Town Green FC Code Of Conduct - Policies All Team / Club 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. Set a positive example for others, particularly young players and supporters.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 their 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.
Coaches1. 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 wellbeing 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, parent) 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.
Parents / SpectatorsParents / 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 – its 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. Ensure that parents/spectators within your club are always positive and encouraging towards all of the children not just their own. Encourage parents / spectators to: • Applaud the opposition as well as you own team. A parents / spectator’s expectations and attitudes have a significant bearing on a child’s attitude towards: • Other players. • Avoid coaching the child during the game. • Officials. • Not to shout and scream. • Managers. • Respect the referee’s decision. • Spectators. • Give attention to each of the children involved in football not just the most talented. Ensure that parents / spectators within your club are always positive and encouraging towards all of the children not just their own. • Give encouragement to everyone to participate in football. Ensure that parents / Spectators within your club agree and adhere to your club’s Code of Conduct and Child Protection Policy.
Players1. Make every effort to develop their own sporting abilities, in terms of skill, technique, tactics and stamina. 2. 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. 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 expressing an opinion on the game and any particular aspect of it, including others involved in the game. 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 team win. 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 help injured opponents. Respect towards the Match Officials a player should:1. Accept the decision 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 their Coach and Team Officials provided they do not contradict the 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.
Child Protection Policy - Town Green Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care and is committed to working to provide a safe environment for all members. A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club football activity. We subscribe to The Football Association’s child protection and best practice policy and procedures and endorse and adopt the policy statement contained in that document.
- The key principles of The FA child protection policy are that: The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration. All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents or carers is essential. We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse. Town Green Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.
- Town Green Football Club has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The Football Association’s child protection regulation (see The FA Handbook) applies to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This includes those who are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach, club official or medical staff.
- We endorse and adopt The FA’s child protection and best practice guidelines for recruiting volunteers and will:
- Develop a role profile
- Request identification documents
- As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible conduct interviews before appointing
- Request and follow up with two references before appointing
- Require an FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA guidelines.
All current Town Green Football Club members with direct access to children and young people will be required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit. If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Town Green Football Club guidance will be sought from The Football Association. It is noted and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via The FA CRB Unit Enhanced CRB Disclosure and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of children and young people.It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football. -
- Town Green Football Club supports The FA’s whistle blowing policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting The FA child protection manager on 0207 745 4771, by writing to The FA case manager at The Football Association, 25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA or by going direct to the police, social services or the NSPCC. Town Green Football Club encourages everyone to know about it and utilise it if necessary.
- Town Green Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer (CWO) in line with The FA’s role profile and required completion of the child protection and best practice workshop. The post holder will be involved with designated person’s training provided by The FA. The CWO is the first point of contact for all club members and parents or guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child or young person. They will liaise directly with the CFA CPO and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. They will also play a proactive role in increasing an awareness of poor practice and abuse amongst club members.
- We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. If bullying does occur, all players, parents or guardians should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the CWO, a member of the committee or, in cases of serious bullying contact the CFA CPO.
- Codes of conduct for players, parents or spectators, officials and coaches have been implemented by Town Green Football Club. In order to validate these codes of conduct the club has clear sanctions to deal with any misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented by leagues or the CFA in more serious circumstances. All respective members will be informed of these codes.
- Further advice on child protection matters can be obtained from:
- The County Football Association’s Child Protection Officer, whose details can be found in the County Handbook
- The Football Association/NSPCC Child Protection 24-Hour Helpline 0808 800 5000
- www.TheFA.com/Goal
- The FA child protection team 0207 745 4649.
Equal Opportunities PolicyTown Green Football Club is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all members of whatever level or authority, to abide and adhere to this general principle and the requirements of the Codes of Practice issued by the Equal Opportunities Commission and Commission for Racial Equality. All members are expected to abide by the requirements of the Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1986 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Specifically discrimination is prohibited in: • Treating any individual on grounds of gender, colour, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientated or disability less favourably than others. • Expecting an individual solely on the grounds stated above to comply with requirement(s) for any reason whatsoever related to their membership, which are different to the requirements for others. • Imposing on individual requirements 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. • Victimisation of an individual. • Harassment of an individual (which for the purposes of this policy and the actions and sanction applicable thereto is regarded as discrimination). • Any other act or omission of an act, which has as its effect the disadvantaging of a member against another, or others, purely on the above grounds. Thus, in all 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. Town Green Football Club commits itself to the immediate investigation of any claims of discrimination on the above grounds and where such is found to be the case, a requirement that the practice cease forthwith, restitution of damage or loss (if necessary) and to the investigation of any member accused of discrimination. Any member found guilty of discrimination will be instructed to desist forthwith. Since discrimination in its many forms is against the Football Club’s policy, any members offending will be dealt with under the disciplinary procedure. The Football Club commits itself to the disabled person whenever possible and will treat such members, in aspects of their recruitment and membership, in exactly the same manner as other members, the difficulties of their disablement permitting assistance will be given, wherever possible to ensure that disabled members are helped in gaining access. Appropriate training will be made to such members who request it
Anti Discrimination PolicyAs the governing body of the game, The Football Association is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the game at every level. Football belongs to, and should be enjoyed by, everyone equally. Our commitment is to eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or ability and to encourage equal opportunities. Town Green Football Club is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the club at every level. Football belongs to and should be enjoyed by everyone, equally. Our commitment is to confront and eliminate discrimination whether by reason of sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability. Equality of opportunity at Town Green Football Club means that in all our activities we will not discriminate or in any way treat anyone less favourably, on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability. This includes: • 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. Town Green Football Club will not tolerate sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal and will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs. Town Green Football Club is committed to the development of the programme of ongoing training and awareness raising events and activities in order to promote the eradication of discrimination within its own organisation and in the wider context, within football as a whole.
Club Complaint ProcedureIn the event that any member feels that he or she has suffered discrimination in any way or that the Club Policies, Rules or Code of Conduct has been broken should follow the procedures below. 1. They should report the matter to the Club Secretary or another member of the Committee. Your report should include: I. Details of what, when, and where the occurrence took place. ii. Any witness statement and names. iii. Names of any others who have been treated in a similar way. iv. Details of any former complaints made about the incident, date, when and to whom made. v. A preference for a solution to the incident. 2. The Club’s Management Committee will sit for any hearings that are requested. 3. The Club’s Management Committee will have the power to: I. Warn as to future conduct; ii. Suspend from membership; iii. Remove from membership; any person found to have broken the Club’s Policies | | |