MINI / JUNIOR SECTION CONSTITUTION

INTRODUCTION
This document is the constitution of the Mini and Junior Section of Wortley RUFC.
The name of the club will be:
Wortley RUFC Mini & Junior Section

AIMS OF THE CLUB
The stated aims of the club are:
• To promote the teaching and playing of the game of Rugby Union Football in accordance with the rules of the RFU Continuum ( Under 7 through Under 12 age groups), the RFU Youth Structured Season and the IRB Laws of the Game (all age groups).

• To provide an enjoyable, safe, suitably resourced, welcoming environment for all children wishing to learn and play the game of rugby union.

• To promote the ‘spirit of rugby’. This recognises and rewards effort, as much as achievement, and encourages enjoyment, teamwork and respecting the efforts of others.

1. CLUB COLOURS
The Club colours shall be those of Wortley RUFC and consist of Green and Black hoops and the crest of the Wortley Estate.

2. AFFILIATION
Wortley RUFC Minis and Juniors are affiliated to:
• Wortley RUFC ( referred to as the Main Club)
• The Rugby Football Union (RFU)
• Yorkshire Rugby Football Union (YRFU)

The Club will adhere to all policies and procedures which are mandated or recommended by the RFU, YRFU or any other appropriate governing bodies.

3. COMMITTEE
The committee of Wortley RUFC Mini / Junior section are comprised of volunteers. The core committee, elected by the club members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), is made of the following elected officers:

• Chairman Darrin Stevens
• Vice-Chairman Nick Smart
• Treasurer Richard Mackie
• Secretary Michael Shewring
• Safeguarding Officer Donna Stevens
• Fixture Secretary Darrin Stevens
• Head Coach Michael O’Toole

The Committee are responsible for the administration and management of the Wortley RUFC Mini / Junior section and finances. Any decisions taken by the committee will be by majority vote of the core committee members.

The quorum for making decisions is 3 elected committee members which must include at least one of the Chairman, Treasurer or Secretary. In the event of split decision the Chairman shall have the casting vote.

Any member of the Club may stand for election in any of the officer posts. Elections will take place at the AGM which will be held annually, normally in June, and retiring officers are eligible for re-election.

The Committee shall meet regularly throughout the year at venue in the Wortley area. The meetings will be arranged and publicised at least 4 weeks in advance.

Each age group are encouraged to have one representative from their age group at the meetings to assist in the running of the Club and communication of the decisions taken to their age groups.

All meetings shall be open to attendance by any member of the Club who wishes to attend. Only the Committee shall be entitled to vote on decisions affecting the running of the Club.

An Emergency General Meeting (EGM) must be called within two weeks of receipt of notice by the Club Secretary if signed by 25% or more of the membership.

Minutes of the meetings will be taken and distributed to the Committee and age groups following the meeting.

4. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Club is open to all children between the ages of 4 and 17 as at 1st September of each season.

Where possible, it is the intention of the club to run squads in each of the following age groups:

Micro Under 6s;
Mini Under7, Under8, Under9 and Under10
Midi Under11 and Under12

(NOTE: The Club may apply for bandings with these age groups. This will be in accordance with RFU regulations)
Youth: Under13, Under14, Under15, Under16, Junior Colts

Voting Membership will be based on one vote per Child exercised by Parent/Guardian.

5. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The rate of subscription will be agreed by the Committee and be reviewed annually at the AGM. There is currently no annual subscription though this may change if agreed at the AGM.
Mini & Junior membership may be renewed by the first Sunday in September when the season starts according to attendance the previous season.

Parents are asked to contribute £1.00 per player per attendance towards running costs.

For new players joining after 1st January of a given season, a reduced rate may be made available at the discretion of ( MEMBERSHIP SEC / REGISTRATION SEC / SEC ) and as approved by the Committee.

For special cases the Committee will consider the option to waive full or part of the subscription where it is considered that the child’s family/ guardian may have reduced means and enforcing payment would prevent the child learning and playing the game.

6. CHILD SAFEGUARDING
The Club will have a volunteer Safeguarding Officer (who will be a member of the Executive Committee) and at least two members of the club, one of whom is a qualified RFU coach, will have attended formal child protection training.
The Club will adhere to the overall Child Safeguarding Policy of Wortley RUFC and which is available via the Club website.
A copy will be provided on registration.

All coaches, helpers and club officials that have contact with children as part of the Club are CRB ( Criminal Records Bureau ) checked. A disclosure form is submitted through the RFU.
The Wortley RUFC Safeguarding Officer must be consulted on all Safeguarding issues and will have the final view.

7. EQUITY
The Club will adhere to the equity policy of Wortley RUFC and the principles of the RFU Sports Equity Policy. Wortley RUFC will not tolerate any prejudice in words or action towards members, players and visitors based on disability, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, age, faith or belief.

8. COACHING
Each age group will be run by one or more RFU qualified coaches. Qualification will be by attendance at an approved, and appropriate to the age group, RFU coaching course. The Club will fund the training courses for volunteer coaches.

9. INSURANCE
The coaches will be covered by Public Liability Insurance arranged through the RFU.
10. FIRST AID
It is the aim of the Club for each age group to have a coach or parent holding a current, relevant first aid qualification in attendance at all training sessions and matches.

11. CODE OF CONDUCT
The Club will publish Codes of Conduct for all coaches, officials and volunteers working with young people, players and spectators.

Any breach of the respective Code of Conduct will result in appropriate disciplinary action being taken by the Committee.

12. DISCIPLINE AND APPEALS
All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be submitted in writing to the Secretary & Vice Chairman.

The Committee, with the exception of the Treasurer & Vice Chairman, will meet to hear complaints within 30 days of a complaint being lodged. The Committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including recommending termination of membership of membership of the Senior Club.

Any disciplinary issue relating to a Mini or Junior Player, who has been sent from the field of play, ( Red Card ), or who has been reported for inappropriate behaviour by a Coach, will be dealt with by the Mini & Junior Disciplinary Committee. This Disciplinary Committee will be chaired by the Chairman of the Mini & junior Club and will include the Head Coach and Safeguarding Officer. If there is no clear majority for a course of action then the Chairman will have a casting vote. The Disciplinary Committee will have the power to take appropriate action to deal with the incident. If this action is to ban the individual for more than 6 weeks or to recommend suspension or expulsion from the Club then this decision must be ratified by the Committee.

The outcome of a disciplinary hearing must be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 14 days of the hearing.

There will be a right of appeal to a meeting of the Chairman and Secretary of the Senior Club and the Treasurer and Vice-Chairman of the Mini & Junior Club, ( “ the Appeals Committee” ) following disciplinary action being announced. The Secretary and Vice- Chairman of the Mini & Junior Club will attend the Appeals Committee to present the views and decision of the Committee. The Appeals Committee will be Chaired by the Chairman of the Senior Club. Decisions of the Appeals Committee will be made by simple majority and in the case of a tie the Chairman of the Senior Club will have a casting vote.

The Appeals Committee should consider the appeal within 21 days of the Secretary receiving the appeal. The Secretary and Vice-Chairman should communicate the outcome of the appeal to the individual(s) concerned within 14 days of the appeal hearing. The decision of the Appeals Committee will be final.

13. DISSOLUTION
A resolution to dissolve the Mini & Junior Club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of the membership.
In the event of dissolution, any assets of the Club that remain will become the property of Wortley Rugby Union Football Club.

14. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
This Constitution will only be changed through resolution at either an AGM or EGM with a quorum of 20% of the members of the Club. The resolution will be passed with a simple majority of the members present and voting.

15. DECLARATION
Wortley RUFC Mini and Juniors hereby adopts and accepts these rules as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.