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BLACKHEATH RHINOS CODE OF CONDUCT
AND BEHAVIOUR POLICY

Our Standard

Blackheath Rhinos Football Club is committed to creating a safe, respectful, inclusive and positive football environment for every player, parent, coach, volunteer, match official and visitor. Football should be enjoyable, safe and developmental. Winning matters, but it must never come before player welfare, respect, inclusion or behaviour. This Code of Conduct applies to all Blackheath Rhinos activities, including training, matches, tournaments, holiday camps, club events, WhatsApp groups, social media and any situation where someone is representing the club. Our behaviour standards are based on The FA Grassroots Code, The FA Respect guidance and London FA expectations for grassroots football. These standards apply to players, parents, spectators, coaches, volunteers and club officials.

THE RHINOS BEHAVIOUR STANDARDS

1. Enjoy the Game

Everyone involved with Blackheath Rhinos should help children enjoy football.

We expect everyone to:

  • Remember that children play football to learn, improve, make friends and have fun.

  • Encourage effort, teamwork, improvement and good play.

  • Support players after mistakes instead of criticising them.

  • Avoid placing unnecessary pressure on children.

  • Keep football in perspective.

2. Give Respect

Respect is non-negotiable.

We expect everyone to:

  • Respect referees, coaches, players, opposition teams, parents and volunteers.

  • Accept decisions made by referees and match officials.

  • Avoid shouting criticism from the sideline.

  • Never use offensive, insulting, abusive, discriminatory or threatening language.

  • Treat club staff and volunteers with courtesy.

3. Be Inclusive

Blackheath Rhinos welcomes children and families from all backgrounds.

We expect everyone to:

  • Treat people fairly and with dignity.

  • Never discriminate based on race, religion, sex, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, background or ability.

  • Support players of all confidence levels and abilities.

  • Challenge unacceptable behaviour appropriately.

  • Help create an environment where every child feels they belong.

4. Work Together

Grassroots football only works when players, parents, coaches and volunteers work together.

We expect everyone to:

  • Communicate respectfully.

  • Raise concerns through the correct club channels.

  • Support coaches and volunteers.

  • Keep the club updated about attendance, medical information and contact details.

  • Help maintain a positive club culture.

5. Play Safe

Player welfare comes first.

We expect everyone to:

  • Follow safeguarding expectations.

  • Report concerns quickly.

  • Respect medical, injury and safety decisions.

  • Use appropriate kit and equipment.

  • Follow instructions from coaches, officials and venue staff.

  • Never encourage unsafe, reckless or irresponsible behaviour.

PLAYER CODE OF CONDUCT

This applies to all Blackheath Rhinos players.

As a Rhinos player, I will:

  • Play football fairly and honestly.

  • Try my best in training and matches.

  • Listen to my coaches and follow instructions.

  • Respect my teammates, coaches, referees, opponents and spectators.

  • Shake hands or show respect to opponents and officials where appropriate.

  • Be gracious in victory and defeat.

  • Encourage teammates and avoid blaming others.

  • Wear the correct kit and equipment, including shin pads.

  • Tell a coach if I am injured, unwell, worried or need help.

  • Respect club property, venues and equipment.

The FA’s Respect guidance for young players includes playing fairly, respecting teammates, opponents, referees and coaches, following the rules and being gracious in victory and defeat.

As a Rhinos player, I will not:

  • Bully, mock, threaten or intimidate anyone.

  • Use offensive, abusive or discriminatory language.

  • Argue with referees, coaches or opponents.

  • Cheat, dive, deliberately waste time or act unfairly.

  • Deliberately hurt another player.

  • Damage property or misuse equipment.

  • Use social media to insult, embarrass or target another person.

  • Leave a session, pitch or venue without permission.

If a player does not follow this code

The club may take action depending on the seriousness of the issue. This may include:

  • A quiet reminder from a coach.

  • Speaking with the parent/carer.

  • Time away from the activity.

  • Removal from a match or session.

  • Written warning.

  • Temporary suspension.

  • Removal from the club in serious or repeated cases.

  • Referral to the league, County FA or relevant authority where required.

PARENT AND CARER CODE OF CONDUCT

This applies to all parents, carers and family members connected to Blackheath Rhinos.

Parents and carers must:

  • Remember that children play football for their own enjoyment and development.

  • Encourage effort, learning, bravery and teamwork.

  • Support all players, not just their own child.

  • Respect referees and match officials at all times.

  • Respect coaches, volunteers, opposition teams and other parents.

  • Stay behind the touchline or within the designated spectator area where provided.

  • Allow coaches to coach and players to play.

  • Make sure their child has the correct kit, footwear, shin pads, drinks and any required medication.

  • Inform the club of medical needs, injuries, allergies or changes in emergency contact details.

  • Communicate respectfully with coaches, volunteers and club officials.

  • Raise concerns privately and through the correct club process.

The FA Respect code for spectators and parents/carers includes respecting referees and coaches, staying behind the touchline or within the designated spectator area, encouraging players after mistakes and never tolerating offensive, insulting or abusive behaviour.

Parents and carers must not:

  • Shout criticism at players.

  • Coach from the sideline unless asked by the club.

  • Argue with referees, coaches, opposition staff or other parents.

  • Enter the field of play unless invited by a coach or official.

  • Use aggressive, threatening, abusive, discriminatory or offensive language.

  • Publicly criticise players, coaches, referees or the club on social media.

  • Put pressure on children about selection, results or performance.

  • Challenge coaches during a session or match in a way that distracts from the activity.

  • Bring alcohol, drugs or inappropriate behaviour into a club environment involving children.

Parent behaviour and safeguarding

Parents and carers play an important role in safeguarding. The FA and London FA both highlight the importance of parents understanding how to raise concerns and support safe football environments. Any safeguarding concern should be raised with the Club Welfare Officer. If a child is at immediate risk, contact the police or emergency services.

If a parent, carer or spectator does not follow this code

The club may take action depending on the seriousness of the issue. This may include:

  • A verbal reminder.

  • Request to move away from the playing area.

  • Request to leave the venue.

  • Written warning.

  • Touchline ban.

  • Removal from WhatsApp groups or club communication channels.

  • Suspension of attendance at club activities.

  • Review of the child’s membership where parent behaviour makes continued participation unsafe or unmanageable.

  • Referral to the league, County FA, venue provider, police or safeguarding authority where appropriate.

SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT

This applies to anyone watching a Blackheath Rhinos session, match, tournament or event.

Spectators must:

  • Support players positively.

  • Respect all children, not just Rhinos players.

  • Respect referees, coaches and volunteers.

  • Stay in the correct spectator area.

  • Avoid interfering with coaching or match decisions.

  • Keep language appropriate around children.

  • Follow venue rules.

  • Report concerns calmly to the correct club contact.

Spectators must not:

  • Abuse, threaten or intimidate anyone.

  • Use discriminatory or offensive language.

  • Enter the pitch without permission.

  • Stand behind goals where this is not allowed.

  • Film, photograph or post children online in a way that breaches club policy.

  • Confront referees, opposition coaches, players or parents.

  • Encourage rough, unsafe or unfair play.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Blackheath Rhinos expects all players, parents, coaches and spectators to respect referees and match officials. Many grassroots referees are young, inexperienced or still learning. Abuse of referees will not be tolerated.

Everyone must:

  • Accept referee decisions.

  • Avoid surrounding, pressuring or arguing with officials.

  • Allow only the appropriate team representative to speak to the referee where required.

  • Remember that mistakes are part of the game.

  • Report any serious concern through the proper league or club process after the match, not through confrontation.

WHATSAPP, EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONDUCT

This code also applies to online communication.

Members, parents, players and staff must:

  • Communicate respectfully.

  • Use WhatsApp groups for relevant club matters only.

  • Avoid arguments, insults or public criticism.

  • Raise individual concerns privately with the correct club contact.

  • Not post photos or videos of children where this breaches club guidance or parental consent.

  • Not use social media to target players, parents, coaches, referees, opposition clubs or the club.

​The club may remove people from WhatsApp groups where communication becomes abusive, disruptive or inappropriate.

REPORTING CONCERNS

If you have a concern, please raise it through the correct route.

Football, team or session concerns

Speak to the relevant coach, team manager or club operations contact.

Behaviour concerns

Raise the issue with the club in writing so it can be reviewed properly.

Safeguarding or welfare concerns

Contact the Club Welfare Officer.

If a child is at immediate risk, contact the police or emergency services.

BREACHES OF THIS CODE

​Blackheath Rhinos may take action if this Code of Conduct is breached.

Action may include:

  • Informal reminder.

  • Formal warning.

  • Meeting with the club.

  • Removal from a session, match or venue.

  • Touchline ban.

  • Suspension from club activity.

  • Removal from a team or programme.

  • Cancellation of membership.

  • Referral to the league, London FA, The FA, safeguarding authorities or police where appropriate.

The action taken will depend on:

  • The seriousness of the behaviour.

  • Whether a child or adult was placed at risk.

  • Whether the behaviour was repeated.

  • Whether the person accepted responsibility.

  • The impact on players, coaches, volunteers, officials or the club.

CLUB POSITION

By joining, attending or taking part in Blackheath Rhinos activities, players, parents, carers, spectators, coaches and volunteers agree to follow this Code of Conduct. Blackheath Rhinos reserves the right to take reasonable action where behaviour falls below the standards expected by the club, The FA, London FA, the league, venue providers or safeguarding guidance.

Respect the game. Protect the children. Support the volunteers. Represent the Rhinos properly.

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