Gloucester South Raiders Minor Football – Code of Conduct
The Gloucester South Raiders Minor Football Club (“the Club”) Code of Conduct applies to all matters that may arise during the Club’s business, activities and events, whether at the field or elsewhere, including but not limited to on field games, activities, training, training camps and meetings. It also applies to an individual’s conduct outside of the Club business, activities and events when such conduct is detrimental to the image and reputation of the Club.
Core Values of the Club
These are the fundamental principles that guide the mission of the Club to develop youth into football players and responsible young adults by encouraging personal growth and achieving potential. The Club’s success lies in the belief that it is our community of individuals whose shared goals are to foster in our athletes the love of sport, encourage personal growth and achievement, nurture a commitment to sportsmanship and fair play, foster respect for individuals and to do so in a way that places the best interests of all athletes first. All members of the Club Community (athletes, parents/guardians of athletes, coaches and other Club employees, contractors or individuals who volunteer services for the Club) are mutually responsible to each other to uphold these principles. The Code of Conduct prescribes what is expected of everyone who is a member of the Club Community.
Scope
This Code of Conduct applies to all matters that may arise during the Club’s business, activities and events, whether at the field or elsewhere, including but not limited to on field games, activities, training, training camps and meetings. It also applies to an individual’s conduct outside of the Club business, activities and events when such conduct is detrimental to the image and reputation of the Club.
Standards of Conduct
General
All members of the Club Community are expected to conduct themselves in the following manner:
a) demonstrate good sportsmanship and act in a manner that upholds the reputation of the Club and the sport of football;
b) treat all members of the Club Community and others with respect and dignity, demonstrating courtesy and compassion;
c) respect football officials (referees);
d) refrain from the use of foul language, disparaging, negative, abusive, or threatening language or behaviour to the Club Community or others;
e) respect and make proper use of all equipment and property of the Club or that of any other individual or entity that the Club Community may have access to from time to time, wherever Club activities take place;
f) refrain from any behaviour that discriminates on the basis of sex, ethnic origin, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age, language, marital or family status, disability or any other ground of discrimination prohibited by applicable human rights legislation;
g) refrain from any behaviour that constitutes harassment, bullying or cyber bullying of any kind, including, but not limited to, verbal or physical abuse, intimidation, or sexual harassment;
h) comply with all policies or regulations prescribed by the Club, the applicable sporting bodies (NCAFA, Football Ontario and Football Canada) or the football fields where the Club activities may be carried out; and,
i) identify and address all serious breaches of the Code of Conduct.
Athletes
In addition to the general expectations on standards of conduct athletes will:
a) participate in all Club activities to the best of their ability while exercising self-control and accepting responsibility for their actions;
b) act in a manner that brings credit to the Club acknowledging that their actions directly impact the Club’s reputation;
c) be responsible for their own training and train hard with their coaches;
d) arrive to games and training on time, ready to participate with all necessary equipment in good shape;
e) respect their teammates and fellow competitors;
f) listen to and respect their coaches at all times while also asking questions to further their training;
g) follow the applicable rules of football that are in force;
h) assist in game and training tear-down whenever requested to do so at home or away; and,
i) not consume alcohol, cannabis or other age inappropriate substances while participating in Club activities.
Parents and Guardians
In addition to the general expectations on standards of conduct parents and guardians of athletes will:
a) behave in a manner that makes them a role model for athletes;
b) provide guidance and leadership to their athletes to ensure athletes respect the Code of Conduct;
c) focus on their athletes’ well-being above all other football aspirations to win or advance their football career;
d) provide positive support, care and encouragement for all athletes during Club activities;
e) abide by Club expectations in relation to observing on and off field training as well as interactions with coaches;
f) respect and support the pedagogical decisions of the coaches; and,
g) help foster a positive Club environment through volunteering and supporting the Club.
Coaches
In addition to the general expectations on standards of conduct Club coaches will:
a) behave in a manner that makes them a role model for athletes;
b) treat all athletes fairly and refrain from creating an environment of favouritism;
c) provide regular and constructive feedback to athletes;
d) comply with all applicable policies, rules and regulations prescribed by their licensing bodies; and,
e) comply with all provisions of their coaching services for the Club, as the case may be.
Other Club Employees, Contractors or Volunteers
In addition to the general expectations on standards of conduct other club employees, contractors or volunteers that routinely work with the Club will:
a) comply with all provisions of their contracts or volunteer expectations in support of the Club, as the case may be.
Complaints and Discipline
A complaint may be made to any member of the Club Executive (the “Executive”) either in writing or verbally. Sufficient detail should be provided to assess the complaint. The Executive may take such immediate actions as it deems appropriate, including contacting law enforcement authorities or imposing immediate sanctions if urgency of the matter necessitates such actions. Where the situation and time allows, the complaint will be reviewed and determinations made by not less than three (3) members of the Executive’s Disciplinary Board (the “Disciplinary Board”).
The Disciplinary Board may determine:
a) the complaint is unfounded and consequently dismissed;
b) the complaint is justified and gives rise to one of the sanctions set out below; or,
c) the nature of the complaint is one where the Disciplinary Board assesses assistance from outside the Club is required. In this instance, the Disciplinary Board will determine the approach to be taken and proceed accordingly. As an example, there could be a determination that a representative from the league or police of jurisdiction is warranted in helping review and make determinations.
Where a complaint is justified, the Disciplinary Board may impose one or more of the following sanctions:
a) issue a verbal or written reprimand;
b) require a verbal or written apology;
c) suspension from certain events or activities of the Club, or for a period of time (temporary suspension); or,
e) any other sanction that is reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, including but not limited to removal from the team (indefinite suspension).
Once the Disciplinary Board has decided on the way forward, this will be communicated to the respondent and the complainant. Where the respondent is an athlete this will also include the parent/guardian of the athlete.
Conclusion
The Gloucester South Raiders Minor Football Club is Athlete Centered, Coach Driven, and Parent Supported. We rely on the entirety of our Club Community to foster an environment of respect where athletes can excel. It is with the continued support of the entire Club Community that the Club and athletes will flourish. With concerted efforts the Club will maintain and build on its strong reputation.
Preamble
NATIONAL CAPITAL AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CODE OF CONDUCT
Consistent with the objectives of the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) as state in Article 2 of the NCAFA Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations (2002), the following sections are intended as guidelines to the standards of conduct, ethical principles, and behaviours expected of all league participants, including players, parents/guardians, coaches, administrators, volunteers, and officials.
These guidelines in no way derogate from the authority of NCAFA with respect to sanctions and the operation of the league’s disciplinary committee, as described in Section 5.2.
5.2 Suspensions
A player or team official ejected from a game and whose ejection is reported on the game sheet by the head official shall be automatically suspended for the following game as well. Any team official ejected or suspended from a game may sit as a fan spectator only and NOT participate in any way whatsoever. Only in exceptional cases and at the discretion of the Disciplinary Sub- committee or the President, on the basis of a report from game officials and the convenor(s), may the suspension be waived. A second ejection reported on the game sheet by the head official carries an automatic season suspension. This regulation applies to all NCAFA sanctioned games, including all-star, pre-season, regular season, playoffs, and championships, and games played outside of the NCAFA.
Anyone who may have been ejected from a game but was not written up on the game report is not subject to further suspension.
The next game suspension of a player or team official who is ejected from the last game a team plays in the season, will be applied during the first regular season game of the following season. If a 2nd ejection in the season of a player or team official occurs in the last game a team plays in the season, that person will be suspended, pending an appeal by the disciplinary sub committee, from play up to the entirety of the next season.
Neither are the guidelines intended to supersede in any way the rules of amateur football, nor those articles governing league play in the NCAFA Constitution.
These guidelines will be made available to all league participants prior to the start of each season. As a component of the registration process, the league will require the attestation of all parents and players to having read and understood the Code of Conduct described in Annex X. Coaches, volunteers, and league officials will be required to attest to the Code of Conduct described in Annex Y prior to their participation in league activities.
The administration of the code of conduct shall be the responsibility of each club. Clubs may operationalize the code as to their choosing, but each must indicate to the league that their players and participants have read and signed off on the…
Member organizations of NCAFA shall be responsible for ensuring the enforcement of the expected behaviour among participants. The league shall be responsible for the enforcement of the Code for championship play, league-wide tournaments, and similar events.
Member organizations of NCAFA shall be responsible for ensuring that there is a designated discipline process in place and a disciplinary committee established.
Failure to comply with the NCAFA Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the policy established by the NCAFA affiliated football club. Code of Conduct violations may be referred to an individual club’s disciplinary committee, to the NCAFA Disciplinary Committee, or to the Referee’s Association, depending upon the offending party and/or the nature of the incident. Violations may result in penalties designated by the club, league, or referee’s association, and ranging from suspension to loss of club/league privileges.
Code of Conduct—Players
I will participate in NCAFA to the best of my abilities and accept responsibility for my actions on the field of play.
I will demonstrate good sportsmanship on the field of play at all times.
I will exercise self-control and do my best to listen and learn from my coaches.
I will be courteous and treat my coaches, others players, officials, and fans with respect, regardless of race, gender, creed, or ability.
I will refrain from the use of foul or abusive language on the field of play.
I will respect the integrity and judgment of game officials.
I will win with character and lose with dignity.
I have read and agree to abide by this Code of Conduct while a member of NCAFA.