Clacton RFC - Mini & Youth Parent's Guide

Welcome

Welcome to Clacton Rugby Club's Mini & Youth rugby. Whether your child has played before or has never picked up a ball, they'll be made welcome — at this age it's about having fun, making friends and learning the game in a safe, supportive environment, and no experience is needed from them or from you. Everything you need to get started is on this page; if you're not sure where to begin, head straight to the kick-off checklist at the bottom and work through it. 

New here? Jump to the Kick-off checklist at the bottom — it's the fastest way to get sorted.

1. Signing Up

There are two steps, and both need doing before your child plays:

Step 1 — Register with England Rugby (GMS). Every player must be registered on the RFU's Game Management System. It's free and takes a few minutes, parents must also register to manage child player registrations. Please click the link below to access the GMS site to register your child:

https://gms.rfu.com/GMS/CreateAccount?qs=T6lvFf70dR9o1%2b1JZ7g%2fW5PW0Q8tjR%2bHOFPVwLSHQMfCshn5m57K2OvAztinAPhP7tk9GwYd7uJWxNKGJugrJsaWYlp1ntMY1u%2bzziDfQJ4%3d 

Please complete this step to add your GMS number in step 2.

Step 2 — Image consent form. We need your permission before any photo of your child appears on club social media channels. 

Please complete our short form: https://forms.gle/4GDJoe9zvtii4npR6 

If your child cannot/you choose not to allow permission, no problem - we'll make sure your child isn't included in club photos.

2. Membership & Subs

• Annual membership: Yearly membership is £40 for the year and must be paid at the start of the season (September) or when a new child joins. We do discount for more than 1 child; £20 membership per child after the first child at full rate. 

• Match/training subs: Standard monthly subs are £10/month and must be paid at the beginning of the month by bank transfer / standing order.

• What's included: Membership includes a family membership to Clacton RFC, and supports the club in general running costs. Subs are used by each team to enter festivals / competitions, buy team kit and additional items / kit, pay for match food, pitch hire, referees (for youth fixtures) as well as undertake additional fun activities!

• Financial support: Clacton RFC believe strongly that no child should ever be excluded from playing the rugby on the basis of family finances. If you are struggling please speak to your Coach, the Mini & Youth Chairman, or the Membership Secretary in complete confidence. We have funds in place to support those who need it.

• How to pay: 

All payment are to be paid into the Clacton RFU Bank account. 

Please ensure you use your child’s age group and surname as the reference for your payments – for example U12-Smith.

Bank details: Santander Bank

Account Name: Clacton Rugby Club

Account Number: 21373286

Sort Code: 09-01-53 

3. Safeguarding

The safety and wellbeing of every child at Clacton RFC comes first, always. We follow the RFU's safeguarding policy, and everyone in a role working with children is expected to meet its requirements, including DBS checks and safeguarding training.

Our Safeguarding Officer is Kelly Buxey, contact Kelly on 07884 068 635. In the event that Kelly is unavailable, in the first instance please speak to either your Coach or the Mini & Youth Chairman.

If you ever have a worry about your child - or any child at the club, however small it seems - please speak to Kelly. Every concern is taken seriously and dealt with promptly and sensitively.

You can read our full safeguarding policy here: https://clactonrufc.rfu.club/information/the-constitution-safeguarding-policy-equity-policy-whitleblower-policy. 

England Rugby's guidance for parents and guardians is here: https://www.englandrugby.com/play/parents-guardians

4. Player Code of Conduct

We ask every player to uphold England Rugby's core values — Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship (TREDS)

Rugby's values are key to everyone's enjoyment of the sport. At Clacton RFC we ask our players to:

• Listen to their coaches

• Try their best

• Play hard, but fair

• Look after their teammates

• Shake hands win or lose

• Enjoy every moment. 

Full England Rugby codes of conduct: https://www.englandrugby.com/play/parents-guardians/code-conduct

5. Parent Code of Conduct

We also ask that every parent and spectator support and encourage the implementation of England Rugby's core TREDS values.

Your child takes their cue from the touchline. The single biggest thing you can do to help them enjoy rugby is to model our shared values yourself: 

• Cheer effort over the scoreline

• Respect match officials (many are volunteers, some are teenagers)

• Support every player on the pitch - the opposition as well as our owns

• Leave the coaching to the coaches. 

In practice at Clacton RFC, we look to our parents and guardians to be positive role models for our young players, both home and away. Coaches that are made aware of parents/guardians/spectators using foul or abusive language, behaving in a way that is threatening or discriminatory, or entering the pitch during game play, will be asked to collect their child and leave immediately. 

Read the full England Rugby Parents' Code of Conduct: https://www.englandrugby.com/play/parents-guardians/code-conduct

6. Head Injuries - HEADCASE

Rugby is a contact sport and concussion is taken seriously at every level. The RFU's HEADCASE programme is the official guidance for recognising and managing head injuries.

The key principle: if in doubt, sit them out. Any player with a suspected concussion is removed from play immediately and must follow the graduated return-to-play programme (a minimum of 21 days for community players) before returning.

• Official HEADCASE guidance: https://www.englandrugby.com/run/player-welfare/headcase

• Free HEADCASE e-learning (there's a version specifically for parents): https://www.englandrugby.com/run/player-welfare/headcase-e-learning

If you suspect your child has suffered a head injury, please advise your Coach as soon as possible.

7. Kit - What to bring, what we provide

Your child needs to bring:

• Rugby boots (preferably metal studs for all, essential for youth age groups), moulded or astroturf for hard ground

• Gumshield if playing contact rugby

• Suitable sports clothes (we generally play/train in all weathers, so layers for warmth)

• Water bottle / hydration

We provide:

• Shorts and socks

• Match shirts on the day

• Coaching

• Training equipment

• First aid provision

Sourcing kit:

• The club has a 'boot rack' of used rugby boots that you are welcome to borrow / keep. If possible we ask that you donate any old boots to this to benefit others

• Gumshields can be bought from the club - ask behind the bar

• Additional Akuma kit items, including additional track suits etc. can be purchased from: https://akumashops.com/shop/clubshops/clacton-rfc/

• Other kit items, including clothing and equipment with Clacton RFC personalisation can be sourced from Danielle Tulip on 07886 238 462

8. Who's Who - Club Contacts

9. Kick-Off Checklist

Everything you need to get your child playing:

✅ Registered on England Rugby GMS (Section 1)

✅ Image consent form completed (Section 1)

✅ Membership / first subs paid (Section 2)

✅ Shared the player code of conduct with your child (Section 4)

✅ Read the parent code of conduct (Section 5)

✅ Got the kit sorted — boots, gumshield and water bottle especially (Section 7)

✅ Joined your age group's WhatsApp / Spond / How About group — ask your Coach for details

✅ Know who your Safeguarding Officer is (Section 3)

✅ Welcome to Clacton RFC — see you pitchside!