(updated July 2026)
This Code of Conduct is in accordance with Sections D, E and F of the GGE Bye-Laws 2025 and Sections 5 and 7 of the Brussels Craobh Rua Club Constitution.
General
A member of Brussels Craobh Rua is an individual who undertakes to further the aims of the Club, who has registered with the Club and paid the annual membership fee under any of the membership categories offered. Non-members cannot be involved in the ordinary business of the club, including involvement in coaching, volunteering, management, committees, etc.
All members are expected to adhere to the following during all club activities:
1. Treat all fellow members with respect, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, sex, gender, ability, age, religion, sexual orientation, language, or any other personal characteristic.
2. Pay membership fees promptly before 31 March each year and pay any other fees before the relevant deadlines (e.g. tournament fees).
3. Avoid language or behaviour that might intimidate, upset, or cause harm. Feedback can be direct, but must be constructive. Coaches and players should avoid belittling or disparaging tone when responding to mistakes.
4. Members must respect referees and officials and accept their decisions without dissent. Verbal abuse directed towards referees or officials harms the reputation of the club and will be dealt with severely by the Club Executive.
5. Members should look to resolve playing-related disagreements with management (e.g. regarding playing time or team selection) amicably and avoid escalating disagreements in public or group settings. Undermining or verbally abusing coaches, selectors or mentors will not be tolerated.
6. Members should not claim to speak or act on behalf of the club unless authorised to do so. This includes contacting other clubs, tournament organisers, or members of regional or county boards on behalf of the club. Code-specific matters should be directed to the relevant Code Officer.
7. Members should communicate appropriately in online groups and follow the GAA Social Media Guidelines where relevant. Avoid posts or messages that could bring the club or other members into disrepute.
8. For safeguarding reasons, all coaches who work with players under 18 are required to submit an extrait de casier judiciaire to the club (or an equally suitable document certifying their good conduct) which shall be valid for a period of 3 years. Coaches, mentors or managers who do not wish to submit these documents shall not be permitted to hold roles involving contact with juvenile members.
9. For safeguarding reasons, members aged under 18 cannot be included in any group chats, without exception. It is not appropriate for coaches or management to directly contact juvenile players. Code Officers or Mentors should liaise directly with parents or guardians to distribute team-specific information etc. as needed, in accordance with GAA Child Safeguarding Rules.
10. For safeguarding reasons, juvenile members shall not be permitted to “play up” (i.e. training or playing with any team above their current age group) with Adult Teams unless the conditions outlined in the Playing Up Policy below are fully met.
11. All serious injuries must be reported directly to secretary.brussels.europe@gaa.ie within 3 days. Injuries notified after this period may not be covered under club insurance. Players are not covered by insurance if not wearing a gumshield (football) or helmet (hurling/camogie). Members should keep copies of all medical attestations or receipts related to any playing injuries.
12. Codes should respect the scheduled time slots and training space of the others. Sessions (including warm-ups and cool-downs) should not overrun or interfere with another code’s allocated time or space, unless agreed beforehand. Team size or player numbers do not override this principle.
13. Members who take equipment from the VUB/ADEPS storeroom must return it promptly and in working order. Unless otherwise agreed, the person who removes equipment is responsible for returning it.
14. Playing jerseys are the property of the club and must be returned to the correct bag immediately after matches or tournaments. Unless otherwise agreed, the person who transports jerseys to a tournament is responsible for returning them. Members who take, lose, or damage playing jerseys may be required to cover costs for replacements.
15. Members are reminded that we share our facilities with other clubs, and are responsible for cleaning up rubbish, bottles, and gear after training and matches and ensuring the VUB/ADEPS pitch is left in good condition. This also applies to the VUB storeroom and dressing rooms.
16. Smoking (including vaping) is not allowed inside the boundaries of the VUB/ADEPS pitches, as per campus rules. The club may be fined if this rule is breached. If the club is fined for breaking this rule, the member responsible may be held responsible for covering the cost.
17. Access keycards for the VUB pitch are limited in quantity and should only be used during allocated training times. If a keycard is lost or damaged, the member responsible may be held responsible for covering the replacement fee.
Juvenile Players “Playing Up” with Adult Teams
General
“Playing up” is defined as training or playing with any team above a player’s current age group.
For all Juvenile Players who have not yet reached the age of 18, “playing up” with Adult teams is an exceptional arrangement. It is not an entitlement and should NOT be arranged informally between Parents, Players or Coaches.
Eligibility to “play up” is different for GAA, LGFA and Camogie players. Association-level rules must always be applied first. As per Association rules, all players must first train and play with their own age group.
Alongside GAA/LGFA/Camogie rules, “playing up” is subject to Club approval as per the below.
Breaches of this policy will be treated as a breach of the Club Code of Conduct and dealt with under the Club Disciplinary Procedure.
Boys (GAA)
GAA players are not permitted to train or play at Adult level until the date of their 17th birthday. This is governed by the GGE Operational Regulations 2026, and the Club cannot make exceptions to this rule.
Girls (LGFA / Camogie)
The minimum age before LGFA/Camogie players will be considered to train or play at Adult level is 15.
Specifically, a player will only be considered to “play up” if she has reached the age of 15 on or before 31 December of the previous year. This is stricter than the minimum eligibility in LGFA Official Guide Rule 272, and is in line with the Camogie Official Guide Rule 28.4.
Players below this age are not permitted to train or play with Adult teams under any circumstances.
Permission to “Play Up” with Adult Teams
Age alone does not permit juvenile players to play up; the permission requirements below also apply.
Requests to “play up” are initiated by the Player’s Juvenile Coaches/Mentors when they feel the player has a suitable level.
Requests are NOT initiated by Parents or Adult Team Coaches.
No juvenile player may train or play up with an Adult team without prior written permission from the following, in this order:
1) their parent/guardian;
2) the Coaches of the player’s Juvenile team;
3) the Coaches of the relevant Adult team;
4) the Club Executive.
Permission can be withdrawn at any time in the interest of player welfare.
For Parents / Guardians
Juvenile players are not permitted to take part in Adult training or matches unless both the age requirement and the permission requirements above have been met, and until the relevant form has been filled out.
Requests to “play up” must be initiated by the player’s Juvenile Coaches/Mentors.
Parents should NOT approach Juvenile or Adult Team Coaches to organise this.
Parents are asked to NOT bring Juvenile Players to Senior Training without a prior agreement based on this policy. They will be refused participation.
Questions or queries about this policy should be sent to both secretary.brussels.europe@gaa.ie and youthofficer.brussels.europe@gaa.ie
Child Safeguarding
The Club has completed a Child Safeguarding Assessment and has policies in place to ensure that Coaches and Mentors who have contact with Juvenile Members are vetted and appropriately qualified.
Concerns regarding Child Safeguarding and Protection (including concerns around child protection, player welfare for juvenile members, bullying, or more serious concerns) can be sent confidentially to ChildrensOfficer.brussels.europe@gaa.ie.
See GAA Policy re: Child Safeguarding and Protection for more detailed information.
Club Disciplinary Procedure
Serious or repeated breaches of this Code of Conduct or other ongoing issues should be reported to team management or any member of the Club Executive or Coiste na nÓg.
Where possible, issues will be resolved informally via discussion or clarification. The Club Executive may decide to impose disciplinary action for serious or repeated issues. Any member subject to disciplinary action will have the opportunity to give their account of the matter to the Club Executive, either in writing or in person.
Depending on the severity and nature of the issue, the Club Executive may decide to impose the following sanctions:
1) a written warning;
2) a temporary suspension from club activities;
3) a long-term suspension from club activities or termination of membership.
The Club Executive reserves the right to impose internal disciplinary sanctions where external sanctions have already been applied at the Regional or County level.
The Club Executive reserves the right to review red cards and accompanying referee reports on a case-by-case basis to determine whether club-level disciplinary action is justified.
The club will not issue appeals against red cards issued for violent or abusive conduct under any circumstances.
This does not restrict other avenues of appeal that might be available to members independently under GGE rules or the rules of the relevant association.
Brussels Craobh Rua 