Departing head of rugby in Herts appeals for high standards

On her last day in her role as Hertfordshire's Women's Rugby Development Officer Amanda Bate has called on clubs to "promote the highest standards of behaviour".

In particular she asks clubs to...

1. Check that everyone working with girls has an up-to-date CRB check.

2. Ensure girls are coached in good sportsmanship. In particular she asks coaches and players to ensure that they..

• take care to tone down their language,
• try and win through having good rugby skills, not through intimidating the opposition!

3. Remind parents of the "spectators code of conduct" - its not just players or coaches who can be disciplined!

4. Reminded coaches and parents that girls rugby is also about developing the girls as people, and enjoying the game. Coaches need to lead by example. Bad feelings between clubs and coaches will rub off on the players, and that is not a positive.

Amanda concludes by saying that Herts has got really good girls rugby going on and it would be a pity to get a bad reputation for poor behaviour from parents, coaches or players. She will be writing to clubs to ask club refs to remember that girls play to the same laws as reagards discipline as boys.