, ability, ethnic origin, cultural background or religion
-	Develop an appropriate working relationship with children based on mutual trust and respect
-	Be positive during coaching session, games and other activities so that young players leave with a sense of achievement and an increased level of self-esteem
-	Recognise the development needs and capacity of all young players, regardless of their ability, by emphasizing participation for all while avoiding excessive training and competition. Skill development and personal satisfaction should have priority over competition
-	Promote Fair Play
-	Encourage players to respect and accept the judgment of match officials
-	Challenge bullying in any form whether physical or emotional
-	Ensure that all physical contact is appropriate and has the permission and understanding of the young person
-	Encourage parents to become involved in your team and club activities wherever possible
-	Avoid incidents of horse play or role play or telling jokes etc that could be misinterpreted
-	Avoid a situation where you are alone in a car or dressing room with a player
-	Avoid taking coaching sessions on your own

Coaches Should Not :

-	Equate losing with failure and develop a preoccupation with medals and trophies. The level of improvement made by young players is the best indicator of effective coaching
-	Shout at or lecture players or reprimand/ridicule them when they make a mistake. Young players learn best through trial and should not be afraid to risk error so as to learn
-	Use any form of corporal punishment or physical force
-	Use foul language or provocative language/gestures to a player, opponent or match official
-	Enter the field of play without the referee's permission
-	Question a referees decisions or integrity
-	Smoke while working with young players
-	Consume alcohol or non prescribed drugs immediately prior to or while young players are in your care

Best Practice when working with under age players

-	Ensure that all players are suitably and safely attired to play their chosen sport
-	Keep a record of attendance at training and at games by both players and coaches
-	Be aware of any special medical or dietary requirements of players as indicated on the medical consent/registration forms or as informed by parents/guardians
-	Be punctual and properly attired
-	Rotate the team captaincy and the method used for selecting teams so that the same children are not always selected to the exclusion of others
-	Set realistic-stretching but achievable-performance goals
-	Encourage parents/guardians to play an active role in organizing and assisting various activities for your teams and your club
-	Keep a record of any injuries and action subsequently taken. Ensure that another official referee/team mentor is present when a player is being attended to and can corroborate the relevant details
-	Ensure that all dressing rooms and the general areas that are occupied by your players and other club personnel, prior to, during or immediately following the completion of any match are kept clean and are not damaged in any way
-	If it is necessary to transport a child/young person in your car, ensure that they are seated in a rear seat with seat belts securely fastened
-	Make adequate provision for First Aid services
-	Do not encourage or permit players to play while injured or unwell
-	Use mobiles phones, if deemed appropriate, only via a group text or email system for communication with the parents/guardians of players. Any exception to this form of group texting can only occur following permission from parents/guardians
-	Do not communicate individually by text/email with under age players
-	Do not engage in communications with under age players via social network sites