The Lions Code of Conduct
Important Notice
League Meeting with Club Presidents 14th May 2009
CODE OF CONDUCT
<Click above to download .pdf document>
PLAYER’S CODE OF CONDUCT
The CPLJFC (Carrum Patterson Lakes Junior Football Club) fully supports the codes of conduct as introduced by the AFL Kids First program and Football Victoria.
No FDJFL registered player may participate in a fixtured game of football until they have completed and signed the Player’s Code of Conduct and the parents or guardian of the player have completed and signed the Parents and Supporters Code of Conduct.
It is the responsibility of coaches and team managers to ensure that players, parents and supporters have completed and signed the Code of Conduct. Completed
Codes of Conduct are to be kept by the Team
Manager and made available to the CPLJFC Committee on request. Note: Team Officials are required to adhere to the Parents and Supporters Code of Conduct.
- Play by the rules – the rules of Frankston & District Junior Football League and the laws of the game.
- Never argue with an umpire or other official – without these people you cannot play football.
- Control your temper – verbal abuse of officials and sledging other players doesn’t help you enjoy or win any games.
- Be a team player – it’s a team game, treat it that way.
- Treat all players, as you would like to be treated – fairly.
- Cooperate with your coach, the umpires, team mates and officials.
- Play for your own enjoyment and to improve your skills.
- Don’t use ugly remarks based on race, religion, gender or ability – you’ll let down your coach, team mates and family if you do, and many such comments are actually now illegal.
PARENTS AND SUPPORTERS CODE OF CONDUCT
- Remember that you are there for the participants (players and officials) to enjoy the game.
- Encourage participation, but don’t enforce it.
- Teach that enjoyment is better than winning.
- Never ridicule mistakes or losses – supporters are there to support not belittle.
- Lead by example and respect all players, coaches, umpires and spectators – physical or verbal abuse will not be tolerated.
- Recognise all volunteers who are giving up their valuable time.
- Never publicly criticise umpires, coaches and officials – raise your concerns with club officials in private.
- Don’t use ugly remarks based on race, religion, gender or ability – you’ll let down your coach, team mates and family if you do, and many such comments are actually now illegal.
By registering our child with the Carrum Patterson Lakes Junior Football Club we agree to abide by these principles. We will ensure that our child understands the expected behaviour of a CPLJFC player. We support the CPLJFC in its undertakings and encourage the CPLJFC to take any necessary disciplinary actions including the suspension and banning where warranted of any players, parents and/or supporters for repeated or serious breaches of these Codes of Conduct.
Regulations Supporting the Players, Parents and Supporters Codes of Conduct
These regulations have been developed to support coaches, team managers and club officials act upon breaches of the Codes of Conduct by Players, Parents and/or Supporters.
Summary of Action to Advise and Caution Players, Parents and/or Supporters of the Codes of Conduct.
Education Process
- Players and Parents advised of the Club’s Codes of Conduct at the time of registration
- The coach and/or team manager prior to the commencement of the fixtured season will discuss the expected levels of behaviour by both players and parents.
- Display Parents and Supporters Code of Conduct at matches.
- Players will not be permitted to play in a fixtured game for the Club unless they and their parents/guardians have signed the Player’s Code of Conduct and the Parents and Supporters Code of Conduct.
- Breaches
- Player and parents acting in manner contrary to the Code of Conduct will be cautioned regarding the inappropriateness of their behaviour.
- A player, parent or supporter failing to heed this caution will be asked to leave the playing venue.
- Player, parents or supporters asked to leave the venue and will be required to provide a written assurance that they will abide by the Code of Conduct before being permitted to return to the club to train or play.
- Repeated behaviour contrary to the Codes of Conduct will be dealt with by the Club in conjunction with the League.
Regulations
- No CPLJFC Player may take part in any fixtured game of football for the CPLJFC unless both the player and the player’s parent or guardian have completed and signed the Codes of Conduct.
- Team managers are responsible for retaining copies of the signed Codes of Conduct and must make these available to the Committee on request.
- Coaches and/or Team Managers must address players, parents/guardians and supporters formally as a group (where practical) outlining the expected standards of behaviour required under the Codes of Conduct.
- Any player in the opinion of the coach or team manager breaching the Players Code of Conduct may be immediately removed from the playing arena. The player may return to the game at the coach’s discretion.
- If the coach and the team manager believe that the players behaviour is such that the player should be formally cautioned or suspended from subsequent games due to breaches of the Player Code of Conduct they will first contact the Club Secretary who will convene a meeting between the Club’s Executive Committee, Player, Player’s Parents/Guardians, Team Coach and/or Team Manager and any other club official, League official or person the Club deems appropriate to attend to address the matter. The Club Executive may impose match suspension(s) deemed appropriate for the offence and/or any other action deemed reasonable to address the player’s behaviour.
- Repeated breaches of the Players Code of Conduct by a player may result in a Player being de registered from the Club.
- Parents/Guardians and Supporters who in the opinion of the coach, team manager, ground marshal or any other club official are in breach of the Parents/Guardian and Supporters Code of Conduct will be approached bythe ground marshal in the company of the opposition team’s ground marshal and devised they are in breach of the Code of Conduct and reminded of the behaviour expectations.
- A Parent/Guardian or Supporter failing to curb the offending behaviour will be asked to leave the venue and if a parent/guardian of a player, playing at the time, that player will be removed from the playing Arena and escorted to the parent who may then leave the venue. If the parent and/or player refuse to leave the playing venue the League will be contacted and if deemed appropriate, the police. [For incidents that occur at Club home games the Game Day Marshal or other Club Official will take responsibility for ensuring the player and/or parent leave the playing venue. For away games the ground marshal or any club or League official will assume responsibility]
- The Parent/Guardian or Supporter will not be permitted to return to the venue or their child participate in any training or games until such time as the Club Executive via the Club Secretary receives a written explanation and assurance that behaviour contrary to the Code of Conduct will not be repeated.
- If the Parent/Guardian or Supporter subsequently behaves again in an inappropriate manner the parent/guardian or supporter will be required to attended a meeting between the Club’s Executive Committee, League representatives and any other club official, VCFL official or person the Club deems appropriate to attend to address the matter. This Committee may impose match suspension(s) deemed appropriate for the offence and/or any other action deemed reasonable to address the parents’ behaviour including deregistration of the parent and child from the Club.
The Club is committed to ensuring that natural justice and privacy of people involved in the breach are dealt with sensitively, irrespective of the alleged breach of the Code.
COACH CODE OF CONDUCT
Coaches are required to sign the AFL Code of Conduct as part of the Level 1 Accreditation requirement. All coaches must be accredited to coach in our League.
I,<name of coach>, hereby commit, to the best of my ability, to uphold the AFL Coaches Code of Conduct.
I understand that as an integral component of my accreditation, I must maintain a standard of behaviour and conduct in the best interests of the game and the players/ staff in my care.
In representing myself in an honest manner and without bringing the coaching profession or the
Game into disrepute, I will endeavour to uphold the following to the best of my ability:
1. I will respect the rights, dignity and worth of all individuals within the context of my involvement in Australian Football, including refraining from any discriminatory practices on the basis of race, religion, ethnic background, or special ability/disability.
2. I will abide by and teach the AFL Laws of the Game and the Rules of my Club and League/Association.
3. I will be reasonable in the demands I make on the time commitments of the players in my care, having due consideration for their health and well-being.
4. I will refrain from any form of personal abuse or unnecessary physical contact with the players in my care.
5. I will have due consideration for varying maturity and ability levels of my players when designing practice schedules, practice activities and involvement in competition.
6. I will avoid overplaying the talented players aiming to maximise participation and enjoyment for all players regardless of ability. I will ensure all players play a minimum of half a game, including finals where practicable.
7. I will stress and monitor safety always.
8. In recognising the significance of injury and sickness, I will seek and follow the physician’s advice concerning the return of injured or ill players to training.
9. I will endeavour to keep informed regarding sound principles of coaching and skill development, and of factors relating to the welfare of my players.
10. I will at all times display and teach appropriate sporting behaviour, ensuring that players understand and practise fair play.
11. I will display and foster respect for umpires, opponents, coaches, administrators, other officials, parents and spectators.
12. I will ensure that players are involved in a positive environment where skill learning and development are priorities are not overshadowed by a desire to win.
13. I reject the use of performance enhancing substances in sport and will abide by the guidelines set forth in the AFL DRUG POLICY.