Doncaster Rovers FC Player & Parents Guide
2009/2010 Season
Foreward
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is totally Committed to the development of their Centre of Excellence and to meeting the standards laid down by The Football League and Football Association.
Our aim is to produce players of the highest calibre who are well skilled, sensible and intelligent people, equipped to handle the numerous pressures that accompany professional status.
Mission Statement
An ambitious and successful club of which the community is proud.
To provide the opportunity and environment for players to maximise their potential
Vision
To have a centre of excellence that the club can be proud
To provide opportunities for young people in the community of Doncaster and its surrounding areas to be involved with the club, with 1st class facilities and a safe and learning environment to have qualified motivated staff that are proud to work for the club
Having great links with the clubs community scheme, local schools and the local boys teams
To produce quality home grown players capable of playing 1st team football
Philosopy/Ethos
To create a culture of hard work to achieve excellence, challenging individuals in a safe and pleasant environment giving them the best possible platform to achieve this.
Having enthusiastic players that are comfortable in possession of the ball and qualified staff that want to learn and develop as people with the support of equally enthusiastic parents
We want it to be a place that demands high standards from all that attend, staff, players and parents, showing discipline, hard work, respect and honesty, playing good attractive football
Values of the Club
Excellence – to create a culture of excellence through professionalism
Flexibility – to commit to adaptability and acceptance of change
Commitment – to take responsibility for my commitment towards meeting the Doncaster rovers mission
Respect- to have the integrity to be open and honest and expect openness and honesty in return
Enjoyment – to create a challenge and fun experience
Aims For The 7 To 11 Year Old
Ball manipulation with both feet
Running with the ball
Dribbling with a range of techniques
A variety of tricks and turns feints/disguise
Variations of passing techniques
Understanding basic team shape and patterns
Variation of recieving techniques
Defending
Enjoy it and have fun get lots of touches of the ball
Want to come again
Aims For The 12 to 16 Years Old
Understand advanced team shapes and patterns/individual roles
Good range of Passing Techniques
Advanced range Of Dribbling Skills
Individual and as a team
Defending techniques
Able to retain possession of the ball
Understand individual and team attacking plays
Attitude to shoot and ability to score goals
Build on physical development
Develop individual and team discipline/responsibilities
Review and evaluate their own performance
Have a good game understanding regarding problem solving and decision making
Equity
All Centre of Excellence staff and players are obliged to sign and conform to our code of conduct. Doncaster Rovers FC is committed to confronting and eliminating discrimination whether by reason of sex, sexuality, orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability. Doncaster Rovers FC is an equal opportunities employer and we promote and are committed to equality within our organisation.
Non Attendance Policy
If a player is unable to attend a game or training session then the club needs to be notified of this immediately. The coach will speak to the parent/guardian if he feels there is a problem regarding attendance and if need be, a meeting would be arranged with the Head of Youth. A player is in our care once he arrives on the premises until the time he leaves the premises. Parents/Guardians are responsible for the players reaching the premises and being collected on time. If you are going to be late collecting the player please use one of the mobile numbers listed so arrangements can be made for a member of staff to remain with the player until he his collected. If a player absentees himself from the premises without permission then he no longer becomes our responsibility. We would make every effort to contact a parent/guardian to inform them that the player is no longer in our presence. A meeting would be arranged for all parties to attend to discuss the player’s future conduct. If any parent/guardian are finding it difficult to get their son to matches or training, then please discuss it with us first rather than the player having to miss sessions. More often than not a solution can be found.
Missing Persons Policy
General
The safety of any individual, whether child or adult, must be paramount at all times.
Principles of safety for players and staff
Effective planning and organization is crucial to maintaining the safety of persons involved with Doncaster Rovers FC. Parents/Guardians of players involved with the Centre of Excellence must have clear information about games, training and arrangements for away games. Team coaches and officials must be qualified for the activity in which they are involved. Personal information on the player’s must be available to the team coaches and on file at Cantley Park. The details include date of birth, address, telephone number and contact persons. Care must be taken when players complete training to ensure a responsible adult collects the player. Checks should be made regularly during training to ensure the location of individuals. Team coaches and organisers are to receive training on the policy.
Action if a Person Goes Missing
The coaches should note the time and the place that he is given the information. The coach should ascertain from the other members of the group when and where the person was last seen and seek any information about his behaviour. This should be done immediately and without creating panic or unnecessary anxiety. The safety of the group should be considered at all times. If it is feasible to do so a responsible adult should try and locate the missing person without endangering themselves or the group. Contact with the police is made if the person cannot be located or there are concerns about the person’s safety and welfare. Contact with the parents/guardian is made if it is considered appropriate or advised by the police. When the person is located, the coach records the reason for the person going missing. A verbal report is given to the Head of Youth within 24 hours and a written report filed at Cantley Park within 5 days.
Parents Guidelines
Be supportive and give encouragement at all times.
Set good examples for your son.
Results are NOT of vital importance. Help your son understand that winning at this level is of secondary importance.
Do not coach from the sidelines because:-
•You do not know what instructions your son has been given, •Your son is part of a team.
•Do not embarrass your son by your behaviour or your comments.
•Do not upset your son or the team by trying to get them to meet YOUR expectations.
•Mistakes are a natural process of learning, we all make them.
Parental Responsibilities
Coaching Sessions
Parents must ensure that:
Players arrive prior to the start of the coaching sessions. It is
Important that a player does not miss the warm up period.
No jewellery is worn (earrings/chains/rings etc).
No chewing gum is available.
The player is wearing the appropriate training kit, including shin pads.
The team coach is advised of any injuries or illness.
If any player is unable to attend to contact the team coach or the youth department at the club (01302 379368).
They do not give additional advice to their boy and remain at a distance from the group during coaching sessions.
During adverse weather conditions establish contact to ascertain whether or not training is on.
Matches
Parents must ensure that:-
The player arrives at the appropriate time.
Any illness or injuries are reported and if a player is unable to attend to contact the team coach.
The player attends wearing the club tracksuit (if supplied)
The player’s boots are black based and are clean.
Parents Guidelines
On signing for Doncaster Rovers FC Centre of Excellence the players have agreed to attend any training session, match or meeting arranged by ourselves and to abide by the rules and codes set out in our administration packs. We in return have committed ourselves to giving the player’s professional coaching and good facilities. One area we have progressed in is on the treatment of injuries. A fully qualified physiotherapist is available at all training sessions and at matches with treatment available in the week on pre-arranged evenings.
Parents please note that we undertake as part of our commitment to the players, the treatment of injuries and rehabilitation but we do not fund any medical expenses incurred, or arrange for the player to undergo operations or medical tests which incur costs. We can do this on your behalf but the costs are yours. All parents / guardians are free to come and discuss any part of the business plan and the way the Centre of Excellence scheme is run here at Doncaster Rovers FC.
Registrations
A player can sign Centre of Excellence forms from the age of nine and are registered for periods of 1, 2 or 4 years.
Under 9’s, 10’s, 11’s, & 12’s is one year, Under 13’s is two years and Under 15’s is two years. These are YD4 forms.
A player can sign an YD6 form on his 12th birthday which lasts until the end of the player’s full time education.
Registration can be terminated early but only by mutual consent.
Signed players are monitored after every game and a report is made to Paul Wilson. These along with the training reports are used to compile a six monthly and yearly assessment on each player, which is discussed with the player and parent/guardian.
At the end of the player’s contract he will be notified of the clubs intention, regarding signing / release.
Signed players are only permitted to play for school and district representative teams and not for local league teams, even at six a side level.
Under 9 to 12 players must reside within one hours traveling time of the Centre.
Under 13 to 16 must reside within one and a half hours traveling time from the Centre
Treatment Of Injuries
Should any player registered with the club require treatment or diagnosis of any injury then arrangements can be made for the •player to be seen by a physiotherapist.
If you do need to be seen by the physiotherapist please telephone the youth office (01302 379368) and an appointment will be made for you. Alternatively contact the physiotherapist’s Craig Schofield or Oliver Freeman directly on 01302 379367.
All injured players should therefore attend their appointments where they will be advised on how best to treat the injury.
Rules of Treatment
Any player attending the physiotherapist must be accompanied by one •parent or guardian on the first visit.
No person other than those registered with Doncaster Rovers will be •seen by the physiotherapist unless previously agreed with the appropriate staff.
If a player is on medication they must inform the physiotherapist in •case it might interfere with the treatment.
A file on diagnosis / treatment will be kept on each player by the football clubs physiotherapist.
Initial Treatment of Injuries
Until a player as been seen by the physiotherapist initial treatment should begin at home. This can be following the basic principles of:-
REST - No exercise to be performed using the injured area.
ICE - It important not to apply the ice directly to the skin as it may burn. Put the ice in a plastic bag placing it on the injured area.
COMPRESSION - Applied with a bandage but not so tight as to affect the blood flow.
ELEVATION - Raise the limb so that gravity can help relieve the swelling.
The ice should be applied 15 minutes every hour this will aid the recovery of the injury, by speeding up the healing process. This should be repeated as many times as possible, until the player has seen the physiotherapist.
Child Protection
Mr Wayne Galloway is the football clubs Child Welfare Officer and has the responsibility of overseeing our Child Protection Department.
The Football Leagues Child Protection Policy is printed in the Football Leagues Player and Parent Guide Book.
Child Protection Policy
The Centre of Excellence of Doncaster Rovers acknowledges and accepts as its primary responsibility the well being and safety of those children and young persons who are training at the Centre of Excellence, or who are registered at the Centre of Excellence. It does so in the belief that placing their welfare at the centre of its concerns provides a solid foundation for the development of the young player’s future and for effective child protection practice.
The Centre of Excellence of Doncaster Rovers Football Club adopts the policy of the Football League on child protection. The Centre of Excellence recognizes that the Social Services Department, the NSPCC and the Police have a statutory duty to protect children and young persons at risk. The Centre of Excellence accepts that it must work in partnership with these agencies when child protection issues arise.
At the Centre of Excellence Paul Wilson or wayne Galloway are the designated persons to whom any cause for concern about a child’s well being must be reported.
Discipline And Sanctions
The Centre of Excellence recognizes that children need to discover where the boundaries of acceptable behaviour lie and this can sometimes lead to challenging situations.
Disapproval will be of the behaviour and not the person.
Unacceptable behaviour will in the first instance be prevented through verbal reprimand.
No form of corporal punishment (including striking, slapping, pushing or nudging a player) will be used in any circumstances.
The imposition of formal disciplinary measures – a sanction – will only be considered after other approaches have proved ineffective. The player will be first warned that a specific sanction will be imposed if behaviour does not improve. If a sanction is subsequently necessary it will be made clear and be appropriate to the misbehavior. The player and his parents will be informed why the sanction has been imposed.
Staff and volunteers are aware of the sanctions operated by the Centre of Excellence and those to whom the Centre of Excellence Director has delegated the responsibility of imposing sanctions.
Anti-Bullying
Doncaster Rovers Football Club takes incidents of bullying very seriously and will investigate any claims fully and talk separately to the bullies and their victims in order to establish the exact facts of the incident.
A written record of all incidents will be maintained and the necessary action taken.
Where it can be proved that any person(s) has adopted this kind of behaviour and the incident is deemed serious enough that person(s) will be released from the Centre of Excellence.
Bullying behaviour can constitute any of the following; -
Racial abuse; Graffiti; Gestures.
Unwanted physical contact or abusive offensive comments of a sexual nature. Sarcasm; spreading rumors; Persistent teasing.
Tormenting; Ridiculing; Humiliation.
Other forms of violence.
Any other anti-social behaviour of a personal nature.
Any player who feels they are being bullied should report the incident to their coach. They can be assured that it will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.
Complaints Procedure
The Centre of Excellence at DONCASTER ROVERS FC is committed to offering quality service and to comply with the rules and the code of conduct set by the Football League and DONCASTER ROVERS FC. We are not perfect and occasionally we may get things wrong, so to ensure the incident is sorted quickly and a satisfactory result is achieved we have a procedure in place to deal with any complaints that we may receive.
Informal Stage
The first contact must be with the team coach or a member of the coaching staff, who will do everything possible to sort matters out informally and to find a solution that is acceptable to you and without the need to register a formal complaint. If the problem cannot be resolved this way you will need to use the formal complaint procedure.
Formal Complaints Procedure
Contact the Head of Youth or the Chief Executive advising them that you wish to make a formal complaint, your details will be recorded and we will reply to you within ten working days. If you are still unhappy then you are free to contact the Chairman (c/o of DONCASTER ROVERS FC.) where your details will once again be recorded and replied to within ten working days. If at any stage you feel it necessary to contact the Football League the telephone number is 0870 442 0 1888.
Staff Complaints Procedure
Informal stage
The first contact must be with the Head of Youth who will do everything possible to sort matters out informally and find a solution that is acceptable to you with out the need to register a formal complaint. If the problem cannot be resolved this way you will need to use the formal complaint procedure.
Formal complaints procedure
Contact the Chief Executive advising him that you wish to make a formal complaint. Your details will be recorded and he will reply to you within ten working days. If you are still unhappy then you are within your rights to contact the Chairman (c/o of Doncaster Rovers F.C.) where your details will again be recorded and replied to within ten working days.
Preparing Mentally For Achievement In Sport
The Mind is the Athlete – The Body the Means
Look good, feel good, play good – develop the image of a good player.
Be positive about yourself – ‘you cannot be what you think you are not’.
Set yourself targets (discuss with your coach) a number of small achievable targets on the route to excellence.
Build a positive support group – family and friends who reinforce your beliefs.
Become a continual learner – listen to the coach and show him you can put his advice into action.
Love to practice.
Work on mental toughness – can you concentrate for the whole game. When does your mind go lazy?
Beware of negative self-talk after a mistake – learn the discipline of letting go and recovering.
Be strong enough to take responsibility for your mistakes – don’t blame others.
Listen and learn from criticism – it is part of developing excellence.
Concentrate on personal excellence and let results take care of themselves.
Accept team responsibility – how can I help the players around me?
Develop composure – deal with incidents calmly, don’t react emotionally and lose control.
Develop as a whole person – excellent players are excellent people.
Get football into perspective – ‘an enjoyable life experience, possibly a career, definitely not life or death’.
Sports psychology not only exists to help coach's and players achieve performance but also to help them grow and benefit as human beings.
If there are any problems please contact the youth office 01302 379368
