A Code of Conduct
Football is the
national game. All those involved with the game at every level
and whether as a player, match official, coach, owner or
administrator, have a responsibility, above and beyond compliance
with the law, to act according to the highest standards of
integrity, and to ensure that the reputation of the game is, and
remains high. This code applies to all those involved in
football under the auspices of the Football Association.
Community
Football, at all
levels, is a vital part of a community feeling when making
decisions.
Equality
Football is opposed to
discrimination of any form and will promote measures to prevent
it, in whatever form, from being expressed.
Participants
Football recognises the
sense of ownership felt by those who participate at all levels of
the game. This includes those who play, those who coach or help
in any way, and those who officiate, as well as administrators and
supporters. Football is committed to appropriate consultation.
Propriety
Football acknowledges
that public confidence demands the highest standards of financial
and administrative behaviour within the game, and will not
tolerate corruption in improper practices.
Trust and Respect
Football will uphold a
relationship of trust and respect between all involved in the
game, whether they are individuals, clubs or other organisations.
Violence
Football rejects the
use of violence of any nature by anyone involved in the game.
Fairness
Football in committed
to fairness in its dealings with all involved in the game.
Integrity and Fair Play
Football is committed
to the principle of playing to win consistent with Fair Play.
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Code of Conduct for Coaches
Coaches are key to the
establishment of ethics in football. Their concept of ethics are
their attitude directly effects the behaviour of players under
their supervision. Coaches are, therefore, expected to pay
particular care to the moral aspect of their conduct.
Coaches have to be
aware that almost all their everyday decisions and choices of
actions, as well as strategic targets, have ethical implications.
It is natural that
winning constitutes a basic concern for coaches. This code is not
intended to conflict with that. However, the code calls for
coaches to disassociate themselves from a “win-at-all-costs”
attitude.
Increased
responsibility is requested from coaches involved in coaching
young people. The health, safety, welfare and moral education of
young people are a first priority, before the achievement of the
reputation of the club, school, coach or parent.
Set out below is the FA
Coaches Association Code of Conduct (which reflects the standards
expressed by the National Coaching Foundation and the National
Association of Sports Coaches) which forms the benchmark for all
involved in coaching:
-
Coaches must respect
the rights, dignity and worth of each and every person and treat
each equally within the context of sport.
Coaches must place
the well being and safety of each player above all other
considerations, including the development of performance.
Coaches must adhere
to all guidelines laid down by governing bodies.
Coaches must develop
an appropriate working relationship with each player based on
mutual trust and respect.
Coaches must not
exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
Coaches must
encourage and guide players to accept responsibility for their
own behaviour and performance.
Coaches must ensure
that the activities they direct or advocate are appropriate for
the age, maturity, experience and ability of players.
Coaches should, at
the outset, clarify with the players (and, where appropriate,
parent) exactly what is expected of them and also what they are
entitled to expect from their coach.
Coaches must
co-operate fully with all other specialists (e.g. other coaches,
officials, sports scientists, doctors, physiotherapists) in the
best interests of the player.
Coaches must always
promote the positive aspects of the sport (e.g. fair play) and
never condone violations of the Laws of the Game, behaviour
contrary to the spirit of the Laws of the Game or relevant rules
or regulations or the use of prohibited substances or
techniques.
Coaches must
consistently display high standards or behaviour and appearance.
Not to use or
tolerate inappropriate language.
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Code of Conduct for Players
Players are the most
important people in the sport. Playing for the team, and for the
team to win, is the most fundamental part of the game. But not
winning at any cost – Fair Play and respect for all others in the
game is fundamentally important.
This Code focuses on
players in top-class football. Nevertheless, the key concepts in
the Code are valid for players at all levels.
Obligations towards
the game
A player should:
-
Make every effort to
develop their own sporting abilities, in terms of skill,
technique, tactics and stamina.
Give maximum effort
and strive for the best possible performance during a game, even
if his team is in a position where the desired result has
already been achieved.
Set a positive
example for others, particularly young players and supporters.
Avoid all forms of
gamesmanship, and time wasting.
Always have regard to
the best interests of the game, including where publicly
expressing an opinion on the game and any particular aspect of
it, inclusing others involved in the game.
Not use inappropriate
language.
Obligations towards
one’s own team
A player should:
-
Make every effort
consistent with Fair Play and the Laws of the Game to help his
own team to win.
-
Resist any influence
which might be seen to, bring into question his commitment to
the team winning.
Respect for the Laws
of the Game and competition rules
A player should:
-
Know and abide by the
Laws, rules and spirit of the game, and the competition rules.
-
Accept success and
failure, victory and defeat, equally.
-
Resist any temptation
to take banned substances or use banned techniques.
Respect towards
Opponents
A player should:
-
Treat opponents with
due respect at all times, irrespective of the result of the
game.
-
Safeguard the
physical fitness of opponents, avoid violence and rough play,
and help injured opponents.
Respect towards the
Match Officials
A player should:
-
Accept the decision
of the Match Official without protest.
-
Avoid words or
actions which may mislead a Match Official.
-
Show due respect
towards Match Officials.
Respect towards Team
Officials
A player should:
-
Abide by the
instructions of their Coach and Team Officials, provided they do
not contradict the spirit of this Code.
-
Show due respect
towards the Team Officials of the opposition.
Obligations towards
the Supporters
A player should:
-
Show due respect to
the interest of supporters.
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Code
of Conduct for Team Officials
This Code applies to
all team / club officials (although some items may not apply to
all officials).
Obligations towards
the Game
The team official
should:
-
Set a positive
example for others, particularly young players and supporters.
-
Promote and develop
his own team having regard to the interest of the Players,
Supporters and reputation of the national game.
-
Share knowledge and
experience when invited to do so, taking into account the
interest of the body that has requested this rather than
personal interests.
-
Avoid all forms of
gamesmanship.
-
Show due respect to
Match officials an others involved in the game.
-
Always have regard to
the best interests of the game, including where publicly
expressing an opinion of the game and any particular aspect of
it, including others involved in the game.
-
Not use or tolerate
inappropriate language.
Obligations towards
the Team
The team official
should:
-
Make every effort to
develop the sporting, technical and tactical levels of the
club/team, and to obtain the best results by the team, using all
permitted means.
-
Give priority to the
interests of the team over individual interests.
-
Resist all illegal or
unsporting influences, including banned substances and
techniques.
-
Promote ethical
principles.
-
Show dues respect to
the interests of players, coaches and other officials, at their
own club/team and others.
Obligations towards
the Supporters
The team official
should:
-
Show due respect to
interests of supporters.
Respect towards the
Match Officials
The team official
should:
-
Accept the decisions
of the Match Official without protestation.
-
Avoid words or
actions which may mislead a Match Official.
-
Show dues respect
towards Match Officials.
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Code of Conduct for Parents / Spectators
Parents / Spectators
have a great influence on children’s enjoyment and success in
football. All children play football because they first and
foremost love the game – it’s fun. It is important to remember
that however good a child becomes at football within your club it
is important to reinforce the message to parents / spectators that
positive encouragement will contribute to:
·
Children enjoying
football.
·
A sense of personal
achievement.
·
Self esteem.
·
Assist to improve the
child’s skills and techniques.
A Parents / spectator’s
expectations and attitudes have a significant bearing on a child’s
attitude towards:
·
Other players.
·
Officials
·
Managers.
·
Spectators.
Ensure that parents /
spectators within your club are always positive and encouraging
towards all of the children not just their own.
Encourage parents /
spectators to:
·
Applaud the opposition
as well as your own team.
·
Avoid coaching the
child during the game.
·
Not to shout and
scream.
·
Respect the referee’s
decision
·
Give attention to each
of the children involved in football not just the most talented.
·
Give encouragement to
everyone to participate in football.
Ensure that parents
/spectators within your club agree and adhere to your club’s Code
of Conduct and Child Protection Policy.
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Anti Discrimination and Equal Opportunities
Policies for Clubs
As the governing body
of the game, The Football Association is responsible for setting
standards and values to apply throughout the game at every level.
Football belongs to,
and should be enjoyed by, everyone equally. Our commitment is to
eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual
orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or
ability and to encourage equal opportunities.
The following policies
should be at the heart of your club’s activities.
Anti Discrimination
Policy for Clubs
Hawkinge Youth
Football Club
is responsible for
setting standards and values to apply throughout the club at every
level. Football belongs to and should be enjoyed by everyone,
equally. Our commitment is to confront and eliminate
discrimination whether by reason of sex, sexual orientation, race,
nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability.
Equality of opportunity
at Hawkinge Youth Football Club means that in all our
activities we will not discriminate or in any way treat anyone
less favourably, on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, race,
nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability.
This includes:
·
The advertisement for
volunteers.
·
The selection of
candidates for volunteers.
·
Courses.
·
External coaching and
education activities and awards.
·
Football development
activities.
·
Selection for teams.
·
Appointment to honorary
positions.
Hawkinge Youth
Football Club
will not tolerate
sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory
behaviour, whether physical or verbal and will work to ensure that
such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context
it occurs.
Hawkinge Youth
Football Club
is committed to the development of the programme of ongoing
training and awareness raising events and activities in order to
promote the eradication of discrimination within its own
organisation and in the wider context, within football as a whole.
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Equal Opportunities Policy for Clubs
Hawkinge Youth
Football Club
is committed to a
policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all members
of whatever level of authority, to abide and adhere to this
general principle and the requirements of the Code of Practice
issued by the Equal Opportunities Commission and Commission for
Racial Equality.
All members are
expected to abide by the requirements of the Race Relations Act
1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1986 and Disability Discrimination
Act 1995. Specifically discrimination is prohibited in:
·
Treating any individual
on grounds of gender, colour, marital status, race, nationality or
ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientated or
disability less favourably than others.
·
Expecting an individual
solely on the grounds stated above to comply with requirement(s)
for any reason whatsoever related to their membership, which are
different to the requirements for others.
·
Imposing on an
individual requirements which are in effect more onerous on that
individual than they are on others. For example this would
include applying a condition (which is not warranted by the
requirements of the position) which makes it more difficult for
members of a particular race or sex to comply than others not of
that race or sex.
·
Victimisation of an
individual.
·
Harassment of an
individual (which for the purposes of this policy and the actions
and sanction applicable thereto is regarded as discrimination).
·
Any other act or
emission of an act, which has its effect the disadvantaging of a
member against another, or others, purely on the above grounds.
Thus, in all the Club’s recruitment, selection, promotion and
training processes, as well as disciplinary matters etc. – in
other words all instances where those in control of members are
required to make judgement between them – it is essential that
merit, experience, skills and temperament are considered as
objectively as possible.
Hawkinge Youth
Football Club
commits itself to the
immediate investigation of any claims of discrimination on the
above grounds and where such is found to be the case, a
requirement that the practice cease forthwith, restitution of
damage or loss (if necessary) and to the investigation of any
member accused of discrimination.
Any member found guilty
of discrimination will be instructed to desist forthwith. Since
discrimination in its many forms is against the Football Club’s
policy, any members offending will be dealt with under the
disciplinary procedure.
The Football Club
commits itself to the disabled person whenever possible and will
treat such members, in aspects of their recruitment and
membership, in exactly the same manner as other members, the
difficulties of their disablement permitting assistance will be
given, wherever possible to ensure that disabled members are
helped in gaining access. Appropriate training will be made to
such members who request it.
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Goalpost Safety Play Your Part
Tragically during the
past few years, nine children including Jack Sheerin, a seven year
old from West Yorkshire, and Jonathan Smith, an eleven year old
from Essex have been killed by falling goalposts.
Football should be fun,
safe and enjoyable, whether you play in a park, at school or for a
local club. That’s why The FA is working with manufacturers and
the British Standards Institution to set new standards in
goalposts safety.
The four golden rules
of the leaflet and campaign are – Check It, Secure It, test It,
Respect It, and the FA needs YOUR help.
FA National Goalkeeping
Coach Ray Clemence launched the F.A.’s Goalpost Safety campaign to
highlight the safety issues involved in grassroots back in August
2000 at Watford FC, and is keen to raise awareness of the campaign
once more.
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