The Coaches and Seniors Committee have developed a Selection Policy which is designed to ensure that team selections are transparent and fair. The policy is driven by our primary objective:
In order to achieve our goal, the best teams MUST be selected each week, with First Grade the priority, then Second Grade and so on down through the grades.
Winning the Club Championship and building a competitive Club are important. However, Coaches and Managers believe and want to ensure that all players enjoy their rugby and strive to create an atmosphere that promotes this spirit.
The Club fields teams in four grades and a colts and as such has five (5) primary Coaches.
Besides coaching our top team, the First Grade Coach's responsibilities encompass the role of Club Coach. This involves setting the playing style and pattern of play for the Club as a whole, ensuring that this style and pattern filters down through all grades.
The Club Coach coordinates the coaching staff and liaises with them on team selections in ALL grades. One of the Club Coach's key responsibilities is to ensure open communication between players, coaches and managers throughout the entire Club.
In addition to coaching the Second Grade team, the Second Grade Coach plays an integral role in promoting and executing the club style and pattern. This is crucial because injury, loss of form, ill discipline or, availability may require players to quickly interchange between grades. Similar to the relationship of 1st and 2nd Grades, the Second Grade Coach also has a brief to monitor and assess players in 3rd Grade.
The Third and Fourth Grade Coaches are responsible for coaching their respective teams and again, promoting and executing the Club's style and pattern.
The Colts Coach is responsible for the coaching and development of the players coming through the colts.
Just as the coaches expect the players to show improvement as the season progresses, the club has an expectation that all coaches will demonstrate a similar improvement in their skill base over the season.
As the Club Coach is charged with developing and implementing the club style and pattern of play, this extends to 'Coaching the Coaches'. If necessary, the Club Coach must correct or modify any practices that adversely affect the Club playing style and pattern. However, coaches can, and are encouraged to, place their own 'brand' on their individual teams.
Players are expected to give due respect to the coaches and their club mates, by
Understanding that whilst the coaches will respect the views of players, the team coaches will make the final selection decisions and, not withstanding any safety concerns, players must abide by these decisions;
Understanding that no player 'owns' any position in any given grade. It must be clear that our objectives are to win as a Club;
Ensuring that their coach, or another coach is aware of their availability to play or train, per the timings noted in the 'Selections' section of this policy;
Ensuring that their coach is aware of any reasons, be it injury, aspiration or, limitations due to family or work commitments, that may effect selection decisions.
For the Hunters Hill Rugby Club to remain competitive and enjoy sustained success, new talent must be identified and nurtured EVERY YEAR. For this reason, all coaches must do more than simply build a winning team and Club. The role encompasses helping players to develop their skills and providing them with opportunities to enjoy rugby to the highest level that their ability allows.
Consequently, there are occasions when the Club Coach - in agreement with the respective Grade Coaches - may play and/or trial a player in any given team. This should be seen for what it is, an initiative intended to benefit the individual, the respective team or coach and ultimately - and most importantly - to benefit the Club.
Conversely, the Club Coach must also have the flexibility, again in agreement with the respective Grade Coaches, to demote a player. This will only happen when the Coaches believe that the player in question is not performing to the required standard, be it through injury, loss of form, ill discipline or, unavailability.
The Club Coach contacts the other coaching staff on Monday / Tuesday to formulate the team selections for the upcoming match.
In the normal course of selections, players will only be promoted/demoted one grade, unless agreed to by all parties (ie. Coaches and players involved).
Players that don't attend training, and haven't notified their coach with a valid reason beforehand, will be demoted from the grade they were selected in or not selected at all for the upcoming round.
It is a player's responsibility to notify coaches directly of any unavailability through the season, and certainly by 6pm Sunday night prior to the next match.
Team lists are to be posted each Thursday evening at training by 6.45pm. If someone is promoted/demoted the coaches of the particular grades concerned have a duty to explain to the individual concerned (prior to the announcement of the teams):
If a player is promoted / demoted, the coaches of the particular grades have a duty to clearly explain to those players:
* The reasons why a particular course of action has been taken.
* Specific areas that the individual needs to concentrate on in order to improve and/or regain their position
Players going down a grade will be given priority selection in the lower grade.
All players listed as available on Thursday evening will be given priority over unlisted / unavailable players on game day. Players cannot arrive on game day without notice and expect any game time. Again, it is the players responsibility to ensure their respective coaches are aware of their availabilty. Players with doubts over injuries can be bracketed with their potential replacement, if a decision on their availability is to be delayed until game day.
Players returning from injury or absence will, under normal circumstances will return through the grade they left or the grade below. The final decision for this rests with the Club Coach, based on the injury, the reason for the absence, the time away from the game and the performance of the player who took their original place.
The decisions made in this respect will be explained to the players concerned, through the normal selection procedure, above.
Players with any concerns regarding selections should in the first instance discuss this with their respective coach. If a player is uncomfortable with this or feels that they are not receiving a fair hearing, they should then discuss their concerns with the Club Coach or the Club Captain. The Club Coach / Captain will follow up these concerns on their behalf
Hunters Hill Rugby Club - CODE OF CONDUCT
All members of the Hunters Hill Rugby Club must agree to be bound by this Code.
All MEMBERS
No person attending a match or Hunters Hill Rugby function shall :
(a) Use of offensive or obscene language to any player, referee, touch judge, official or another spectator or any other person.
(b) Enter the field of play during the course of a match without prior approval.
(c) Dispute the decision of a referee or touch judge.
(d) Assault or act with aggression to any other person.
(e) Behave in any way contrary to the spirit of the game.
(f) Behave in any way, which disturbs the enjoyment of the match or social functions by any other person or brings discredit to the Hunters Hill Rugby Club.
(g) Act in such a way as to exhibit racial intolerance by language or conduct to any other person.
(h) Refuse to accept the reasonable direction of Ground Manager, or Official of the Club, or Officials of the premises used by Hunters Hill Rugby Club.
(i) Contravene any code of conduct associated with the premises used by the Hunters Hill Rugby Club. Ie Sporting Clubs, Hotels, Sponsors premises.
Any person contravening this Code may be reported by any club member to the Management Committee for disciplinary action.
THE PLAYER
You are reminded that the purpose of this Code is to provide you with an enjoyably and safe environment, where you are able to develop as a player, gaining personal fulfilment and satisfaction through friendly competition. ALL PLAYERS should:
1. Play within the rules
2. Be a good sport on and off the field
3. Never become involved in foul play
4. Shake hands with and thank the opposition players and officials after the match win, lose or draw
5. Respect the Referee's decision. Leave any questions to your Captain
6. Never use bad language.
7. Sledging against opposition players, supporters or officials
8. Remember that winning should be strived for but only by using fair means
9. When the game is lost we must be good sports
10. Never abuse your own team mates
11. Remember: - If you do become involved in illegal or any other poor behaviour you may: