Codes of conduct
Pupils and coaches have clear guidelines to show what is expected of them. This is linked closely with the ‘CODE OF RUGBY' as defined by the RFU.
TEAMWORK*RESPECT*ENJOYMENT*DISCIPLINE*SPORTSMANSHIP
Play to win-but not at all costs.
Win with dignity, lose with grace.
Observe the Laws and regulations of the game.
Reject cheating, racism, violence and drugs.
Value volunteers and paid officials alike.
Enjoy the game.
Player code of conduct
Pupils need to be aware that they will only reach their potential as rugby players if they develop into well-rounded individuals. There are numerous examples of OMs who are good role models in this respect: Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Matt Perry, Oliver Morgan, Chris Robshaw and Anthony Allen.
Elite performers show "Character in action".
Players need to train and prepare well to improve their individual skills and abilities to allow them to contribute well to team performance. The development of self-discipline is crucial and this needs to be applied in all areas of school life. High standards should be achieved.
Players conduct should be of the very highest standard when representing Millfield. The correct school playing kit should be worn for matches. A dark suit with a white shirt and school tie should be worn on fixture days. The referee, opposition coach, opponents and catering staff should always be thanked. Punctuality is vital when in a team environment so always aim to arrive just before given meeting times.
Always ask permission politely if you need to miss a lesson because of a rugby fixture. Working to the best of your ability and learning to apply yourself in lessons develops the character that is required for you to be successful in all areas of life in the future.
Enjoy playing for the school with your teammates. Enjoy winning but not at all costs. Try to be humble in victory and accept defeat with good grace. Remember most importantly that you are more than a rugby player and do not judge yourself on what you achieve in this one area of your life. Leave the field of play with your honesty and integrity intact
Parents
Millfield is seen as being at the pinnacle of sporting excellence and as such staff, pupils and parents have a responsibility to be seen as the standard bearers of all that is good about sport.
Our pupils need to learn how to be competitive while at the same time remaining in control. They need to learn how to win graciously and to take defeat in their stride. While not wanting to lose, they need to take it in good heart and be magnanimous to the winners. Our pupils must learn not to question the referees or umpires, without whom they could not perform. They need to learn to focus on their game, to support the rest of their team rather than be critical of them. These are all lessons that are needed for life.
The same, of course, applies parents. We wish you to support your children and their team but there are certain things that are unacceptable and do not teach the children to develop in the way we would all wish them to. We and you are their role models and they respond directly to our behaviour to them and between ourselves.
On the touchline parents should at all times be supportive of all the children and the team in general. It gains nothing to berate a child or the team, they will just become resentful of you. Try as much as possible not to coach your child from the touchline - you do not know what their coach may have instructed them to do already and they can become confused.
Do not at any stage abuse the umpire or referee or criticise them. Like you, they are not perfect and do make mistakes, but in the huge majority of cases they are not biased, they are doing their best, they have been trained, they do have coaching and refereeing awards and it does not help them, the game or your children if you publicly dissent, it simply creates a rather difficult and nasty atmosphere.
Fortunately for the vast majority of time we are able to get great enjoyment going round the pitches watching the players giving their all for the team and school and performing to a high level. It is great to meet and see parents supporting, the children and the teams and we look forward to watching some titanic clashes and exciting games this year as always. Thank you in advance for your support.
Team selection
Team games were originally brought into schools to allow pupils to cope with both success and failure so allowing them to develop as individuals. This enables them to see that they are far more important than the results that they achieve or what team they are in.
The school has a very experienced and well qualified set of coaches who aim to develop both players and teams to the highest level they can achieve. Millfield has achieved a great deal of success over the years with this aim. The rugby staff gives up a great deal of time to allow this to happen and is always available to answer questions from the pupils about team selection. All boys are told at the start of term that this is the way to handle things. This encourages the boys to develop independence and self-esteem. If a parent becomes involved in discussion of selection this immediately tells the boy that they have failed or let their parents down or equally that they cannot be trusted to deal with this challenge on their own.
It is self-evident that every parent would like to have their own child in the team and so the coach has to select as an independent person rather than allowing a parental committee to decide.
The most important issue is that the boy is allowed to develop into a happy individual because he knows that he can cope with whatever life throws at him. It is obviously very disappointing not to make the team or not to be playing in his favourite position but the job of the adults around him is to support and inform him, not to try to change the world for him.
