Player Welfare Roadshow 

Rugby is a contact sport enjoyed by thousands of players throughout Scotland, who all enjoy the physical, mental and emotional benefits that participation in the game brings. All of those involved in rugby must place player welfare at the forefront of all that they do. 

Improve standards of player welfare • Introduction • Protecting Children and vulnerable people • Preventing and managing injuries • Keeping rugby clean – anti doping • Age Banding • Rugby Activate Warm-up Routine • Wrap-up 

Child Protection 

Child Protection – Overview • Child Protection part of overall review of player support programme • Appointment of Lead CP officer September 2016 • Appointment of CP Administrator August 2017 • CP Working Party with monthly reporting to the Board • Liaison with our Youth Panel on policy/website/education • Budget allocation for training and resource 

Child Protection Training (accredited by NSPCC Scotland) • Embedded in online RugbyRight • All coaches, match officials, CPOs, volunteers and staff • Focuses on 4R’s Foundation • 2-3 hour face-to-face workshop • Aimed primarily at CPOs Intermediate • One day course • Aimed at employees and key contractors whose role focuses on work with young people Advanced 

The 4 R’s • RECOGNISE • RESPOND • REPORT • RECORD 

PVG Scheme • Membership scheme • Regulated work • The importance of linking organisations • Compliance • 1.3m members in Scotland – currently under government review No PVG = No Youth Coaching As of 14th August – youth coaches without a PVG are not permitted to coach. 

Coming Soon… • Child Protection Officers • Increased support through network of CPO “champions” • HIVE – register for the online training platform for updates on case scenarios, legislation updates, best practice advice • CPO “Toolkit” – info pack, poster for clubhouse • Policy & Website • Updated policy • Website sections • Best practice 

CHILD PROTECTION • Questions/feedback • [email protected] • [email protected] ……don’t forget to listen! 

Preventing & Managing Injuries 

•What is concussion? •What are the signs and symptoms of concussion? •Why is concussion important? 

• Any player with a suspected head knock or concussion should be immediately removed from play in a safe manner: ‘If in doubt, sit them out’. • They must not return to activity that day. • If a neck injury is suspected, players should be removed under the direction of a healthcare professional • In all cases of suspected concussion it is recommended that medical advice is sought early. These may include the player’s GP or NHS24 (dial 111) 

Scat5 – Concussion Recognition Tool A notable addition to the Concussion Recognition Tool is: ‘If no licensed healthcare professional is available, call an ambulance if ANY of the following symptoms are presented’: • Neck pain or tenderness • Double vision • Weakness or tingling/burning in arms or legs • Severe or increasing headache • Seizure or convulsion • Loss of consciousness • Deteriorating conscious state • Vomiting • Increasingly restless, agitated or combative Remember, assessment for a spinal cord injury is vital and NO attempt should be made to move players unless trained to do so (unless required for airway support). 

Concussion: Graduated Return To Play • The Graduated Return to Play (GRTP) protocol is a progressive exercise program that introduces an individual back to rugby • Consists of 6 distinct stages which gradually builds up the intensity of activity • The GRTP protocol can only be started when a player is SYMPTOM FREE after a minimum period of rest, and no longer taking medications that may mask symptoms 

No content

Graduated Return to Play Protocols • MINIMUM REST: U18 players must have at least 14 days of complete rest once they are symptom free, Adult players must have at least 7 days • If at any time a player has a re-occurance of any symptoms during any of the stages, they must rest for at least 24hours until symptom free, before restarting the stage again • It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that players undergo clearance from an appropriate Medical Professional before undertaking any full contact activity 

No content

Injury Trends 

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 5 - 9 years old 10 - 15 years old 16 - 20 years old 21 - 25 years old 26 - 30 years old 31 - 35 years old 36 - 40 years old 41+ years old 2013 - 2014 2014 - 2015 2015 - 2016 2016 - 2017 2017 - 2018 Injuries by Player Age 

0 50 100 150 200 250 Tackling Being Tackled Open Play Ruck Scrum Lineout Maul Not Recorded 2013 - 2014 2014 - 2015 2015 - 2016 2016 - 2017 Injury by Phase of Game 

Injury Reporting • Information on serious injuries help Scottish Rugby to identify where in the game injuries are taking place and subsequently make interventions to make the game safer. • If a serious injury occurs, please complete a Serious Injury Form. • When complete, please email [email protected] 

World Rugby First Aid in Rugby (FAIR) Level 1 • 1 day course – minimum 6 people • £35 per person • Email [email protected] if you would like to organise a course at your club/school/area • Aspiration to have a qualified* first aider or medic with each team by 2020 

Keeping Rugby Clean 

Content • Food First • Scottish Rugby Supplement Policy • Use of Supplements • Global DRO • TUEs • Testing Process • In House Support 

Food First A well balanced and well timed diet is sufficient to meet the majority of a players’ nutritional needs. 

Scottish Rugby Supplement Policy Scottish Rugby does not provide any nutritional supplements to the following age grade teams: • Scotland U18s • Scotland U17s • Scotland U16s • Scotland Women Performance Development Program 

Use of Supplements / Medications Supplement checks • Informed Sport – www.informed-sport.com Prohibited status of specific medications • Global DRO - www.globaldro.com Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) • UK Anti-doping - www.ukad.org.uk/medications-and- substances/about-TUE/ 

Support • Become a 100% me accredited advisor (free) - http://ukad.coachwisehub. com/store • Contact [email protected] Clean Sport App 

Age Banding 

Age Banding Policies Male U16 into U18 • Policy = no U16 playing U18 rugby • Except for ‘exceptional’ players (technical / tactical / physical / mental) • Physical maturity assessment • Contact [email protected] Male & Female U18 into Adult • Policy = no U18 playing adult rugby • Except for ‘exceptional’ players (technical / tactical / physical / mental) • Pre-application assessments (squat, press-up, tackle) • Front row (male only) – neck strength assessment • Contact [email protected] 

New game-time policy U18 players must not exceed 90 minutes playing time in a 48 hour period • Reduce risk of burnout • Promote multi sports • Rugby is a late specialism sport Numerous evidence based studies over the past 30yrs show that early experience of a wide variety of sports has positive implications for long term sport participation, does not hinder and may support elite sport development. 

Activate Warm- up Routine 

Introduction • Warm-up routine developed by University of Bath • Proven to reduce injury in youth rugby players (aged 13- 18) by up to 72% and concussions by up to 59% if followed and performed at least 3 times per week. • The exercises focus on increasing neck muscle strength, balance and movement. 

No content

No content

No content

No content

No content

No content

Wrap-up 

Key Points 1. No PVG = No Youth Coaching 2. Food first – U18s should not take supplements 3. Deliver the Activate Warm-up routine every session 4. RugbyRight to be completed by 31st October 5. Max 90mins of rugby in 48hours for U18s 

Website links World Rugby First Aid in Rugby Level 1 courses: - http://www.scottishrugby.org/domestic-rugby/player- welfare/first-aid-rugby Child Protection Policy - http://www.scottishrugby.org/child- protection RugbyRight - http://www.scottishrugby.org/domestic- rugby/player-welfare/rugbyright Coaching Qualifications - http://www.scottishrugby.org/coaching-qualifications