Crewe & Nantwich helps create case study for safe sport
The recent Concussion Awareness Day saw UK Coaching and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) getting together at Crewe & Nantwich RUFC, with England wing Anthony Watson in support.
The Rugby World Cup 2019 finalist was helping to champion the prioritising of player welfare, wellbeing and inclusion in sport, highlighting the importance of having coaches supported with education and appropriate resources.
UK Coaching CEO Mark Gannon joined the RFU at a Crewe & Nantwich training session. With the event taking place at the same time as the Rugby World Cup in France, the aim was to stress the importance of the first UK-wide Concussion Guidelines for Grassroots Sport released by the government earlier this year.
The guidelines stress the importance of ‘if in doubt, sit them out’ which has always been the position of UK Coaching, through its Duty to Care campaign and the RFU, through the HEADCASE programme. Both initiatives have resources available for coaches to help identify, manage and prevent concussions.
Duty to Care was launched by UK Coaching to galvanise the coaching workforce to fulfil its obligations around the education and provision of all aspects of care. Community rugby clubs and coaches continue to deliver outstanding experiences for players at every level of the game and Anthony Watson has always paid tribute to the coaches who helped him on his rugby journey.
Coaches supporting health, safety and wellbeing
At the training session he said: “Coaches have a vital role in supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of their players and, with all eyes on the Rugby World Cup, it’s fantastic to see proactive and dedicated coaches building the momentum within our game and leading the way on making care a priority. This is an essential part of making sport as enjoyable and accessible as possible for everyone.
“From a general wellbeing perspective, being able to go out and play rugby with your friends is hugely important and enjoyable and there are a lot of links between mental health and exercise. Within rugby, and across all sports, we want people to play safely, have fun and feel comfortable and confident taking part.”
Crewe & Nantwich Coach, Katie Heirene said: “It is really important that we can demonstrate to families that we are playing the game safely and coaches are fundamental in that.”
Mark Gannon added: “With prevalent issues like concussion rightly raised by players, coaches and all involved in contact sports, it is essential that we collectively do all we can to help coaches and those on the ground delivering sport and physical activities in their communities.
Positive difference to the nation’s health and happiness
“Working closely with key sports like the RFU, this movement will see us lead on making a positive difference to the health and happiness of the nation by helping coaches understand, practise and have the highest commitment to safe sport as the foundation of great coaching practice. As part of our Duty to Care campaign, UK Coaching has created a comprehensive Duty to Care Hub of learning resources, along with a Sport England-funded nationally recognised Digital Badge to equip coaches with the knowledge, behaviours and skills needed to provide the best possible care for their participants.”
Rachel Faull-Brown, the RFU’s Player Welfare Manager, said: “UK Coaching chose us as a case study because of the proactive work we have done over recent years around player welfare. Player welfare is at the heart of the training delivered to coaches, match officials and medics at all levels of rugby union in England. We want to bring more people into the game and strengthen the valuable roles clubs play in their local community, so we continue to work very hard to help manage the risk involved in the contact nature of the game through several programmes.”
“RugbySafe is the RFU’s overarching community game player welfare programme which supports best practice through guidance, resources and highlighting the many physical and mental health benefits that rugby brings, providing enjoyment and keeping people active and healthy. As part of RugbySafe, the HEADCASE specific concussion awareness programme, aims to increase understanding and provide information on concussion and other related topics, including how to prevent and manage suspected concussions. HEADCASE is an integral part of our training and education for coaches, match officials and medics.
"Working with UK Coaching allows us to enhance our offer and resources, to support players, coaches, parents and others involved in the game, developing their understanding, awareness and behaviours around player welfare.”
Complementing the RFU’s RugbySafe Toolkits, the UK Coaching’s comprehensive resource hub covers a range of important topics, including Diversity, Inclusion, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Physical Wellbeing, Safeguarding, and Safe to Practice. It also includes updated guidance on issues such as concussion, mental health support, online safety for children, combating the stigma associated with menstruation, and promoting LGBT+ inclusion.
The RugbySafe Toolkits provide rugby specific information on key player welfare topics, including the HEADCASE concussion awareness programme.
Find out more about UK Coaching’s Duty to Care campaign by accessing the Duty to Care Hub.
