COACHING CODE OF CONDUCT
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 channeled. Thus how an athlete regards his/her sport is often dependent on the behavior of the coach. The following Code of Conduct has been developed to aid coaches in achieving a level of behavior which will allow their athletes in becoming well-rounded, self confident and productive human beings.
Although this code is directed toward coaching conduct it equally applies to other members of the "Team Leadership Staff" ie managers, trainers, equipment personelle etc.. It is assumed that these people act in cooperation with one another to construct a suitable environment for the athlete.
COACHES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO:
1) Treat everyone fairly within the context of their activity, regardless of gender, place of origin, color, sexual orientation, religion, political belief or economic status.
2) Direct comments or criticism at the performance rather than the athlete.
3) Consistently display high personal standards and project a favorable image of their sport and coaching.
a) refrain from public criticism of fellow coaches, athletes,officials and volunteers especially when speaking to the media or recruiting athletes.
b) Abstain from the use of tobacco products while in the presence of her/his athletes.
c) Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages when working with athletes.
d) Discourage the use of alcohol in conjunction with athletic events or victory celebrations at the playing site.
e) Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language in the conduct of his/her 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 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 athletes' ability to continue playing or training.
6) Recognize and accept when to refer athletes to other coaches or sport specialist. Allow athletes' goals to take precedence over their own.
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 co-operate 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 favors or threat of reprisal for the rejection of such requests.
3) Respect athletes's dignity; verbal or physical behaviors 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.
I have read and understand the above statements and agree to conduct myself in a manner that demonstrates the standards established in the Coaching Code of Conduct and Coaching Code of Ethics.
Although this code is directed toward coaching conduct it equally applies to other members of the "Team Leadership Staff" ie managers, trainers, equipment personelle etc.. It is assumed that these people act in cooperation with one another to construct a suitable environment for the athlete.
COACHES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO:
1) Treat everyone fairly within the context of their activity, regardless of gender, place of origin, color, sexual orientation, religion, political belief or economic status.
2) Direct comments or criticism at the performance rather than the athlete.
3) Consistently display high personal standards and project a favorable image of their sport and coaching.
a) refrain from public criticism of fellow coaches, athletes,officials and volunteers especially when speaking to the media or recruiting athletes.
b) Abstain from the use of tobacco products while in the presence of her/his athletes.
c) Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages when working with athletes.
d) Discourage the use of alcohol in conjunction with athletic events or victory celebrations at the playing site.
e) Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language in the conduct of his/her 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 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 athletes' ability to continue playing or training.
6) Recognize and accept when to refer athletes to other coaches or sport specialist. Allow athletes' goals to take precedence over their own.
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 co-operate 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 favors or threat of reprisal for the rejection of such requests.
3) Respect athletes's dignity; verbal or physical behaviors 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.
I have read and understand the above statements and agree to conduct myself in a manner that demonstrates the standards established in the Coaching Code of Conduct and Coaching Code of Ethics.
FAQ's - Respect in Sport Coaches Program
What is the Respect in Sport Coach Program? The Respect in Sport Coach Program provides in-depth information on the subjects of bullying, abuse, harassment and neglect in a convenient, safe and easy to comprehend manner.
What is the cost to take the Respect in Sport Coach Program? The cost is $30.00 plus GST per coach.
Is the Respect in Sport Coach Program mandatory?
The Respect in Sport Coach Program is replacing the "Speak Out" program. Hockey Alberta will no longer be hosting face to face Speak Out clinics as of the 2010-11 season. As stated in the Hockey Alberta Bylaws, one coach per team must have their Speak Out (now Respect in Sport Coach Program) before the December 31 deadline.
How does the Respect in Sport Coach Program work in terms of coaching certification?
The Respect in Sport Coach certification is good for 5 years and then re-certification is required. The program is directly linked to Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada databases so once the program has been completed your HCR record is automatically updated.
Why is this being implemented?
Respect in Sport helps Hockey Alberta promote the "Right Way" concept through this simple and convenient on-line tool. The Respect in Sport Coach Program is being implemented to provide an enhanced sport environment for our children.
How is Respect in Sport implemented?
The Respect in Sport Coach Program is presented as an online curriculum and includes audio/visual presentations.
What equipment is required to complete the program?
All that is required to complete the Respect in Sport curriculum is a computer, an Internet connection, and speakers or a headset. Optional equipment includes a printer to print out your certificate of completion.
What if I don’t have a high-speed connection? The course is designed to be accessible from any computer using dial-up or high-speed internet. Once registered, the user experience is the same at any speed.
What if I don’t know anything about computers? ?
Through extensive research and development, the program was designed, first and foremost, to be user friendly. There is also an on-line “Help” feature and a 1-800 support line available.
Is there a paper version of the program? No, by design. Hockey Alberta is continuously looking for tools that will help us create stronger organizations at minimal cost. Respect in Sport’s online courseware eliminates the need for our organization to absorb printing, mailing and administration costs. Respect in Sport also gives you ongoing access to the course once you’ve completed it, as an online resource.
How long is the course? It’s a total of 3-4 hours.
Do I have to do it all at once? No. You can do it at your leisure, come and go as required. The program remembers where you left off and brings you back to that point when you next sign-in. You can even do it from different computers. However, the program has to be completed by the December 31certification deadline as stated in Hockey Alberta's Bylaws.
Do I have to take the course every year? No. Once you’ve completed the course you’re done.
What is the cost to take the Respect in Sport Coach Program? The cost is $30.00 plus GST per coach.
Is the Respect in Sport Coach Program mandatory?
The Respect in Sport Coach Program is replacing the "Speak Out" program. Hockey Alberta will no longer be hosting face to face Speak Out clinics as of the 2010-11 season. As stated in the Hockey Alberta Bylaws, one coach per team must have their Speak Out (now Respect in Sport Coach Program) before the December 31 deadline.
How does the Respect in Sport Coach Program work in terms of coaching certification?
The Respect in Sport Coach certification is good for 5 years and then re-certification is required. The program is directly linked to Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada databases so once the program has been completed your HCR record is automatically updated.
Why is this being implemented?
Respect in Sport helps Hockey Alberta promote the "Right Way" concept through this simple and convenient on-line tool. The Respect in Sport Coach Program is being implemented to provide an enhanced sport environment for our children.
How is Respect in Sport implemented?
The Respect in Sport Coach Program is presented as an online curriculum and includes audio/visual presentations.
What equipment is required to complete the program?
All that is required to complete the Respect in Sport curriculum is a computer, an Internet connection, and speakers or a headset. Optional equipment includes a printer to print out your certificate of completion.
What if I don’t have a high-speed connection? The course is designed to be accessible from any computer using dial-up or high-speed internet. Once registered, the user experience is the same at any speed.
What if I don’t know anything about computers? ?
Through extensive research and development, the program was designed, first and foremost, to be user friendly. There is also an on-line “Help” feature and a 1-800 support line available.
Is there a paper version of the program? No, by design. Hockey Alberta is continuously looking for tools that will help us create stronger organizations at minimal cost. Respect in Sport’s online courseware eliminates the need for our organization to absorb printing, mailing and administration costs. Respect in Sport also gives you ongoing access to the course once you’ve completed it, as an online resource.
How long is the course? It’s a total of 3-4 hours.
Do I have to do it all at once? No. You can do it at your leisure, come and go as required. The program remembers where you left off and brings you back to that point when you next sign-in. You can even do it from different computers. However, the program has to be completed by the December 31certification deadline as stated in Hockey Alberta's Bylaws.
Do I have to take the course every year? No. Once you’ve completed the course you’re done.
Respect in Sport Coach Program
The Respect in Sport Coach Program provides in-depth information on the subjects of bullying, abuse, harassment and neglect in a convenient, safe and easy to comprehend manner.
This multi-media program utilizes audio with synchronized visuals, animations that demonstrate negative behaviours and provide ideas of how a situation may be better handled, includes valuable information from subject matter experts delivered in a clear and concise fashion, and asks questions of the leaders based on the animated scenarios displayed.
This multi-media program utilizes audio with synchronized visuals, animations that demonstrate negative behaviours and provide ideas of how a situation may be better handled, includes valuable information from subject matter experts delivered in a clear and concise fashion, and asks questions of the leaders based on the animated scenarios displayed.
Hockey Alberta Coaching Clinics
Hockey Alberta Play SMART Game and Conduct Manual
Hockey Canada Saftey Requires Team Work Publication
The Canadian Red Cross - www.redcross.ca
PREVNet - www.prevnet.ca
Bullying.org - www.bullying.org
The Media Awareness Network - www.media-awareness.ca
Long Term Athlete Development - www.canadiansportforlife.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada - National Clearing house on Family Violenece
Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect - pdf document
SafeCanada.ca - Bullying Topics
Canada Safety Council - Workplace Bullying Topics
Respect in Sport - www.respectinsport.com
Hockey Canada - Player Development
Canadian Tire Hockey Coaches Corner - https://www.canadiantirehockeyschool.ca/
