Code Of Conduct for Homenetmen Coaches

COACHING CODE OF CONDUCT

The athlete/coach relationship is a privileged one. Coaches play a critical role in the personal as well as athletic development of their athletes. They must understand and respect the inherent power imbalance that exists in this relationship and must be extremely careful not to abuse it. Coaches must also recognize that they are conduits through which the values and goals of a sport organization are channelled. A Homenetmenagun Coach has the added and difficult responsibility of instilling the importance of the Armenian heritage into the sporting activity. Thus how an athlete regards his/her sport is often dependent on the behaviour of the coach. The following Code of Conduct has been developed to aid coaches in achieving a level of behaviour which will allow their athletes in becoming well-rounded, self confident, disciplined and productive Homenetmenagans.
Although this code is directed toward coaching conduct it equally applies to other members of the "Team Leadership Staff" i.e. managers, trainers, equipment personnel etc.. It is assumed that these people act in cooperation with one another to construct a suitable environment for the athlete.

COACHES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO:

1. Treat everyone fairly within the context of his or her activity, regardless of gender, place of origin, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political belief or economic status.
2. Direct comments or criticism at the performance rather than the athlete.
3. Consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of their sport and coaching.
4. Refrain from public criticism of fellow coaches, athletes, officials and volunteers.
5. Abstain from the use of tobacco products while in the presence of her/his athletes.
6. Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages when working with athletes.
7. Discourage the use of alcohol in conjunction with athletic events or victory celebrations at the playing site.
8. Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language in the conduct of his/her duties.
9. Ensure that the activity being undertaken is suitable for the age, experience, ability and fitness level of the athletes and educate athletes as to their responsibilities in contributing to a safe environment.
10. Communicate and co-operate with registered medical practitioners in the diagnoses, treatment and management of their athletes' medical and psychological problems. Consider the athletes' future health and well being as foremost when making decisions regarding an injured athletes' ability to continue playing or training.
11. Recognize and accept when to refer athletes to other coaches or sport specialists. Allow athletes' goals to take precedence over their own.
12. Regularly seek ways of increasing professional development and self-awareness.
13. Treat opponents and officials with due respect, both in victory and defeat and encourage athletes to act accordingly. Actively encourage athletes to uphold the rules of their sport and the spirit of such rules.
14. In the case of minors, communicate and co-operate with the athletes' parents or legal guardians, involving them in management decisions pertaining to their child's development.
15. Be aware of the many pressures placed on athletes as they strive to balance the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of their lives and conduct practices and games in a manner so as to allow optimum success.

COACHES MUST:

1. Ensure the safety of the athletes with whom they work.
2. At no time become intimately and/or sexually involved with their athletes. This includes requests for sexual favours or threat of reprisal for the rejection of such requests.
3. Respect athlete’s dignity; verbal or physical behaviours that constitute harassment or abuse are unacceptable.
4. Never advocate or condone the use of drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances.
5. Never provide under age athletes with alcohol, never encourage its use.

I have read and understand the above statements and agree to conduct myself in a manner that demonstrates the standards established in the Coaching Code of Conduct and Coaching Code of Ethics.

Name of Coach: ________________________________

Signed: _____________________________