Codes of Conduct

OMUAFC is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its members. The club believes that it is important that members, coaches, officials, administrators parents and spectators associated with the club should, at all times, show respect and understanding for the safety and welfare of others. Therefore, all those associated will OMUAFC should comply by these Codes of Conduct.

Coach’s/Manager’s Code of Conduct
Be reasonable in your demands on young players’ time, energy and enthusiasm.

• Teach your players that the rules of the game are mutual agreements, which no one should evade or break.
• Whenever possible, group players according to age, height, skills and physical maturity.
• The scheduling and length of practice times and competition should take into consideration the maturity level of players.
• Avoid over-playing the talented players. The “just-average” players need, and deserve, equal time.
• Remember that children play for fun and enjoyment and that winning is only part of their motivation. Never ridicule children for making mistakes or losing a game.
• Ensure that equipment and facilities meet safety standards and are appropriate to the age and ability of the players.
• Develop team respect for the ability of opponents as well as for the judgement of officials and opposing coaches.
• Actively discourage the use of performance enhancing drugs, and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances.
• Be aware of the role of the coach as an educator. As well as imparting knowledge and skills, promote desirable personal and social behaviours.
• Seek to keep abreast of changes in the sport; ensure that the information used is up to date, appropriate to the needs of players and takes account of the principles of growth and development of children. Do not tolerate acts of aggression.
• Provide feedback to players and other participants in a manner sensitive to their needs. Avoid overly negative feedback.
• Recognise players’ rights to consult with other coaches and advisers. Cooperate fully with other specialists (for example, sports scientists, doctors and physiotherapists) and follow the advice of a physician when determining when an injured player is ready to recommence play.
• Treat all players fairly within the context of their sporting activities, regardless of gender, race, place of origin, athletic potential, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, socio-economic status and other conditions.
• Encourage and facilitate players’ independence and responsibility for their own behaviour, performance, decisions and actions.
• Involve the players in decisions that affect them.
• Ensure any physical contact with players is appropriate to the situation and necessary for the player’s skill development. Avoid situations with your players that could be construed as compromising.
• Do not exploit any coaching relationship to further personal, political or business interests at the expense of the best interest of your players
• Be acutely aware of the power that you as a coach develop with your players in the coaching relationship and avoid any sexual intimacy with players that could develop as a result
  
  

Participant’s Code of Conduct

• Play for the “fun of it” and not just to please parents and coaches.
• Co-operate with your coach, team mates and opponents. Without them there would be no competition.
•  Play by the rules.
• Be a good sport. Acknowledge all good plays whether they are from your team, the other team or another player.
• Treat all players as you would like to be treated. Do not interfere with, bully or take unfair advantage of another player.
• Never argue with an official. If you disagree, have your  coach or manager approach the referee during a break or after the game in an appropriate manner.
• Control your temper. Verbal abuse of officials or other players, deliberately distracting or provoking an opponent is not acceptable or permitted in Soccer.
• Work equally hard for yourself and for your team. Your team’s performance will benefit, so will you.
• Treat all players as you would like to be treated. Do not interfere with, bully or take unfair advantage of another player.

All members must respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

Be prepared to lose sometimes. Everyone wins and loses at some time. Be a fair winner and good loser.

Parent’s Code of Conduct

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of others.
• Encourage children to participate if they are interested. If they are not, don’t force them. Remember children are involved in sport for their enjoyment, not yours.
• Focus on playing the game, reducing the emphasis on winning.
• Help your child to recognise good performance, not just results. Applaud good play by all teams.
• Demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility especially when dealing with or in the vicinity of persons Under 18 years of age, as your words and actions are an example.
• Encourage your child to learn the rules and play within them.
• Never ridicule or yell at your child and other children for making a mistake or losing a competition.
• Accept decisions of all officials as being fair and called to the best of their ability. Do not raise issues of disagreement publicly.
• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from sporting activities and avoid use of derogatory language based on gender, race or impairment.
• Encourage and guide performers to accept responsibility for their own performance and behaviour.
• Understand the repercussions if you breach, or are aware of any breaches of, this code of behaviour
  
  

Spectator’s Code of Conduct

• Remember children play sport for fun. They are not playing for the entertainment of spectators. They are not miniature professionals.
• Applaud good performances from each team. Congratulate all players regardless of the outcome.
• Respect the referee’s decision. If there is disagreement, follow the appropriate procedure in order to query the decision.
• Never ridicule or scold a child for making a mistake during competition. Be positive.
• Condemn the use of violence in any form, be it by spectators, coaches or players.
• Show respect for your team’s opponents, without them, there would be no game.
• Encourage players to obey the rules and decisions of officials.
• Demonstrate appropriate social behaviour by not using foul language, harassing players, coaches or officials.
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
  
  

Official's Code of Conduct

• Interpret rules and regulations to match the skill level and the needs of participants.
• Compliment both teams on their efforts. Encourage participants to value their performances and not just results.
• Be consistent, objective and courteous in calling all infractions.
• Consider the wellbeing and safety of participants before the development of performance.
• Condemn the deliberate foul as being unsportsmanlike, and promote fair play and appropriate sporting behaviour.
• Use common sense to ensure that the “spirit of the game” for children is not lost by overcalling violations.
• Actions speak louder than words. Ensure that both on and off the court your behaviour is consistent with the principles of good sportsmanship.
• Make a personal commitment to keep yourself informed of sound officiating principles and the principles of growth and development of children.
• Help the education process in the game. Referees can help players learn to play the game well by ensuring rule infractions are understood, and by encouraging fair play.
• Never exert undue influence over performers to obtain personal benefit or reward.
• Never condone rule violations, rough play or the use of prohibited substances.
  
  

Encourage and guide participants to accept responsibility for their own performance and behaviour