Codes of Practice

As part of the club's bid for Clubmark accreditation we are adopting many of the procedures recommended by UK Athletics concerning the responsibilities of the Club, Coaches, Team Managers, Technical Officials and Volunteers, Parents/Carers and Athletes.

Publishing this information here enables us to inform members of their responsibilities and roles using the guidelines issued by UK Athletics, so sorry if this sounds a bit patronising(!)

Code of Practice for Club Officials and Volunteers

• Consider the wellbeing and safety of participants before the development of performance.
• Develop an appropriate working relationship with participants, based on mutual trust and respect.
• Make sure all activities are appropriate to the age, ability and experience of those taking part.
• Promote the positive aspects of the sport (e.g. fair play).
• Display consistently high standards of behaviour and appearance.
• Follow all guidelines laid down by the national governing body and the club.
• Hold appropriate valid qualifications and insurance cover.
• Never exert undue influence over performers to obtain personal benefit or reward.
• Never condone rule violations, rough play or the use of prohibited substances.
• Encourage participants to value their performances and not just results.
• Encourage and guide participants to accept responsibility for their own performance and behaviour.

• Encourage your child to learn the rules and play within them.
• Discourage unfair play and arguing with officials.
• Help your child to recognise good performance, not just results.
• Never force your child to take part in sport.
• Set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding the good performances of all.
• Never punish or belittle a child for losing or making mistakes.
• Publicly accept officials' judgements.
• Support your child's involvement and help them to enjoy their sport.
• Use correct and proper language at all times.
• Encourage and guide performers to accept responsibility for their own performance and behaviour.

• Treat others with the same respect and fairness you would wish to receive
• Uphold the same values off the field as you do when engaged in athletics
• Anticipate your own needs, be organised, be on time
• Thank those who help you to participate in athletics
• Inform your coach of any other coaching you are receiving
• Show patience with, and respect diversity in others
• Act with dignity at all times
• Notify a responsible adult when you have to go somewhere (why, where, and when you will return) - hopefully this only applies to junior athletes
• Not respond if someone seeks private information unrelated to athletics - e.g. home life
• Use safe, reliable travel and transport arrangements
• Avoid destructive behaviours, and leave athletics venues in at least as good a state as you find them
• Never engage in any illegal or irresponsible behaviour
• Challenge anyone whose behaviour falls below the expected standards of 'Athletics Welfare'
• Speak out immediately if anything makes you concerned or uncomfortable - (tell your parents/carers, or the club Welfare Officer), or if you suspect a club mate has suffered from misconduct by someone else.

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every athlete and treat everyone equally, regardless of background or ability
• Uphold the values expressed in the Equity Statement as adopted by the club
• Place the welfare and safety of the athlete above the development of performance
• Develop appropriate working relationships with young athletes, (especially under 18's), based on mutual trust and respect
• Not exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward
• Encourage and guide athletes to accept and take responsibility for their own behaviour and performance, and give them as much autonomy as possible
• Never do something for an athlete that they can do for themselves
• Avoid critical language or actions, such as sarcasm, that undermine an athlete's self esteem
• Not spend time alone with a young athlete unless clearly in view of others
• Avoid taking a young athlete alone in your car
• Never invite a young athlete alone to your home. .
• Never engage in physical or sexually provocative games or horseplay, or share a bedroom with a child
• Always explain why and ask for consent before touching an athlete
• Always work in same sex pairs when supervising changing areas - Perhaps more appropriate at Tracks with Changing Facilities!
• Ensure that parents/carers know about and have approved in advance if taking a young athlete away from the usual training venue
• Respect the right of young athletes to an independent life outside athletics
• Make sure you are appropriately qualified for activities that you coach, and update your licence and education as and when required by UK Athletics
• Adopt safe training regimes appropriate to the age, development stage and capacity of the athlete
• From the outset, clarify with the athletes (and where appropriate with their parents or carers) exactly what is expected of them, and what the athletes are entitled to expect from the coach
• Never try to recruit, either overtly or covertly, athletes who are already receiving coaching
• Co-operate fully with other colleagues (coaches, officials, team managers, and others) in the best interest of the athlete
• Consistently promote positive aspects of the sport (e.g. fair play) and never condone rule violations or the use of age-inappropriate substances
• Strictly maintain a clear boundary between friendship and intimacy with athletes • Challenge inappropriate behaviour or language by others • Report any accidental injury, distress, misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
• A brief report of such incidents should be submitted to the club Welfare Officer as soon as possible and parents/carers notified
• Report any suspected misconduct by other coaches or athletics personnel
• Consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance

This club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport England definition of sports equity:

Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.

The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.

The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.

All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.

The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.