Codes of Behaviour

The AUSSIE SPORT Codes of Behaviour have been developed to help everyone involved in junior sport to promote fair play and appropriate behaviour. The brochure outlines the codes of behaviour for players, parents, coaches, teachers, officials, administrators, spectators and the media.

Players Code of Behaviour
Parents Code of Behaviour
Coaches Code of Behaviour
Administrators Code of Behaviour
Officials Code of Behaviour
Media Code of Behaviour
Spectators Code of Behaviour

Players Code of Behaviour

• Play by the rules
• Never argue with an official. If you disagree, have your captain, coach or manager approach the official during a break or after the competition.
• Control your temper. Verbal abuse of officials and sledging other players, deliberately distracting or provoking an opponent are not acceptable or permitted behaviours in any sport.
• Work equally hard for yourself and/or your team. Your team’s performance will benefit, so will you.
• Be a good sport. Applaud all good plays whether they are made by your team or the opposition.
• Treat all participants in your sport as you like to be treated. Do not bully or take unfair advantage of another competitor.
• Cooperate with your coach, teammates and opponents. Without them there would be no competition.
• Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit, not just to please parents and coaches.
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

Parents Code of Behaviour

• Remember that children participate in sport for their enjoyment, not yours.
• Encourage children to participate, do not force them.
• Focus on the child’s efforts and performance rather than winning or losing.
• Encourage children always to play according to the rules and to settle disagreements without resorting to hostility or violence.
• Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a competition.
• Remember that children learn best by example. Appreciate good performances and skilful plays by all participants.
• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from sporting activities.
• Respect officials’ decisions and teach children to do likewise.
• Show appreciation for volunteer coaches, officials and administrators. Without them, your child could not participate.
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

Coaches Code of Behaviour

• Remember that young people participate for pleasure and winning are only part of the fun.
• Never ridicule or yell at a young player for making a mistake or not coming first.
• Be reasonable in your demands on players’ time, energy and enthusiasm.
• Operate within the rules and spirit of your sport and teach your players to do the same.
• Ensure that the time players spend with you is a positive experience. All young people are deserving of equal attention and opportunities.
• Avoid overplaying the talented players; the just average need and deserve equal time.
• Ensure that equipment and facilities meet safety standards and are appropriate to the age and ability of all players.
• Display control, respect and professionalism to all involved with the sport. This includes opponents, coaches, officials, administrators, the media, parents and spectators. Encourage your players to do the same.
• Show concern and caution toward sick and injured players. Follow the advice of a physician when determining whether an injured player is ready to recommence training or competition.
• Obtain appropriate qualifications and keep up to date with the latest coaching practices and the principles of growth and development of young people.
• Any physical contact with a young person should be appropriate to the situation and necessary for the player’s skill development.
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

Teachers Code of Behaviour

• Encourage young people to develop basic skills in a variety of sports and discourage overspecialisation in one event, sport or playing position.
• Create opportunities to teach appropriate sports behaviour as well as basic skills.
• Give priority to free play activities, skill learning and modified sports over highly structured competition for primary school children.
• Prepare young people for intra and inter school competition by teaching them basic sport skills.
• Make young people aware of the positive benefits of participation in sporting activities.
• Keep up to date with coaching practices and the principles of physical growth and development. Read and use the latest coaching and teaching resources for junior sport.
• Help young people understand the differences between the junior competition they participate in and professional sport.
• Help young people understand that playing by the rules is their responsibility.
• Give all young people equal opportunities to participate in administration, coaching and refereeing as well as playing.
• Support implementation of the National Junior Sport Policy.
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

Administrators Code of Behaviour

• Involve young people in planning, leadership, evaluation and decision making related to the activity.
• Give all young people equal opportunities to participate.
• Create pathways for young people to participate in sport not just as a player but as a coach, referee, administrator etc.
• Ensure that rules, equipment, length of games and training schedules are modified to suit the age, ability and maturity level of young players.
• Provide quality supervision and instruction for junior players.
• Remember that young people participate for their enjoyment and benefit. Do not overemphasise awards.
• Help coaches and officials highlight appropriate behaviour and skill development, and help improve the standards of coaching and officiating.
• Ensure that everyone involved in junior sport emphasises fair play, and not winning at all costs.
• Give a code of behaviour sheet to spectators, officials, parents, coaches, players and the media, and encourage them to follow it.
• Remember, you set an example. Your behaviour and comments should be positive and supportive.
• Support implementation of the National Junior Sport Policy.
• Make it clear that abusing young people in any way is unacceptable and will result in disciplinary action.
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

Officials Code of Behaviour

• Modify rules and regulations to match the skill levels and needs of young people.
• Compliment and encourage all participants.
• Be consistent, objective and courteous when making decisions.
• Condemn unsporting behaviour and promote respect for all opponents.
• Emphasise the spirit of the game rather than the errors.
• Encourage and promote rule changes, which will make participation more enjoyable.
• Be a good sport yourself. Actions speak louder than words.
• Keep up to date with the latest trends in officiating and the principles of growth and development of young people.
• Remember, you set an example. Your behaviour and comments should be positive and supportive.
• Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else.
• Give all young people a ‘fair go’ regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

Media Code of Behaviour

• Provide coverage of young people’s competitive and non-competitive sport as well as reporting adult sport.
• Be aware of the differences between adult sport, professional sport and modified sports programs for young people.
• Don’t highlight isolated incidents of inappropriate sporting behaviour.
• Focus upon a young player’s fair play and honest effort.
• Do not place unfair expectations on young people. They are not miniature professionals.
• Describe and report on the problems of young people participating in organised sport.
• Focus on the abilities and not the disabilities of young people.
• Avoid reinforcing stereotypical views on the involvement of boys/girls in particular sports.
• Give equal time and space to reporting boys and girls sports.
• Familiarise yourself with the National Junior Sport Policy.
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

Spectators Code of Behaviour

• Remember that young people participate in sport for their enjoyment and benefit, not yours.
• Applaud good performance and efforts from all individuals and teams. Congratulate all participants on their performance regardless of the game’s outcome.
• Respect the decisions of officials and teach young people to do the same.
• Never ridicule or scold a young player for making a mistake. Positive comments are motivational
• Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by spectators, coaches, officials or players.
• Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no game.
• Encourage players to follow the rules and the officials’ decisions.
• Do not use foul language, sledge or harass players, coaches or officials.
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

This is an archive copy of a web document originally located at http://www.sportnet.com.au/activeaustralia/national/targeted/aussie_sport/codes_of_behavious.html. All copyright remains with the creator.

The National Sport Information Centre Web Archive provides access to archive copies of materials in electronic forms. There is no inference that these materials necessarily reflect the current policy of any of the institutions or agencies that created them.