incerosebridge.com

Role purpose

The First Aider provides appropriate first aid and immediate care, within the limits of their qualification, to protect the health, safety and welfare of players and other participants at training and on match days.

Rugby league is a high-speed collision sport. The RFL requires clubs to have systems for appropriately qualified First Aiders, risk assessment, Emergency Action Plans, equipment and incident reporting.

Developed with reference to the RFL Community Game First Aid Standards 2026, RFL medical and concussion guidance, safeguarding guidance and the North West Youth & Junior Competition Rules 2026.

One volunteer, one role

We think volunteers should have a clearly defined role, rather than being handed everything at once. It keeps responsibilities clear, stops people getting overloaded, means important jobs are not missed — and makes volunteering something you can actually sustain.

Coaches coach. Team Managers handle the team administration. First Aiders deal with first aid. Touchline Managers look after the touchline environment. Welfare Officers deal with safeguarding.

The RFL recognises these as distinct volunteer roles in the community game. Where the RFL or a competition allows one person to hold more than one, Ince Rose Bridge may still choose to keep them separate as club policy.

What the job actually is

The First Aider’s job is not to fix every injury. It is to assess, treat appropriately, protect, escalate when necessary, record and report.

Assess injuries and provide immediate first aid within your training and qualification.
Follow the club’s Emergency Action Plan and relevant RFL medical and first-aid policies.
Recognise when additional medical assistance is required, and escalate serious injuries.
Support the safe removal of an injured player from play.
Record and report injuries where required.
Never act outside the scope of your qualification.

The RFL’s 2026 First Aid Standards state that clubs must ensure no staff member or volunteer acts beyond the scope of their qualification.

Qualifications

A current RFL enhanced DBS check.
HSE Three Day First Aid at Work, or equivalent.
The RFL Concussion Course.

Being a parent, coach, nurse, doctor or sports therapist does not automatically make someone the designated First Aider. The person must meet the current RFL and competition requirements. The club keeps records of qualifications and monitors expiry dates.

Concussion

Concussion is one of the most important parts of this role. If you identify a sign or symptom of suspected concussion, the player must be removed from play, and must not return during that game — even if they later say they feel better.

A player does not go back on because they say they are okay, because a parent says so, because the coach wants them, or because the symptoms seem to have gone.
Follow the current RFL concussion protocols and the applicable UK grassroots concussion guidance.

If in doubt — sit them out. Do not let pressure from players, parents, coaches or anyone else override the concussion protocol.

Serious injury and emergencies

Recognise the situations that need emergency medical help: suspected serious head or spinal injury, loss of consciousness, suspected fracture, severe bleeding, breathing difficulties, serious neck injury, severe allergic reaction, or any life-threatening emergency.

Provide appropriate immediate care within your qualification.
Make sure emergency services are contacted where necessary — if it is needed, call 999.
Follow the club’s Emergency Action Plan and make sure the player is monitored.
Make sure parents or guardians are informed through the appropriate process.
Make sure the incident is recorded and reported.

Give the emergency services the exact location, the nature of the incident, the player’s condition and access information for the venue — then keep helping within your qualification until they arrive.

Emergency Action Plan and equipment

Know, before you take the role on: where the first-aid equipment is, where the nearest emergency access point is, the club’s emergency contact arrangements, how to contact emergency services, how emergency vehicles get onto the site, who the relevant club officials are, and how incidents are recorded.

Check the first-aid kit, gloves, dressings, bandages, wound care, cold packs and any club-specified emergency equipment.
Report missing, used, expired or damaged equipment so it can be replaced.

Do not wait until someone is injured to find out the first-aid kit is empty.

Match-day requirements

For community rugby league fixtures, a First Aider must be present — match officials are instructed not to allow a game to take place without one.

The home club must ensure a First Aider is in attendance, with a minimum of one present.
Make yourself known to the Match Official before the game.
Remain for at least 15 minutes after the end of the game, and help with the reporting paperwork.
First Aiders must be listed on the team sheet and registered on the relevant GameDay system.

From the North West Youth & Junior Competition Rules 2026. Injuries can become apparent after the final whistle, which is why the 15 minutes matters — do not leave straight away.

Recording and reporting

Record the player, date, time, nature of the injury, treatment given, whether they were removed from play, whether concussion was suspected, whether emergency help was needed, whether parents were contacted, and any further action.

Records should be accurate, factual, confidential and completed promptly.
Handle and store them in line with club requirements.

Talking to parents

Explain what happened, what first aid was given, whether the player came off, whether concussion was suspected, and any aftercare within your competence. Where professional assessment is needed, advise them to seek it.

Do not give medical advice outside your competence, or make diagnoses beyond your training.

Nobody overrules you

No First Aider should be pressured by coaches, team managers, parents, players, other volunteers or opposition officials into letting an injured player return when you believe it is unsafe.

Player safety comes before winning, selection, league position, cup competitions, and what the player or parent would prefer. Safety first, rugby second.

Confidentiality

Only share player medical information with people who need to know.
Do not discuss injuries publicly, on social media, or with other parents.
Keep written records secure and follow club requirements for personal information.

Know your limits

Do not diagnose beyond your competence, prescribe medication, perform procedures outside your qualification, or attempt treatment you are not trained to give. Equally, never ignore a serious injury.

Know what you can do. Know what you cannot do. Know when to escalate.

Nobody knows everything on day one

We do not expect a new volunteer to arrive knowing the systems, the processes or the rules. If you are unsure how to do something, ask — we would far rather answer a question than have you worry about getting it wrong. There is always someone at the club who can help.

Where we can, we will pair a new volunteer with an experienced one for their first season. That is not about them doing the job for you; it is about sharing what they know until you find your feet.

The bigger picture

Being a First Aider is not simply about carrying a bag. There are moments where you will have to make a difficult decision: a player wants to stay on, a parent wants them to continue, the coach needs their best player, the game is close.

None of that changes the responsibility. Player safety comes first. No player should ever feel they have to hide an injury to stay on the field.

Fancy it?

You do not need to have it all worked out. Tell us you are interested and we will talk it through — including the training and the DBS.

I want to volunteer