PART A PLAYER & PARENT CODE OF BEHAVIOUR
All players or parents are required to adhere to the Player and Parent Code of Behaviour during the grading/team selection to maintain the integrity of the process.
6.1 Player Code of Behaviour
- Play by the rules of the game.
- Never argue with the referee or any other official there to help you. If you disagree, ask your captain, coach, or manager to courteously approach the official during a break or after the competitive event.
- A good player is a self-disciplined person; stay in control of your temper always. Verbal abuse of officials, sledging other players, deliberately distracting, or provoking an opponent are behaviors that are neither acceptable nor permissible.
- Work hard on your own game and work equally hard to play your part in the team effort as there will be a benefit to both the team’s performance and your own performance.
- Be a good sport – respect and applaud all good plays whether they are made by your team or by the opposition.
- Treat all participants in football events as you would like to be treated. Never bully, take ‘cheap shots’ or take unfair advantage of another competitor.
- Cooperate with your team coach, teammates, and opponents – without them there would be no competition event.
- Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit, not just to please other persons such as coaches, parents, etc.
- Respect the rights, dignity, and worth of all participants, regardless of their gender, ability level, cultural background, or religion.
6.2 Parent Code of Behaviour
- Remember that young people participate in football for their pleasure and enjoyment, not yours.
- Encourage young persons to participate, do not force them.
- Focus of the young person’s efforts and performance rather than winning or losing.
- Encourage young persons to always play according to the rules and to settle disagreements without resorting to hostility, verbal abuse, or violence.
- Never ridicule or yell at a young person for making a mistake of losing a competitive event.
- Remember that young persons learn best by positive example. Appreciate good performances and skilful plays by all participants.
- Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from football sporting activities.
- Respect officials’ decisions and teach young players to do likewise.
- Show control, respect, and appreciation to all involved with football – this includes players, opponents, coaches, officials, administrators, the media, other parents, and spectators.
- Encourage players to do the same. Remember that without many of these volunteer persons, your child would not be able to participate in football sporting activity.
- Respect the rights, dignity, and worth of every young person participating in the sport of football, regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background, or religion.
- Play your important role in the prevention of sport rage; although sport rage is often the result of many factors, parents can reduce its incidence by being good role models and helping to create a positive sporting environment. Consider and deal with each of the following six important actions by parents: