Coaches Code of Conduct

COACHES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO:

1. Treat everyone fairly within the context of their activity, regardless of gender, place of origin, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political belief or economic status.
2. Direct comments or criticism at the performance rather than the athlete, official or volunteer.
3. Consistently display high personal standards and project a favorable image of their sport and coaching.
   1. Refrain from public criticism of fellow coaches, athletes, officials and volunteers especially when speaking to the media or recruiting athletes.
   2. Abstain from the use of tobacco products while in the presence of athletes and discourage their use by athletes.
   3. Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages when working with athletes.
   4. Discourage the use of alcohol in conjunction with athletic events or victory celebrations at the playing site.
   5. Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language in the conduct of duties.
4. Ensure that the activity being undertaken is suitable for the age, experience, ability and fitness level of the athletes and educate athletes as to their responsibilities in contributing to a safe environment.
5. Communicate and cooperate with registered medical practitioners in the diagnoses, treatment and management of their athletes' medical and psychological problems. Consider the athletes' future health and well being as foremost when making decisions regarding an injured athletes' ability to continue playing or training.
6. Recognize and accept when to refer athletes to other coaches or sport specialists. Allow athletes' goals to take precedence.
7. Regularly seek ways of increasing professional development and self-awareness.
8. Treat opponents and officials with due respect, both in victory and defeat and encourage athletes to act accordingly. Actively encourage athletes to uphold the rules of their sport and the spirit of such rules.
9. In the case of minors, communicate and cooperate with the athletes' parents or legal guardians, involving them in management decisions pertaining to their child's development.
10. Be aware of the many pressures placed on athletes as they strive to balance the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of their lives and conduct practices and games in a manner so as to allow optimum success.

COACHES MUST:

1. Ensure the safety of the athletes with whom they work.
2. At no time become intimately and / or sexually involved with their athletes. This includes requests for sexual favours or threat of reprisal for the rejection of such requests.
3. Respect an athlete’s dignity; verbal or physical behaviours that constitute harassment or abuse are unacceptable.
4. Never advocate or condone the use of drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances.
5. Never provide under age athletes with alcohol; never encourage its use.