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First Things First

Welcome to Small Blacks rugby

New Zealand Rugby welcomes parents, caregivers and whānau to Small Blacks rugby.

When whānau understand their child’s rugby team, they can share in the experience and help create a safe, fun and welcoming environment. You don’t need any rugby experience. Just a willingness to help out a bit.

Our values: The Rugby Way, Te Ara Ranga Tira

  • Be Our Best (Te Pou Hiranga): keep learning and improving.
  • Be Welcoming (Te Pou Maioha): respect and value everyone, whatever their background.
  • Be Passionate (Te Pou Ihihi): bring energy and a can-do attitude.
  • Play Fair (Te Pou Tika): be honest, respectful and play by the rules.

Start with a team charter

A team charter is a simple agreement about how your team will work together. It is written with, and signed by, the players, coaches and parents.

Your team can use the NZR Small Blacks charter or create your own. Ask your club or Provincial Union for a copy.

A good charter covers:

  • Goals: what do we want from this season?
  • How we behave: what will players, coaches and parents agree to, on and off the field?
  • Who helps: what jobs need doing, and who will do them?
  • Agreement: everyone signs it, so everyone owns it.

How do we do this?

As coach, set up a meeting with all parents and caregivers at the start of the season. You’re giving up to 20 weeks of your time, so it’s fair to ask whānau to come along once. Make the first week of the season a whānau session, with the charter as part of it.

Parents already help in lots of ways. These roles help them get more involved.

Coach

Small Blacks coach

Helpful skills:

  • Enjoys being with children and can communicate with them
  • Can organise a small group
  • Knowledge of skills and laws helps, but isn’t essential. We’ll help you.

Before you start:

  • Complete a Small Blacks coaching course.
  • Complete police vetting through your club.
  • Complete Safeguarding 101 on LineBreak. See Child Protection.

Jobs:

  • Run fun skill activities and games, including warm-ups and cool-downs.
  • Give advice and encouragement, and be a role model.
  • Support the coach co-worker.
  • Referee some Small Blacks games.
  • Enjoy yourself.
 

Coach co-worker

Small Blacks coach co-worker

Helpful skills:

  • Enjoys being with children and can communicate with them
  • Can organise a small group and follow the coach’s plan

Before you start: the same as the coach.

Jobs:

  • Look after a small group with the coach’s guidance.
  • Help with warm-ups, cool-downs, activities and games.
  • Give encouragement, and be a role model.
  • Referee some Small Blacks games.
  • Enjoy yourself.
 

Team guardian

Small Blacks team guardian

Helpful skills:

  • Organised and good at communicating
  • Happy to adapt to whatever needs doing
  • Enthusiastic

Jobs:

  • Look after the practical side: gear, transport, water bottles, half-time oranges and packing up.
  • Help supervise the group, and encourage other parents to help.
 

Team enthusiast

Small Blacks team enthusiast

Helpful skills:

  • Positive and enthusiastic
  • A loud voice for encouragement
  • Happy to leave the coaching to the coach

Jobs:

  • Support the team positively all season, for both teams on game day.
  • Help get players to training and games on time.
  • Back the coaches and the players.
  • Watch the games and enjoy them.