Information for parents

Abergavenny Road Club runs coached sessions for our young riders, aged between 5 and 16 years, each Saturday, between 10.30 am and noon, in line with school term dates.

With a rich history of developing the talents of young riders into the Welsh stars of tomorrow Abergavenny RC’s volunteers are certainly not sitting on their laurels and continue to drive the club forward.

Please complete the Consent form before you child commences the session.  On arrival, look for a coach or parent helper. They will welcome you and answer any questions you have.

Regular participants must become members of Abergavenny RC. Fees are currently £10 per half term (covers five or six sessions).

The club is affiliated to Welsh Cycling and registered with British Cycling’s “Go Ride” development programme, which provides a fun and safe way to introduce young riders to the world of cycle sport and provides a platform to improve bike handling skills.

Parents are expected to get involved by helping set up or clear up after sessions, assisting at club events, etc.

Your child must have a bike which is in good working order (it is essential that it has working brakes and older riders will need working gears). He/she needs a helmet, comfortable, tight fitting sportswear and a pair of gloves or cycling mitts. In cold or wet weather, waterproof clothing is required. He/she also needs to bring a drink of squash or water in a suitable container.

If your child is inexperienced or new to the club, you must remain at the session the whole time – the club does not offer a child minding service.

NEED TO KNOW (RIDERS)

Our sessions involve a group warm-up, lasting about 20 minutes. We then split into groups, depending on age / ability. Older riders enjoy sessions based on competition and challenging skills, whilst the younger groups enjoy skills activities including slaloms, fun races and even the limbo bar!

Each rider is expected to listen to and obey all instructions given to them by the coaches and helpers and be on their best behaviour to ensure the safety of everybody.

PARTICIPATION

After three sessions your child should become members of Abergavenny Road Club.  Membership applications can now be made online through the British Cycling Club Management Tool by following this link: Join Abergavenny RC

Membership benefits include subsidised club kit, access to our  Facebook page, and what’s more, if a young person is a member of our club, then membership to British Cycling is free or discounted for the first year.  More details at this link: British Cycling Membership for Young People

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN

Abergavenny Road Club is committed to operating a safe, enjoyable environment which is inclusive and welcoming to all. The club does not discriminate, and ensures that all coaches operate to appropriate levels of conduct when representing the club.

Sessions are run by fully qualified and insured British Cycling coaches, while all volunteers, trained or otherwise, who have prolonged direct contact with children have been subject to a DBS Enhanced. If you have concerns regarding any activities, please contact the club’s dedicated Welfare Officer; Siw Harris, who will liaise with Welsh Cycling to ensure issues are addressed according to the British Cycling Safeguarding policy.

The National Safeguarding Lead Officer for Wales is Rob Webber.
You can email Rob at: rob.webber@welshcycling.co.uk
Or call Rob on: 07528 931 516

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PARENTS/CARERS AND ADULT MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS

As a parent/carer of a member of Abergavenny Road Club you are expected to abide by the following code.

• inform the coach of any specific health requirements or medical conditions of your child in advance of the coaching session by completion of a club membership form or a parental consent form:   Abergavenny RC Rider Info & Parental Consent  Form

• advise the coach if your child has to leave early or is being collected by someone other than a parent/carer, giving details of the arrangement including who will be collecting your child, when and at what time
• encourage your child to learn the rules and play within them
• discourage unfair play and arguing with officials
• help your child to recognise good performance, not just results
• set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding the good performances of all
• never punish or abuse a child for losing or making mistakes
• publicly accept officials’ judgments and teach children to do likewise
• support your child’s involvement and help him/her to enjoy his/her sport
• use correct and proper language at all times
• remember that children participate in sport for their enjoyment, not yours.
• support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from sporting activities
• respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, disability, cultural background or religion
• show appreciation and respect for coaches, officials and administrators, as without them, your child could not participate.                                                                                                                                                                                        • pay any fees promptly.

while representing Abergavenny Road Club

• treat all participants in cycling as I one would like to be treated – not bullying or taking unfair advantage of another participant

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

As a member of Abergavenny Road Club the club, young people are expected to abide by the following code.
• arrive for training and competition in good time to prepare properly
• wear suitable kit (including a helmet) and clothing for all cycling activity sessions, as agreed with the coach
• warm up and cool down properly on all occasions
• play within the rules and respect officials and all their decisions
• be a good sport by applauding all good performances, whether they are made by the club or the opposition
• control ones temper – verbal abuse of officials and other riders, or deliberately distracting/provoking an opponent is not acceptable or permitted behaviour in any sport
• work equally hard for themselves and Abergavenny Road Club
• respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their gender, ability, disability, cultural background or religion.
• abide by the rule that junior members are not allowed to smoke on club premises or while representing the club at competitions

• abide by the rule that junior members are not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs of any kind on club premises or • cooperate with coaches, club mates and opponents – remember, without them there would be no competition
• thank officials and opponents after competition.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Abergavenny Road Club was voted Welsh Cycling’s Club of the Year in 2013, 2014 and 2015.  We successfully hosted The National Cyclo-cross Championships 2015 and have contributed wholeheartedly in many other events.

Our youth Section were runners up in the Welsh Cycling Go Ride Club of the Year 2015, Steve Lane was voted Coach of the Year 2013, and Coach Paul Crapper won the award in 2016

We encourage riders to enjoy events and activities away from the town. Our young riders compete in The Welsh Cyclo-cross League, British Schools Cycling Association events, Welsh MTB Series, in many closed road or mountain bike events and many attend sessions at the Wales National Velodrome. The club supports a number of talented young riders who regularly compete at National and International events and been selected for the Talent Team; participating in British Cycling’s Youth Development Programme.

World track champions, Becky and Rachel James, Commonwealth Games rider, Rhiannon Henry, Team Canada 2012 Head track coach Richard Wooles, current GB MTB Coach Julian Winn, and British Lions and Wales rugby player George North are club members.

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