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Club Code of Conduct - Players/Parents

2011-08-29T22:26:34+01:00

CODE OF CONDUCT

Within the club we subscribe to the common codes of conduct of the football league
Each player and parent also signs and accepts this common code of conduct on an annual basis as part of the player registration process.
The general rules may be summarised as follows;
1. Be appreciative of, and abide by, the Rules of the Competition
2. Understand and accept the Rules and Regulations of the Club with which he/she is registered as a player
3. Ensure that I/We and my/our son/daughter abide by the Competition’s Fair Play Policy and show proper respect to all concerned
4. Accept and uphold any decisions made by the Competition’s Disciplinary sub-committee (subject to any Appeal through the Club)
5. Abide by all decisions of Match Officials - whether League or Club appointed
6. Behave in an acceptable manner before, during and after games, and present a good and proper example to all the players involved.
7. Keep any verbal comments within reasonable limits, and ensure that they are always of encouragement and support
8. Never enter the field of play without the permission of the Referee
9. Refrain from all offensive, abusive, racist or sexist comments
10. Do everything possible to enable games to take place in a sporting and friendly manner at all times

FA Code of Conduct - Players

2011-08-29T22:25:47+01:00

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 allothers in the game is fundamentally important.
This Code focuses on players involved in top-class football. Nevertheless, the key concepts in theCode are valid for players at all levels.
OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS THE GAME
A player should:
1. Make every effort to develop his own sporting abilities, in terms of skill, technique, tacticsand stamina.
2. Give maximum effort and strive for the best possible performance during a game, even ifhis team is in a position where the desired result has already been achieved.
3. Set a positive example for others, particularly young players and supporters.
4. Avoid all forms of gamesmanship, and time-wasting.
5. Always have regard to the best interests of the game, including where publicly expressingan opinion on the game and any particular aspect of it, including others involved in thegame.6. Not use inappropriate language.
OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS ONE’S OWN TEAM
A player should:
1. Make every effort consistent with Fair Play and the Laws of the Game to help his own teamwin.
2. Resist any influence which might, or 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:
1. Know and abide by the Laws, rules and spirit of the game, and the competition rules.
2. Accept success and failure, victory and defeat, equally.
3. Resist any temptation to take banned substances or use banned techniques.
RESPECT TOWARDS OPPONENTS
A player should:
1. Treat opponents with due respect at all times, irrespective of the result of the game.
2. Safeguard the physical fitness of opponents, avoid violence and rough play, and helpinjured opponents.
RESPECT TOWARDS THE MATCH OFFICIALS
A player should:
1. Accept the decisions of the Match Official without protest.
2. Avoid words or actions which may mislead a Match Official.3. Show due respect towards Match Officials.
RESPECT TOWARDS TEAM OFFICIALS
A player should:
1. Abide by the instructions of his Coach and Team Officials, provided they do not contradictthe spirit of this code.
2. Show due respect towards the Team Officials of the opposition.
OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS THE SUPPORTERS
A player should:
1. Show due respect to the interests of supporters.

FA Code of Conduct - Coaches

2011-08-29T22:25:09+01:00

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COACHES

Coaches are key to the establishment of ethics in football. Their concept of ethics and their attitude directly affects 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 of 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-allcosts” 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 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:
1. Coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of each and every person and treat each equally within the context of the sport.
2. Coaches must place the well-being and safety of each player above all other considerations, including the development of performance.
3. Coaches must adhere to all guidelines laid down by governing bodies.
4. Coaches must develop an appropriate working relationship with each player based on mutual trust and respect.
5. Coaches must not exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
6. Coaches must encourage and guide players to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.
7. Coaches must ensure that the activities they direct or advocate are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of players.
8. Coaches should, at the outset, clarify with the players (and, where appropriate, parents) exactly what is expected of them and also what they are entitled to expect from their coach.
9. Coaches must co-operate fully with other specialists (e.g. other coaches, officials, sports scientists, doctors, physiotherapists) in the best interests of the player.
10. 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.
11. Coaches must consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance.
12. Not to use or tolerate inappropriate language.

FA Code of conduct - Team Officials

2011-08-29T22:24:15+01:00

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:
1. Set a positive example for others, particularly young players and supporters.
2. Promote and develop his own team having regard to the interest of the players, supporters and reputation of the national game.
3. 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.
4. Avoid all forms of gamesmanship.
5. Show due respect to Match Officials and others involved in the game.
6. 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.
7. Not use or tolerate inappropriate language.
OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS THE TEAM
The team official should:
1. 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.
2. Give priority to the interests of the team over individual interests.
3. Resist all illegal or unsporting influences, including banned substances and techniques.
4. Promote ethical principles.
5. Show due respect to the interests of players, coaches and other officials, at his own club/team and others.
OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS THE SUPPORTERS
The team official should:
1. Show due respect to the interests of supporters.
RESPECT TOWARDS THE MATCH OFFICIALS
A team official should:
1. Accept the decisions of the Match Official without protest.
2. Avoid words or actions which may mislead a Match Official.
3. Show due respect towards Match Officials.

Child Protection Policy

2011-08-29T22:22:55+01:00

Child Protection Policy

Aims and Objectives
Promote good practice by:
a) Providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of the football club
b) Allowing all staff/volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.
Promoting good practice with young people
All personnel will be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behavior in order to protect themselves from false allegations. They should:

Always work in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations)
Treat all young people equally, with respect and dignity
Put the welfare of each young person first, before winning or achieving goals
Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with players
Build balanced relationships based on mutual trust which empowers children to share in the decision - making process
Promote fair play
Ensure that if any form of manual/physical support is required, it should be provided openly and according to guidelines provided by the Coach Education Program
Keep up to date with the technical skills, qualifications and insurance in the sport
Involve parents/carers wherever possible
Ensure that at tournaments or residential events, adults should not enter children's rooms or invite children into their rooms
Not smoke or drink alcohol in the company of young people
Give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism
Avoid excessive training
Secure parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to give permission for the administration of emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment
Request written parental consent if club officials are required to transport young people in their cars.

PRACTICE TO BE AVOIDED
The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable they should occur with the full knowledge of someone in charge of the club or the child's parents.
All personnel should:

Avoid spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others
Avoid taking children to their homes where they will be alone with the young people.

PRACTICE NEVER TO BE SANCTIONED
Personnel will never:

Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay
Share a room with a child
Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged
Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun
Reduce a child to tears as a form of control
Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged or unrecorded
Do things of a personal nature for children that they can do themselves
Invite or allow children to stay with you at your home unsupervised

If any of the following occur it will be reported immediately to a colleague and recorded. The child's parents will be informed:

A child is accidentally hurt by a member of staff
A child seems distressed in any way
A player seems to be sexually aroused by a member of staff's actions
A player misunderstands or misinterprets an action.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
Woburn Lions FC recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children and will endeavour to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. The following checks will be included:

All volunteers/staff will complete an application form and a self-disclosure about any criminal record
Consent will be obtained from an applicant to seek information from the Criminal Records Bureau
Two confidential references, including one regarding previous work with children, will be taken up
Applicants must provide the Club with proof of identity (passport or driving licence with photo).

RESPONDING TO SUSPICIONS OR ALLEGATIONS
Woburn Lions FC will assure all staff/volunteers that it will fully support and protect anyone, who in good faith reports his/her concern that a colleague may be abusing a child.
The following action will be taken if there are concerns: (see Appendix A).
Poor practice

If, following consideration, the allegation is clearly about poor practice, the Club Child Protection Officer will deal with it as a misconduct issue
If the allegation is about poor practice by the Child Protection Officer or if concerns remain, it will be reported to the relevant Officer of the FA who will decide how to deal with the allegation and whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings.
Any suspicions that a child has been abused by either a member of staff or a volunteer should be reported to the Child Protection Officer, who will take such steps necessary as to ensure the safety of the child
The parents of the child will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the Social Services Department
The Child Protection Officer will notify the FA officer
If the Child Protection Officer is the subject of the allegation, the report must be made to the appropriate Manager.

CONFIDENTIALITY
Every effort will be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information will be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. This will include the following people:

The Child Protection Officer
The parents of the person who is alleged to have been abused
The person making the allegation
Social Services/Police
The FA Regional Development Manager and Child Protection Officer
The alleged abuser (and parents if the alleged abuser is a child)'

Information will be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection law.
ACTION IF BULLYING IS SUSPECTED
Woburn Lions FC staff/volunteers will:

Take all signs of bullying very seriously
Encourage all children to speak and share their concerns with someone in authority
Investigate all allegations and take action to ensure victim is safe. Speak with the victim and bullies separately.
Reassure the victim that they will be helped
Keep records of what is said
Report any concerns to the Child Protection Officer
Talk with the bully/ies, and aim to get the bully/ies to understand the consequences of the behaviour. Seek an apology to the victims.
Inform the bully's parents.
Provide support for the coach of the victim
Encourage and support the bully to change behaviour
Hold meetings with the families to report on progress.
Inform all organisational members of action taken.
Keep a written record.