Constitution and Fair Play

Constitution

Fair Play Codes of Behaviour

Players

• Play by the rules and for the fun of the game. 
• Respect the decisions of officials, umpires, coaches, and administrators. 
• Show respect and courtesy to all involved with the sport. 
• Respect the rights and worth of every person, regardless of their age, race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality, or religion. 
• Do not use abusive, bullying, or threatening behaviour. 
• Verbal abuse of officials or other players, deliberately fouling or provoking an opponent and throwing equipment is not acceptable or permitted in any sport. 
• Be a good sport. Cheer all good plays, whether they be by your team or the other team. 
• Treat all players as you would like to be treated. 
• Avoid use of derogatory language. 
• Act with integrity and objectivity and accept responsibility for your decisions and actions. 
• Co-operate with your coach, team-mates and opponents and umpires. Without them there would be no game. 

Coaches

• Be reasonable in your demands on your players’ time, energy, and enthusiasm. 
• Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else. 
• Be aware of and support the sport’s injury management plans and return to play guidelines. 

Coaching excellence 

• Help each person (athlete, official, etc) to reach their potential. Respect the talent, developmental stage and goals of each person and encourage them with positive and constructive feedback. 
• All players need equal court time. 
• Encourage and support opportunities for people to learn appropriate behaviours and skills. 
• Support opportunities for participation in all aspects of the sport. 
• Treat each participant as an individual. 
• Never ridicule or yell at the players for making mistakes or losing a competition. 
• Obtain appropriate qualifications and keep up to date with the latest coaching practices and the principles of growth and development of participants. 

Honour the sport 

• Act within the rules and spirit of your sport. Teach your players that rules of the sport are mutual agreements which no one should evade or break. 
• Promote fair play over winning at any cost. 
• Respect the decisions of officials, umpires, coaches and administrators. 
• Show respect and courtesy to all involved with the sport. 
• Remember that we participate for fun and enjoyment and that winning is only part of their motivation. 

Integrity 

• Act with integrity and objectivity and accept responsibility for your decisions and actions. 
• Ensure your decisions and actions contribute to a harassment-free environment. 
• Wherever practical, avoid unaccompanied and unobserved one-on-one activity (when in a supervisory capacity or where a power imbalance exists) with people under the age of 18. 
• Ensure that any physical contact with another person is appropriate to the situation and necessary for the person’s skill development. 
• Follow the advice of a physician when determining when an injured player is ready to recommence play. 

Respect 

• Respect the rights and worth of every person, regardless of their age, race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality, or religion. 
• Do not tolerate abusive, bullying, or threatening behaviour. 
• Develop team respect for the ability of opponents as well as for the judgement of officials and opposing coaches. 

Spectators

Respect 

Each member is responsible in helping to provide a safe environment for participation. Aggressive, threatening, or other inappropriate behaviour by members, their families, their friends, and other sporting personnel while attending a game or event will not be tolerated. 

These behaviours specifically include: 

• Using bad language. 
• Harassing or ridiculing players, coaches, officials, umpires, or other spectators. 
• Making racist, religious, sexist, or other inappropriate comments to players, coaches, officials, or other spectators. 
• Any threatening behaviour or physical altercation between spectators and players, coaches, officials, umpires, or other spectators. 
• Putting undue pressure on children, berating them, or putting down their performance. 
• Partaking in alcohol or drugs at a game or training.

Applaud good performances and efforts from each team. Congratulate all participants upon their performance, regardless of the game’s outcome. 

Honour the sport 

• Respect the official’s decisions. If there is a disagreement, follow the appropriate procedure in order to question the decision and teach the players to do likewise. 
• Never ridicule a player or umpire for making a mistake during a competition. Positive comments are motivational. 
• Condemn the use of violence in any form, be it by spectators, coaches, officials, umpires, or players. 
• Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no game. 
• Encourage players to follow the rules and the official’s and umpire’s decisions. 
• Recognize the value and importance of volunteer coaches and officials and umpires. They give their time and resources to provide recreational activities for the children and deserve your support.