1. GRFC acknowledges that referees are volunteers.
2. GRFC acknowledges that referees are essential to a game of rugby taking place.
3. GRFC acknowledges that referees want to enjoy the game just as much as the players want to enjoy the same game.
4. GRFC acknowledges that referees are not perfect and will inevitably make mistakes – just like the players and coaches!
5. GRFC undertakes to respect all referees and assistant referees by:
   1. showing them friendly hospitality
   2. providing them with the best facilities possible
   3. offering them with free food and drink
   4. helping them to enjoy themselves
   5. respecting and abiding by the policy rules below.
6. Each coach will be responsible for instilling in his team respect for the referee and assistant referees.
7. No Gordon player will publicly show displeasure at or disagreement with a referee’s or assistant referee’s decision.
8. No Gordon coach, manager or any other official in any capacity will audibly or publicly criticize or show displeasure at or disagreement with a referee’s or assistant referee’s decision.
9. At the end of each game the coach and captain MUST shake hands with the referee and thank him/her for the game without showing any displeasure whatsoever.
10. Any pre or post match discussion with a referee or assistant referee about the game and/or their performance or any rulings shall be conducted in a friendly and polite manner and ONLY by the coach or captain of the team involved.
11. All GRFC officials in any capacity will abide by this policy.
12. Failure by any coach or player to abide by this policy may result in the board disciplining that coach or player in any way it deems fit which may include, inter alia, loss of position or payment entitlement and/or suspension from playing.

Social Media Guidelines

Purpose

Gordon Rugby Club (Club) acknowledges that social media is an integral part of many people’s lives. Used appropriately, it can be a valuable way of connecting and staying connected with your network. The Club wants to foster a culture of openness, trust and integrity and at the same time promote the positive use of social media while maintaining appropriate management and control. 

The purpose of this document is to set out the Club’s social media guidelines for:

• administrators of the Club’s official social media accounts; and 
• the Club’s administrators, players, parents, coaches and officials when speaking on behalf of the Club through social media.

Who do these Guidelines apply to?

The Guidelines applies to all Gordon Rugby Club Members, Players, Coaches and Managers and other officials associated with the Club.

What is Social Media?

The Club considers social media to be any website or application that enables users to create and share content or to participate in social networking including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Podcasts and Blogs (whether video or written).

When do these Guidelines apply?

The Club encourages the use of social media to connect with the rugby community. However, there is a difference between speaking about the Gordon Rugby Club in your personal capacity and speaking on behalf of the Gordon Rugby Club on our official social media platforms.

For you to speak on behalf of the Gordon Rugby Club you must be appointed as an Administrator of the account. Administrators can only be appointed by the Board of Directors, a Director or the General Manager and is tightly controlled. Each official Club account must have at least two administrators appointed. As an administrator, it is your responsibility to ensure that only you or other account administrators comment on the account. You must never allow anyone else access to the account.

Speaking on behalf of the Gordon Rugby Club

If you are authorised to post content or commentary (regardless of format) on behalf of the Gordon Rugby Club, you must ensure that:

• The Gordon Rugby Club’s name and logo are never used in a way that would have a negative impact on the competition, the Gordon Rugby brand, the game of rugby, the relevant competition, other Clubs, members, affiliates or sponsors;
• You respect the rights and confidentiality of others;
• You treat all social media postings, blogs, status updates and tweets as “public comments”;
• You do not disclose any personal information including that of your own or others;
• You are not critical of team mates, coaches, officials, administrators, volunteers, spectators, Clubs, affiliates, sponsors;
• You do not offend, bully or intimidate nor use racist, sexist, homophobic or humiliating comments or language in social media posts;
• You do not use defamatory, offensive or threatening language; and
• You are respectful to all members of the community at large

If you are unsure whether your comments are appropriate or in keeping with these guidelines, you should check with the General Manager of Gordon Rugby, a Director or the Board of Directors before you post. There will be little if any tolerance for acting outside these guidelines.

What happens if things go wrong?

In the unlikely event that content or commentary is posted contrary to these guidelines, the Directors may:

• Require the content or commentary to be removed immediately;
• Block all access to the relevant social media platform/s by removing administrator rights;
• Require the individual or group of individuals to explain their actions;
• Suspend the individual or group of individuals involved; and
• Expel the individual or group of individuals from the Club