Okapi Wanderers Rugby Football Club Inc.
Code of Conduct for Parents and Spectators
Effective Date: October 2026
Young rugby players are influenced by the behavior of the adults around them. Okapi Wanderers RFC is committed to creating a positive, safe, respectful, and enjoyable environment in which young players can develop their skills, confidence, teamwork, and love of rugby.
Parents and spectators are an important part of that environment and are expected to uphold the values of the Club and the game of rugby.
Parents and Spectators Are Expected To:
1. Be positive role models for all young players, both on and off the field.
2. Follow applicable USA Rugby guidelines regarding parent and spectator conduct, sideline behavior, player welfare, and emotional abuse.
3. Respect Okapi Wanderers RFC policies, coaches, staff, volunteers, players, match officials, and other spectators.
4. Remember that children participate in rugby for their own enjoyment, development, and experience — not for the enjoyment or ambitions of adults.
5. Recognize and acknowledge good individual and team performances from both teams, regardless of the final result.
6. Respect the decisions of match officials. Referees and officials play an essential role in allowing young players to participate safely and fairly.
7. Never verbally abuse, threaten, intimidate, ridicule, or harass:
- Players;
- Coaches;
- Match officials;
- Volunteers;
- Other parents or spectators.
8. Praise effort, improvement, teamwork, sportsmanship, and commitment rather than promoting a “win at all costs” mentality.
9. Encourage players positively. If you are supporting from the sideline, make sure you are cheering for the players, not shouting at them.
10. Condemn inappropriate language, abusive behavior, discrimination, bullying, fighting, and violence.
11. Encourage and support all young players regardless of their ability, experience, background, or role within the team.
12. Let the coaches coach. Parents and spectators should not provide conflicting instructions to players during practices or matches.
13. Avoid criticizing, lecturing, or excessively analyzing a child's performance immediately following a match. Players should be given the opportunity to enjoy the game, reflect, and develop through their coaches.
14. Make an effort to understand the basic Laws of the Game and the age-specific rules applicable to your child's competition.
15. Respect team areas, technical areas, fields, facilities, and any spectator boundaries established by the Club or event organizer.
16. Do not enter the field of play unless instructed or permitted by a coach, match official, medical professional, or Club representative.
17. Respect the privacy and safety of all players, particularly minors, when taking or sharing photographs, videos, names, or other personal information.
18. Remember that rugby is a game. The experience, development, friendships, safety, and enjoyment of the players should always come first.
Sideline Conduct
Parents and spectators should support the team without interfering with coaching or officiating.
Unacceptable sideline behavior includes, but is not limited to:
- Shouting abuse at officials;
- Arguing with coaches;
- Giving tactical instructions to players;
- Confronting opposing players or supporters;
- Entering the playing area without authorization;
- Using discriminatory, threatening, vulgar, or abusive language;
- Encouraging dangerous or unsportsmanlike conduct.
A parent or spectator who behaves inappropriately may be asked to leave the playing area or Club facility.
Okapi Wanderers Rugby Football Club Inc.
Code of Conduct for Players
Effective Date: October 2026
Every player representing Okapi Wanderers RFC is expected to uphold the values of teamwork, respect, discipline, sportsmanship, safety, and commitment.
Players represent not only themselves, but also their teammates, coaches, families, Club, and the game of rugby.
Players Are Expected To:
1. Play rugby for enjoyment, development, competition, friendship, and as a positive member of the rugby community.
2. Respect the Game of Rugby and play within the applicable Laws of the Game and competition rules.
3. Accept the decisions of referees and match officials. Where clarification is appropriate, allow the team captain or coach to communicate with the official.
4. Maintain self-control and discipline at all times.
5. Give their best effort and demonstrate commitment to their team, coaches, teammates, and Club.
6. Demonstrate good sportsmanship and acknowledge good play by both teammates and opponents.
7. Respect opponents and treat them as they would wish to be treated.
8. Never bully, intimidate, humiliate, discriminate against, threaten, or deliberately take advantage of another player.
9. Understand that rugby is a team sport and cooperate with coaches, teammates, Club officials, volunteers, and support staff.
10. Remember that the goals of youth rugby include:
- Having fun;
- Improving skills;
- Building confidence;
- Developing teamwork;
- Competing safely and respectfully.
11. At the conclusion of a match, show respect to opponents, referees, coaches, and teammates.
12. Recognize the duty of care owed to opponents and teammates. Players may compete physically and aggressively within the Laws of Rugby but must never intentionally attempt to injure another person.
13. Understand that winning and losing are both part of sport:
Win with humility and lose with dignity.
14. Attend training, matches, meetings, and team activities regularly and punctually whenever reasonably possible.
15. Listen to coaches and make a genuine effort to improve individually and contribute positively to the team.
16. Recognize that every member of the squad has value and contributes to the success and culture of the team.
17. Respect Club facilities, fields, changing areas, equipment, uniforms, and the property of teammates, opponents, and host organizations.
18. Avoid inappropriate, abusive, discriminatory, threatening, or offensive language and behavior.
19. Follow the Club's Social Media Policy and communicate responsibly through social media, team chats, WhatsApp groups, and other digital platforms.
20. Never encourage, organize, pressure, or recruit teammates to participate in conduct that could harm another person, the team, or the reputation of Okapi Wanderers RFC.
21. Do not participate in fighting, retaliation, hazing, bullying, vandalism, theft, or other conduct that could place another person or the Club at risk.
22. Remember that whenever you wear the Okapi badge or represent the Club, your actions reflect upon your team, your family, Okapi Wanderers RFC, and the game of rugby.
Disciplinary Policy
Okapi Wanderers Rugby Football Club Inc. maintains a Disciplinary Committee responsible for reviewing alleged violations of Club rules, Codes of Conduct, policies, or standards of behavior.
The Disciplinary Committee may consider incidents occurring:
- During matches;
- During practices;
- At Club facilities;
- During tournaments or travel;
- At Club events;
- Through social media or electronic communications;
- In other circumstances where conduct directly affects the Club, its members, or its reputation.
Temporary Suspension
Okapi Wanderers RFC reserves the right to temporarily suspend or restrict the participation of any player, parent, spectator, coach, volunteer, or member when Club leadership reasonably believes that the individual may have violated a Club policy or where temporary action is necessary to protect the safety, welfare, or orderly operation of the Club.
A temporary suspension may remain in place until the matter can be reviewed by the Disciplinary Committee.
Possible Disciplinary Measures
Depending on the nature, severity, and circumstances of the conduct, disciplinary action may include:
1. Verbal warning;
2. Written warning;
3. Required meeting with Club leadership;
4. Parent or player behavior agreement;
5. Removal from a practice, match, event, or facility;
6. Temporary suspension;
7. Suspension for one or more matches or Club activities;
8. Restrictions on sideline attendance;
9. Removal from team or Club communication groups;
10. Probation;
11. Suspension or termination of Club membership;
12. Removal from a team or Club program;
13. Referral to a league, governing body, safeguarding authority, or other appropriate organization;
14. Referral to law enforcement where reasonably necessary.
The Club may consider factors such as the seriousness of the incident, safety concerns, prior behavior, age of the individuals involved, intent, cooperation, and whether the conduct is repeated.
Serious Misconduct
Certain conduct may warrant immediate action, including allegations involving:
- Violence or threats of violence;
- Bullying or hazing;
- Discrimination or harassment;
- Abuse involving a minor;
- Sexual misconduct;
- Dangerous behavior;
- Retaliation;
- Serious violations of player welfare or safeguarding requirements;
- Criminal conduct.
Nothing in this policy prevents Okapi Wanderers RFC from taking immediate reasonable measures when necessary to protect players, members, staff, volunteers, spectators, or the Club.
Acknowledgment
By participating in Okapi Wanderers RFC activities, players, parents, guardians, members, and spectators agree to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Club's values and applicable Codes of Conduct.
Participation in Okapi Wanderers RFC is a privilege, and every member of the Club community shares responsibility for maintaining a safe, respectful, competitive, and welcoming rugby environment.
Okapi Wanderers Rugby Football Club Inc.
4426 Dogwood Cir
Weston, FL 33331
Email: info@okapiwanderersrugby.com
Last Updated: October 2026