Preface
This Code has been introduced as a formal recognition of how the Scarborough Junior Football Club expects its parents/friends/relatives, coaches, managers, team officials and players to conduct themselves at training, game day and any club functions. Scarborough Junior Football Club has a fine record of sportsmanship but it is appropriate that a Code of Conduct be formalised to ensure a safe, pleasant and friendly experience for the children, parents and many hard working volunteers that make SJFC the great club it is.
Above all the Club should be a ‘good place’ to be associated with, events must be enjoyable and supporters should be made to feel as though they belong. Visitors also, must be able to feel welcome.
General
Sport plays a role in promoting physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle, in learning to face challenges and strive against the odds, in developing qualities such as self discipline, perseverance, selflessness, obedience and building self-esteem. Parents are asked to keep in mind that playing football should primarily be for the benefit of their child or children.
Good sportsmanship is an integral part of all that is best about sport. It includes a generous spirit, true respect for others and the game, graciousness, and a steadfast resistant to temptations such as attempting to gain an unfair advantage. Good sportsmanship encapsulates much that is honourable in human behaviour and endeavour.
The Scarborough Junior Football Club aims to be an example in terms of player and parent behaviour. All players and their support network are bound through the player’s registration to the following expectations. All those involved in the Club, be they players, coaches, managers, other team officials or supporters are required to adhere to this Code.
Guidelines of Behaviour
Teams
- The Club will abide by and apply rules laid down by the Claremont Junior Football District aimed at ensuring all players are afforded the opportunity to play and enjoy their football. This includes rules relating to minimum access to playing time for all players and rotation of players where necessary.
- Auskick is a most important phase of a child’s development in learning basic skills and above all having fun playing the game. The Club will endeavour to grade Auskick teams to be as equal as possible in terms of playing ability to ensure games are played at a similar standard. This goal takes precedence over whether players play with their “mates”.
- The Aged teams often have two or more teams in one age group. While every reasonable effort will be made to keep friends in the same team and to maintain team composition, the club reserves the right to field teams that are as evenly matched as possible to ensure that both teams have similar opportunities to achieve success. This may involve players changing teams from time to time when it is considered there is significant disparity between the two teams in terms of playing ability or numbers which may impact on the club’s long term viability. Any such decisions will be made in a consultative manner and will be communicated promptly to all concerned.
Players
- Positive and sportsmanlike behaviour should be exhibited by extending standard courtesies to the opposing team i.e. pre-match courtesies, thanking umpires/referees and opposing team after the match.
- Deliberate violence in any sport is unacceptable and physical contact will be restricted to that allowed within the rules of the game.
- Verbal provocation and response to provocation is unacceptable.
- Bad language or sledging, whether directed at another player, the umpire/referee or oneself is unacceptable.
- The umpire/referee’s decision is always final and is not to be contested.
- Immodest behaviour in victory or success, and manifestation of self disgust at an error or failure, are acts or poor sportsmanship and are unacceptable.
- Unfair or illegal tactics to gain advantage are unacceptable and should never be used.
- Display respect to team-mates, coaches and team officials. Bullying will not be tolerated.
Coaches & Managers
- Exhibit the standards and expectations of the Club at all times.
- Ensure that good sportsmanship and good sports skills each receive strong emphasis.
- Reinforce expectations regarding courtesies, punctuality, behaviour and dress, even with the most senior players.
- Delegate leadership and responsibility to the team captain whenever possible; refrain from any form of excessive coaching from the sidelines.
- Do not always give the impressions that a lost match should have been won with a greater effort. The opposition is sometimes just too skilled.
- Do not publicly question an umpires/referee’s decision and avoid blaming a team’s defeat on ‘poor umpiring’.
- Establish and foster cordial relations with the coaches and managers of opposing teams.
Parents & Other Spectators
Children appreciate the presence and support of their parents. Accordingly, always set an example of good sportsmanship and give enthusiastic, but not excessive or inappropriate, support. Remember your child plays football for their benefit, not yours. The club promotes coaches and parents delivering messages of encouragement and support, not criticism.
Assist the Club and its teams where possible. Whilst we have some highly dedicated coaches / managers and committee members, they cannot do it all. Junior sporting clubs heavily rely on each parent to assist in some way, both with training and game day.
- When visiting another club’s premises and ground please respect the club premises and rules concerning parking, tidiness, use of alcohol, etc. Your conduct represents our clubs conduct.
- Do not give advice during a match to coaches, umpires/referee’s, or players. Football is a team sport and all children need to be listening to their coach during pre-game, quarter / half-time breaks and post game addresses.
The Club Committee is entrusted with the authority to manage the affairs of the Club and will itself be bound by this Code in doing so. It will make decisions in furtherance of the principles and aims of this Code, and these may include determining the make-up of specific teams, specifying team management requirements to coaches, and ultimately if necessary applying sanctions to players, parents or officials who commit serious breaches of the Code.