Codes of Conduct

Code for Coaches
Co de for Players
Code of Conduct for Club Officials
Code of Conduct for Parents/Spectators
Anti-discriminatory Policy
Club Complaints Procedurer

A. Code of Conduct for Football

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. Football will take into account 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.
Young People Football acknowledges the extent of its influence over young people and pledges to set a positive example. Propriety Football acknowledges that public confidence demands the highest standards of financial and administrative behaviour within the game, and will not tolerate corruption or 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 is committed to fairness inits 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.

This code applies to all those involved in football under the auspices of The Football Association.

B. Code of Conduct for Coaches

Coaches are key to the establishment of ethics in football and are, therefore, expected to pay particular care to the moral aspect of their conduct. 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 or the reputation of the club, school, coach or parent. Set out below is The SSAFC Code of Conduct 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 the sport.
Coaches must place the wellbeing and safety of each player above all other considerations, including the development of performance.
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 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 and 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.
Coaches should promote a healthy perspective and should NOT smoke in front of the players when on footballing duty.

Coaches have to be aware that almost all of their everyday decisions and choices of actions, as well as strategic targets, have ethical implications.

C. 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 extremely important.

1. Obligations towards the game
A player should:

Make every effort to develop their sporting ability 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, including others involved in the game.
Not use inappropriate language.

2. 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 win.
Resist any influence which might bring into question his commitment to the team winning.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Respect towards Team Officials and Supporters. 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 (i) Team Officials of the opposition and (ii) the interests of supporters

D.Code of Conduct for Team/Club Officials

This Code may not apply to all officials.

1. 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 football
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 and 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.

2. 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 due respect to the interests of players, coaches and other officials, at their own club/team and others.

3. Obligations towards the Supporters and Match Officials .The team official should:

Show due respect to the interests of supporters and Match Officials.
Accept the decisions of the Match Official without protest.
Avoid words or actions which may mislead a Match Official.

4. Set a positive example for others, particularly young players and supporters.
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.

E. Code of Conduct for Parents/Spectators

1. A parent's / spectator's expectations and attitudes have a significant bearing on a child's attitude towards:

Other players.
Officials.
Managers.
Spectators.

2. SSAFC Parents/ Spectators should :

Applaud the opposition as well as you 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.

3. All parents SSAFC parents to sign Registration Form declaration each year to confirm adherence to Clubs Code of Conduct

SSAFC parents/spectators should always be positive and encouraging towards all of the children not just their own.

F. Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities Policy

SSAFC is committed to equality of opportunity and will confront and eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability and to encourage equal opportunities. Equality of opportunity includes how the Club deals with:-

The advertisement for volunteers.
The selection of candidates for volunteers.
Courses.
External coaching and education activities and awards.
Football development activities.
Selection for teams.
Appointments to honorary positions.

SSAFC will not:-

impose requirements on individuals 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.
Victimise or harass any member of the Club.
Be discriminatory in it's 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 judgements between them - it is essential that merit, experience, skills and temperament are considered as objectively as possible.

SSAFC Committee will not tolerate sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behavior, whether physical or verbal and will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action and if necessary the Committee will:-

Require any member found guilty of discrimination to desist forthwith with some restitution of damage if necessary;
Maintain the right to remove that member from the Club if felt appropriate.

Summertown Stars AFC is committed to the development of the program of ongoing training and awareness raising events and activities in order to promote the eradication of discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities.

G. Club Complaints Procedure

In the event that any member of SSAFC feels that he or she has suffered discrimination in any way or that the Club Policies, Rules or Code of Conduct have been broken, should follow the procedures below.

They should report the matter to the Club Secretary or another member of the Committee. Your report should include:

Details of what, when, and where the occurrence took place.
Any witness statement and names.
Names of any others who have been treated in a similar way.
Details of any former complaints made about the incident, date, when and to whom made.
A preference for a solution to the incident

The Club's Management Committee will sit for any hearings that are requested.
The Club's Management Committee will have the power to:

Warn as to future conduct;
Suspend from membership;
Remove from membership

any person found to have broken the Club's Policies or Codes of Conduct.