Touchline Manager

Role purpose

The Touchline Manager helps make sure match days are safe, respectful, positive and enjoyable — for players, coaches, parents, spectators, opposition teams and match officials.

The purpose is to create an environment where children can enjoy playing, parents can support them positively, coaches can concentrate on coaching, and officials can referee without unnecessary interference.

Developed with reference to RFL guidance, community-game requirements, the RFL “Enjoy the Game” campaign and current competition requirements. Where a competition uses the term Game Day Manager, our Touchline Manager should follow the responsibilities and restrictions applicable to that role.

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.

Managing the touchline

This is not about policing every word a spectator says. It is about noticing when behaviour is heading the wrong way and stepping in early enough that it does not escalate.

• Be aware of what is happening around the pitch throughout the match.
• Encourage positive support, and challenge unacceptable behaviour appropriately.
• Help keep the environment calm and prevent unnecessary confrontation.
• Make sure spectators stay in the appropriate viewing areas.
• Raise serious concerns with the appropriate club official.

What we encourage, and what we do not

Encourage applause, encouragement, and respect for both teams, the officials and the coaches.

• Discourage shouting abuse, swearing, personal criticism of players or coaches, abuse or intimidation of match officials, taunting opposition players, discriminatory comments, threatening behaviour and aggressive confrontation.
• Anything that could make a child or an official feel unsafe.

The RFL’s “Enjoy the Game” approach promotes positive behaviour and identifies abuse, discrimination and disrespect towards players, officials and supporters as contrary to the values of the game.

Dealing with unacceptable behaviour

Start by calming and de-escalating. Politely ask the person to stop, remind them of the club’s expectations, explain the effect on players and officials, or ask them to move away from an area.

No arguments with referees

This is one of the most important parts of the role. The Touchline Manager must not argue with the referee, challenge or criticise decisions, attempt to influence the official, approach them aggressively, or encourage parents and spectators to do any of it.

The RFL’s “Enjoy the Game” principles explicitly state that participants should not engage in public criticism of officials.

Supporting the coaching team

You manage the environment so the coaches can coach. The Touchline Manager should not coach from the touchline — no tactical instructions, no telling players where to stand, no overriding coaching instructions, no questioning decisions during the game, and no attempting to influence substitutions or playing time.

Safeguarding and welfare

The Touchline Manager is not the Club Welfare Officer unless separately appointed, but does have a responsibility to recognise and report concerns — bullying, abuse, discriminatory or threatening behaviour, a child’s welfare, or inappropriate adult behaviour.

• Know who the Club Welfare Officer is and how to report a concern.
• Never ignore a concern, and never try to investigate one yourself.
• Pass concerns on promptly and maintain appropriate confidentiality.

Injuries

The Touchline Manager is not a First Aider unless separately qualified and appointed. If a player is injured: alert the coach or First Aider, let them deal with it, keep spectators away from the treatment area, help keep things calm, and follow the instructions of the First Aider and match officials.

Where you can stand

Follow the competition rules on position and movement during a match, wear any required identification or high-visibility clothing, never enter the field of play unless authorised, and follow instructions from match officials.

The North West Youth & Junior Competition Rules 2026 provide for a Game Day Manager who may move along the touchline as required to fulfil their duties, while remaining within the physical barrier during matches. Requirements differ between competitions and age groups — follow the rules for yours.

Home and away

• At home: help organise the touchline before kick-off, show visitors where to go, be visible and identifiable, and know who the Team Manager, First Aider and Club Welfare Officer are.
• Away: respect the host club’s ground rules and instructions, encourage our parents to behave respectfully, and report serious incidents to the appropriate Ince Rose Bridge official.
• Either way, you are representing the club.

Reporting incidents

Make the appropriate club official aware of serious spectator misconduct, threatening behaviour, abuse of a match official, discriminatory behaviour, a safeguarding concern, serious conflict between spectators, or any incident involving a child.

• Record factual information rather than opinions, and do not try to determine blame.
• Where a formal competition report is required, it should be completed by the person responsible under the competition rules.

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.

Why the role matters

What happens around a rugby pitch matters as much as what happens on it. Young players should remember the try they scored, the tackle they made, the friends they played with and the fun they had — not adults arguing, parents abusing referees, or opposition families being intimidated.

The RFL has taken action against clubs where persistent unacceptable touchline behaviour affected junior fixtures, including ordering games to be played without spectators. The Touchline Manager is not there to police people. They are there to protect the environment — visible, calm, fair, approachable and proactive.