Code of Conduct
Members should familiarise themselves with the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport and in particular with the VI Code of Ethics and follow the procedures if they suspect or receive complaints of abuse of any sort.
Members should read below and agree to abide by these terms.
Members should:
Be positive during sessions and competitions, praise and encourage effort as well as results. Respect everyone involved in sports
Put welfare of young person first, strike a balance between this and winning / results
Encourage fair play and treat participants equally
Recognise developmental needs, ensuring activities are appropriate for the individual
Plan and prepare appropriately
Anyone working with children should do the child protection awareness course and hold up-to-date qualifications and be committed to the values and guidelines of the VI
Involve parents where possible and inform parents when problems arise
Keep a record of attendance at training and competitions (For coaches and team leader)
Keep a brief record of injury(s) and action taken (For coaches and team leader)
Keep a brief record of problem/action/outcomes, if behavioural problems arise (For coaches and team leader)
Report any concerns in accordance with this Club’s reporting procedures
Encourage young people to respect one another and to expect respect for their worth as individuals regardless of their level of play
Be acutely aware of the power that you as a coach develop with your players in the coaching relationships and avoid any sexual intimacy with young people that could develop as a result
Actively discourage the use of performance enhancing drugs, the use of alcohol and tobacco and any illegal substance
Encourage young people and other coaches to develop and maintain integrity in their relationship with others
Where possible, Members should avoid:
Spending excessive amounts of time with children away from others
Taking sessions alone with children
Taking children to their home without parental consent
Taking children on journeys alone in their car without parental consent
Members should not:
Use any form of punishment or physical force on a child
Exert undue influence over a participant in order to obtain personal benefit or reward
Engage in rough physical games, sexually provocative games or allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any kind, and /or make sexually suggestive comments about, or to a child. This includes innuendo, flirting or inappropriate gestures and terms
Take measurements or engage in certain types of fitness testing without the presence of another adult and permission of the parent(s).
Do not exploit any coaching relationship to further personal, political or business interests at the expense of the best interest of your players
Never communicate or form a “friendship” with children online with the intent of arranging to meet in the “real world”
Never ask anyone to keep secrets of any kind
