CODES OF CONDUCT

SECTION A: Introduction

Sport can contribute positively to the physical, mental, personal, social and emotional development of an individual. Such development is enhanced if the individual is guided by an informed, thinking, caring and enlightened coach, operating within an accepted ethical framework as a self-monitoring professional.

It is important to establish, publicise and maintain standards of ethical behaviour in coaching practice and to inform and protect members of the public, using the services of sports coaches. Key principles of responsibility and competence provide the core values of good coaching and the framework of this document.

The document acts as a series of guidelines and not a set of instructions. Coaches who assent to this code accept their responsibility to sports performers, their parents/ families, other colleagues, National Governing Bodies (NGB), the Sports Development Unit, other colleagues/employers and society as a whole. (In these guidelines the term employer does not necessarily imply the existence of a contract of employment or a paid position).

The Role Of The Coach Is To:

* Identify and meet the needs of individuals

* Improve performance through a progressive programme of safe, guided practice, measured performance and/or competition.

* Create an environment in which individuals are motivated to maintain participation and improve performance.

SECTION B: Principles

Sports coaches are expected to conform to ethical standards in a number of areas:

* Humanity

* Relationships

* Commitment

* Co-operation

* Integrity

* Advertising

* Confidentiality

* Abuse of Privilege

* Personal standards

Humanity

Coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every human being and their ultimate right to self-determination. Specifically coaches must treat everyone equitably and sensitively, within the context of their activity and ability, regardless of gender, ethnic origin, cultural background, sexual orientation, religion or political affiliation.

Relationships

A good coach will be concerned primarily with the well-being, safety, protection and future of the individual performer. There must be a balance between the development of performance and the social, emotional, intellectual and physical needs of the individual.

A key element in a coaching relationship is the development of independence. Performers must be encouraged and guided to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance in training, competition, domestic, academic or business life.

Coaches are responsible for setting and monitoring the boundaries between a working relationship and friendship with their performers. This is particularly important when the performer is a young person. The coach must realise that certain situations or friendly words and actions could be misinterpreted (not only by the performer but also by outsiders and other members of a squad or group). Performers motivated by jealousy, dislike or mistrust could lead to allegations of misconduct or impropriety.

Where physical contact between coach and performer is a necessary part of the coaching process, coaches must ensure that no action on their part could be misconstrued and that any N.G.B. guidelines on this matter are adhered to.

The relationship between coach and performer relies heavily on mutual trust and respect. This means that the performer should be made aware of the coach’s qualifications and experience and must be given the opportunity to consent to or decline proposals for training, performance or competition.

Commitment

Coaches should clarify in advance with the Sports Development Unit the number of sessions, fees (if any) and method of payment. They should explore with the Sports Development Unit the expected outcome of coaching. Written contracts may be appropriate in some circumstances.

The nature of the commitment between the Sports Development Unit, other employers and performers should be specifically agreed. Any such contract or terms of reference should be set out in writing and include fees (if any), method of payment, the time commitment involved and an indication of the expected outcome of the coaching.

Coaches have a responsibility to declare to the Sports Development Unit any other current coaching commitments. They should also find out if any prospective client is receiving instruction from another teacher/coach. If so the teacher/coach should be contacted to discuss the situation.

Coaches who become aware of a conflict between their obligations to the Sports Development Unit and their obligation to their N.G.B. (or any other organisation employing them) must make explicit to all parties concerned, the nature of the conflict plus the loyalties and responsibilities involved.

Coaches should expect a similar level of reciprocal commitment from their performers. In particular the performer (parent/guardian in case of a minor) should inform the coach of any change in circumstances that might affect the coach/performer relationship.

Coaches should receive appropriate acknowledgement for their contribution to the performer’s progress and achievement. Where money is earned from performances, it is reasonable to expect the coach should receive an appropriate share of the rewards. Such apportionment with any attendant conditions should be agreed in advance (in writing) to avoid any misunderstanding.

Co-operation

Coaches should communicate and co-operate with other sports and allied professions in the best interests of their performers. An example of such contact could be:

* Seeking of educational and career counselling for young performers whose involvement in sport impinges upon their studies

* Sport science advice through the British Association and Exercise Sciences (BASES)

Coaches must communicate and co-operate with registered medical and ancillary practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment and management of their performer’s medical and psychological problems.

Integrity

Coaches must not encourage performers to violate the rules of their sport. They should actively seek to discourage and condemn such action and encourage performers to obey the spirit of the rules.

Coaches must not compromise their performers by advocating measures, which could constitute unfair advantage. They must not adopt practices to accelerate performance improvement, which might jeopardise the safety, total well-being and future participation of the performer. Coaches must never advocate or condone the use of prohibited drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances.

Coaches must ensure that the activities, training and competition programmes they advocate and direct are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the individual performer.

Coaches must accept responsibility for the conduct of their performers and discourage inappropriate behaviour in training, competition and away from the sporting arena.

Advertising

Advertising by sports coaches in respect of qualifications, training and/or services must be accurate and professionally restrained. Coaches must be able to present evidence of current qualifications upon request. Evidence should also be available to support any claim associated with the promotion of their services.

Coaches must not display any affiliation with an organisation in a manner that falsely implies sponsorship or accreditation by that organisation.

Confidentiality

Sports coaches inevitably gather a great deal of personal information about performers in the course of a working relationship. Coach and performer must reach agreement about what is to be regarded as confidential information (i.e. not divulged to a third party without the express approval of the performer).

Confidentiality does not preclude the disclosure of information about a performer to persons who can be judged to have a right to know. For example:

* Evaluation for competitive selection purposes

* Recommendations for employment

* In pursuit of disciplinary action by a sports organisation against one of its members

* Legal and medical requirements for disclosure

* Recommendations to parents/family where the health and safety of performers might be at stake

* In pursuit of action to protect children from abuse

In the storage and disposal of personal records coaches should be aware of the requirements of the Data Protection Act. An individual performer must be allowed reasonable access to their personal data records held by a coach.

Abuse of Privilege

The sports coach is privileged to have regular contact with performers and occasionally to travel and reside with performers in the course of coaching and competitive practice. A coach must not attempt to exert undue influence over the performer in order to obtain personal benefit or reward.

Personal Standards

Coaches must consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of their sport and of coaching to performers, their parents/families, other coaches, officials, spectators, the media and the general public.

Personal appearance is a matter of individual taste but the sports coach has an obligation to project an image of health, cleanliness and functional efficiency.

Sports coaches should never smoke whilst coaching.

Coaches should not drink alcohol so soon before coaching that it would affect their competence to coach, compromise the safety of the performers or indicate they had been drinking (e.g. smell of alcohol on breath).

Safety

Within the limits of their control, coaches have a responsibility to ensure as far as possible the safety of the performers with whom they work.

All reasonable steps should be taken to establish a safe working environment.

The work done and the manner in which it is done should be in keeping with the regular and approved practice with their sport as determined by the N.G.B.

The activity undertaken should be suitable for the age, physical and emotional maturity, experience and ability of the performers.

Coaches have a duty to protect children from harm and abuse.

The performers should have been systematically prepared for the activity and made aware of their personal responsibilities in terms of safety.

Coaches should arrange adequate insurance to cover all aspects of their coaching practice.

Competence

Coaches shall confine themselves to practice in those elements of sport for which they’re training and competence is recognised by the appropriate N.G.B. Training includes the accumulation of knowledge and skills through formal coach education courses, independent research and the accumulation of relevant verifiable information.

The National Vocational Qualification standards for coaching, teaching and instructing (and/or the approved N.G.B. coaching awards) provide the framework for assessing competence at the different levels of coaching practice. Competence of a coach should normally be verified through evidence of qualifications. Competence cannot be inferred solely from evidence of prior experience.

Coaches must be able to recognise and accept when to refer performers to other coaches or agencies. It is their responsibility, as far as possible, to verify the competence and integrity of any other person to whom they refer a performer.

Coaches should regularly seek ways of increasing their personal and professional development.

Coaches should welcome evaluation of their work by colleagues and be able to account to performers, employers, N.G.B’s and colleagues for what they do and why.

Coaches have a responsibility to themselves and their performers to maintain their own effectiveness, resilience and abilities. They should recognise when their personal resources are so depleted that help is needed. This may necessitate the withdrawal from coaching temporarily or permanently.

SECTION C: CONDUCT

Conduct

Coaches should adhere at all times to standards of personal and professional behaviour which reflect credit on themselves, the Sports Development Unit, other employers, their National Governing Body and the whole process and practice of sports coaching.

Public Criticism of Colleagues

Coaches should refrain from public criticism of fellow coaches. (Public in this context means any branch of the media, lecture or seminar). Any such public criticism of a fellow coach will be regarded as a prima facie breach of this code.

Misrepresentation

Coaches must ensure they do not in any way misrepresent their qualifications, affiliations or professional competence to any client or prospective client or in any publication, broadcast, lecture or seminar. Misrepresentation will be regarded as a serious breach of this code.

Criminal Conviction

Coaches must report any alleged criminal offence to the Sports Development Manager. Cases of a minor personal nature are unlikely to be regarded as breaches of this code but all reported cases will be considered.

Disciplinary proceedings by an employer

Coaches must report to the Sports Development Manager any formal disciplinary action taken against them by an employer in connection with their work as a sports coach.

Personal Misconduct

Personal misconduct includes:

* Misconduct: -Bad timekeeping, unreasonable or unexplained absence, lack of application, damage to property or equipment

* Gross Misconduct: -Theft, falsification of reports or accounts, breach of confidentiality, violence, misuse of alcohol or drugs, ...dishonesty. Sexual harassment or abuse, indecency or any form of child abuse

Complaints Procedures

Any individual or organisation wishing to make a complaint against a sports coach within the context of this code should follow this procedure.

* Report the matter to the Sports Development Manager and to the National Governing Body responsible for that sport

* Complaints which refer to abuse of children should also be referred to the police and Social Services.