Coach Code of Conduct and Expectations *
Coaching Code of Conduct of the Fundy Minor Football Association. SECTION ONE GENERAL Article 1 – Application This Coaching Code of Conduct (hereinafter “the Code”) must be reviewed annually by the Board of Directors (hereinafter “the Board”) of the Fundy Minor Football Association (hereinafter “the FMFA”) prior to the Annual General Meeting of the FMFA. The Code is intended to govern the conduct of Coaches, Assistant Coaches and on-field volunteers of the FMFA (hereinafter “Coach(es)”). Article 2 – Definitions Unless otherwise specified, the words and expressions used in this Code shall have the same meaning as in the By-laws of the FMFA. Article 3 – Complement to By-Laws The provisions of this Code are intended to complement and enhance, in a consistent manner, the requirements that arise at law and in the By-laws of the FMFA. Article 4 – Interpretation This Code shall be, unless the context otherwise requires, construed, and interpreted in accordance with the interpretation provisions of the FMFA’s By-laws as set out by Industry Canada. SECTION TWO SCOPE Article 5 – Purpose The athlete/coach relationship is a privileged one. Coaches play a critical role in the personal, as well as athletic development of their athletes. They must understand and respect the inherent power imbalance that exists in this relationship and must be extremely careful not to abuse it. Coaches must also recognize that they are conduits through which the values and goals of a sport organization are channelled. How an athlete regards their sport is often dependent on the behaviour of the coach. The following Code has been developed to aid coaches in achieving a level of behaviour which will allow them to assist their athletes in becoming well-rounded, self confident and productive human beings. SECTION THREE COACHING GUIDELINES Article 6 – Respect for others The principle of respect challenges Coaches to act in a manner respectful of the dignity of all participants in sport, regardless of their connection to the sport. Fundamental to this principle is the basic assumption that each person has value and is worthy of respect. Article 7 – Responsible action The principle of responsible action carries the basic ethical expectation that the activities of Coaches will benefit society in general and participants and will do no harm. Fundamental to the implementation of this principle is the notion that each Coach is responsible and the consequences of their actions or inactions. Article 8 – Integrity Integrity means that Coaches are expected to be honest, sincere, and honourable in their relationships with others. Acting on these values is most possible when Coaches possess a high degree of self-awareness and the ability to reflect critically on how their perspectives influence their interactions with others. Article 9 – Honouring Sport The principle of honouring sport in general and football in particular, challenges Coaches to recognize, act on, and promote the value of football for individuals and teams, and for society in general. Article 10 – Represent the GMFA Coaches have a responsibility to represent the FMFA in everything they do. Coaches are to promote the FMFA while serving as a FMFA coach and no other programs, schools, or affiliations they belong to. Failing to do so may result in removal from the FMFA programs. Article 11 – Review of the Code Each Coach, immediately after being selected, shall review this Code and such other policies of the FMFA that may apply to Coaches. Article 12 – Oath of Office Each Coach is required to sign and agree to comply with the Oath of Office, by agreement on the registration form. SECTION FOUR COACHING RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES Article 13 – Responsibilities Coaches have a responsibility to: Treat everyone fairly within the context of their activity, regardless of gender, place of origin, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political belief, or economic status; Direct comments or criticism at the performance, rather than the athlete; Consistently display high personal standards and project a favorable image of their sport and of coaching: Refrain from public criticism of fellow coaches, especially when speaking to the media or recruiting athletes; Hold fellow coaches accountable to displaying high personal standards and proper conduct; Abstain from the use of tobacco/vaping products while in the presence of their athletes and discourage their use by athletes. Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages when working with athletes; Discourage the use of alcohol in conjunction with athletic events or victory celebrations at the playing site; Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language in the conduct of their duties; 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; Communicate and co-operate 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 athlete’s ability to continue playing or training; Recognize and accept when to refer athletes to other coaches or sport specialists. Allow athletes' goals to take precedence over their own; Regularly seek ways of increasing professional development and self-awareness; 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; In the case of minors, communicate and co-operate with the athlete's parents or legal guardians, involving them in management decisions pertaining to their child's development; Be aware of the academic pressures placed on student-athletes and conduct practices and games in a manner to allow academic success; Follow all direction and rules of the FMFA. Report to FMFA RTD as required. Always act with the best practices and what is best for FMFA in mind. Article 14 – Duties Coaches have a duty to: Come to practice prepared with well-designed practice plans that include regular water breaks; Ensure the safety of the athletes with whom they work; 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; Respect athlete's dignity; verbal or physical behaviours that constitute harassment or abuse are unacceptable (definition of harassment is attached); Never advocate or condone the use of drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances; Never provide underage athletes with alcohol or condone the use of. SECTION FIVE HARASSMENT Article 13 – Definition Harassment takes many forms but can generally be defined as behaviour including comments and/or conduct which is insulting, intimidating, humiliating, hurtful, malicious, degrading or otherwise offensive to an individual or groups of individuals or which creates an uncomfortable environment. Harassment may include: Written or verbal abuse or threats; Sexually oriented comments; Racial or ethnic slurs; Unwelcome remarks, jokes, innuendoes or taunting about a person’s body, attire, age, marital status, ethnic or racial origin, religion, etc.; Displaying of sexually explicit, racist, or other offensive or derogatory material; Sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious graffiti; Practical jokes which cause awkwardness or embarrassment, endanger a person’s safety, or negatively affect performance; Unwelcome sexual remarks, invitations, or requests whether indirect or explicit, or intimidation; Leering (suggestive staring), or other obscene or offensive gestures; Condescension, paternalism, or patronizing behaviour which undermines self-respect or adversely affects performance or working conditions; Physical contact such as touching, kissing, patting, pinching, etc.; Vandalism; Physical assault.I agree with the following information contained in the link
