Coaches Code of Conduct
Friday 17th August 2007
This Code of Conduct is intended to provide information and guidance for all coaches, voluntary or otherwise, representing Birmingham University Volleyball Club.
BUVC coaches shall adhere at all times to standards of personal and professional behaviour which reflect positively BUVC. Coaches should also welcome evaluation of their work by colleagues and be able to account to players, BUVC, University Sport Birmingham and Volleyball England.
To this end, the coach:
- is responsible for setting and monitoring the boundaries between a working relationship and friendship with their players.
- must be concerned primarily with the well-being, health, protection and future of the individual player and only secondarily with the optimisation of performance.
- must take all reasonable steps to establish a safe working environment and ensure the safety of the players with whom they work as far as possible within the limits of their control.
- should ensure that the activity being undertaken is suitable for the age, experience and ability of the players and that players have been systematically prepared for the activity being undertaken and made aware of their personal responsibilities in terms of safety
- should ensure that all (s)he does is in keeping with the regular and approved practice of BUVC, University Sport Birmingham and Volleyball England.
- is responsible for communicating with qualified medical and ancillary practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment and management of a player’s injuries. Where there is no medical intervention, be able to make responsible judgements on whether to allow an injured player to train or play.
- should be punctual at all training sessions, matches and meetings.
- is responsible for planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating the sessions.
- must hold current affiliation to Volleyball England and be responsible for arranging adequate insurance to cover all aspects of their coaching practice.
- must attend appropriate Volleyball England coaching courses and hold at least the Level 1 Coach Award and a First Aid certificate before coaching alone.
- shall be responsible for regularly seeking ways of increasing his/her personal and professional development.
- shall educate players to the danger of taking banned substances that enhance a player’s performance and reinforce the rules relating to such offences.
- should accept responsibility for a player’s behaviour when in a sporting environment.
- should reach individual agreements with the players on what information collated by the coach is deemed as confidential. However the disclosure of information to a certain party will be deemed necessary when it is judged that on the grounds of legal and medical reasons protection of children from abuse, the risk of health and safety, disciplinary action of the player within volleyball.
- should be dressed appropriately for the activity to be undertaken and should present him/herself in a way that reflects well upon the sport, BUVC, University Sport Birmingham and Volleyball England.
- shall never smoke whilst involved in coaching, selection and matches.
- shall not drink alcohol so soon before coaching that it affects their coaching performance in any way or that the smell of alcohol will still be present on their breath whilst coaching.
- must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every human being and their ultimate right to self-determination. Coaches must treat everyone fairly and equally, within the context of their activity, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion or political persuasion.
- shall not encourage players to violate the rules of the sport and should actively seek to discourage such action. Furthermore, coaches should encourage players to obey the rules and play in the spirit of the game.
- must not attempt to exert undue influence over the player in order to obtain personal benefit or reward.
- must show respect for his/her opponents, the officials, opposing coaches and supporters.