FRANKSTON YCW FOOTBALL CLUB CODES OF CONDUCT

FOOTBALL VICTORIA CODES OF CONDUCT

(FV Regulation 5.1.4 (a))

Football Victoria is justifiably proud of the long history that Australian Football has played within this State since the mid-nineteenth century. The past 150 years have witnessed significant achievements and created lifelong memories for hundreds of thousands of people. To ensure that Australian Football plays a significant part of our future for the next 150 years we need to be smarter about the way we preserve the traditions and values of our game.

One of the critical components of our game is the passion that people show for the team & club that they support. Whilst this passion is usually harnessed and used to support our game, it sometimes can boil over to create negative situations. We must all work together in the attempt to eliminate this negative passion.

Codes of Conduct are an integral component of sporting activities and the following codes compliment the good work of many football bodies over several years and the Australian Sports Commission requirement.

All Members of Football Victoria shall adopt Member specific codes and Football Victoria encourages Members to be vigilant in enforcing such codes whether via support for those who constantly abide by the codes and / or harsh penalties for those who fail to act in accordance with the codes.

FRANKSTON YCW FOOTBALL CLUB

MANDATORY & ENFORCEABLE CODES OF CONDUCT FOR COACHES, PLAYERS, PARENTS, SUPPORTERS AND OFFICIALS

The Frankston YCW Junior Football Club fully supports the codes of conduct as introduced by the AFL Kids First program and AFL Victoria. The codes of conduct are applicable to all Club activities including fixtured games, team training, social events and other official club or team events

No Frankston YCW JFC registered player may participate in a fixtured game of football until they have completed and signed the Player's Code of Conduct and the parents or guardian of the player have completed and signed the Parents and Supporters Code of Conduct.

It is the responsibility of coaches and team managers to ensure that players, parents and supporters have completed and signed the Code of Conduct. Completed Codes of Conduct are to be kept by the Team Manager and made available to the Frankston YCW JFC Committee on request. Note: Team Officials are required to adhere to the Parents and Supporters Code of Conduct

COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT

Coaches are required to sign the AFL Code of Conduct as part of the Level 1 Accreditation requirement. All coaches must be accredited to coach in our League.

PLAYER'S CODE OF CONDUCT

# Play by the rules - the rules of Frankston YCW JFC, Frankston & District Junior Football League and the laws of the game.

# Never argue with an umpire or other official - without these people, you can't play football.

# Control your temper - verbal abuse of officials and sledging other players doesn't help you enjoy or win any games.

# Be a team player - It's a team game, treat it that way.

# Treat all players as you would like to be treated - fairly.

# Co-operate with your coach, the umpires and team-mates.

# Play for your own enjoyment & to improve your skills.

# Don't use ugly remarks based on race, religion, gender or ability - you'll let down your coach, team-mates and family if you do - & many such comments are actually now illegal.

PARENTS/GUARDIANS & SUPPORTERS CODE OF CONDUCT

# Remember that you are there to support your childs enjoyment of the game.

# Encourage your child's participation, but don't enforce it

# Focus on your child's efforts and self esteem rather than winning & losing.

# Never ridicule mistakes or losses Supporters are there to support not belittle.

# Lead by example and respect all players, coaches, umpires, administrators and spectators.

# Physical or verbal abuse will not be tolerated.

# Recognise and show appreciation of all volunteer officials who are giving up their valuable time.

# Never publicly criticise umpires, rather raise personal concerns with club officials in private.

# Do not use remarks based on race, religion, gender or ability as many such comments are politically incorrect and it is your coach, team-mates, Club and family that are let down with such remarks.

# Respect the facilities and equipment of their own and opposing Clubs.

# Do not engage in physical and/or verbal intimidation, abuse or conduct toward any player, official, umpire or supporter. Such actions are totally unacceptable.

# Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by spectators, coaches, officials or players.

# Abusive language is unacceptable.

# Smoking at junior sporting matches is unacceptable. Consumption of alcohol is prohibited.

By registering our child with Frankston YCW Junior Football Club we agree to abide by these principles. We will ensure that our child understands the expected behaviour of a Frankston YCW JFC player. We support the Frankston YCW JFC in its undertakings and encourage the Frankston YCW JFC to take any necessary disciplinary actions including the suspension and banning where warranted of any players, parents and/or supporters for repeated or serious breaches of these Codes of Conduct. We acknowledge that it is our responsibility to ensure that family or friends attending events are made aware of, and adhere to, the Codes of Conduct.

Regulations Supporting the Players, Parents and Supporters Codes of Conduct

These regulations have been developed to support coaches, team managers and club officials act upon breaches of the Codes of Conduct by Players, Parents and/or Supporters.
Summary of Action to Advise and Caution Players, Parents and/or Supporters of the Codes of Conduct.

Education Process

# Players and Parents advised of the Club's Codes of Conduct and Policies at the time of registration via the distribution of the Players and Parents Handbook and a signed declaration on the registration form agreeing to abide to the Codes of Conduct and Policies.

# The coach and/or team manager prior to the commencement of the fixtured season will conduct an information session to discuss the expected levels of behaviour by both players and parents.

# Display AFL Kids First rules at matches.

# Players will not be permitted to play in a fixtured game for the Club unless they and their parents/guardians have signed the Player's Code of Conduct and the Parents and Supporters Code of Conduct.

Breaches

# Player and parents acting in manner contrary to the Code of Conduct will be cautioned regarding the inappropriateness of their behaviour.

#A player, parent or supporter failing to heed this caution will be asked to leave the playing venue or event.

# Player, parents or supporters asked to leave the venue or event will be required to provide a written assurance that they will abide by the Code of Conduct before being permitted to return to the club to train or play.

#Repeated behaviour contrary to the Codes of Conduct will be dealt with by the Club in conjunction with the League.

Regulations

# No FRANKSTON YCW Player may take part in any fixtured game of football for the FRANKSTON YCW JFC unless both the player and the player's parent or guardian have completed and signed the Codes of Conduct. Team officials are required to sign too

# Team managers are responsible for retaining copies of the signed Codes of Conduct and must make these available to the Committee on request.

# Coaches and/or Team Managers must address players, parents/guardians and supporters formally as a group (where practical) outlining the expected standards of behaviour required under the Codes of Conduct.

#Any player in the opinion of the coach or team manager breaching the Players Code of Conduct may be immediately removed from the playing arena. The player may return to the game at the coach's discretion.

#If the coach and the team manager believe that the players behaviour is such that the player should be formally cautioned or suspended from subsequent games due to breaches of the Player Code of Conduct they will first contact the Club Secretary who will convene a meeting between the Club's Executive Committee, Player, Player's Parents/Guardians, Team Coach and/or Team Manager and any other club official, League official or person the Club deems appropriate to attend to address the matter. The Club Executive may impose match suspension(s) deemed appropriate for the offence and/or any other action deemed reasonable to address the player's behaviour.

#Repeated breaches of the Players Code of Conduct by a player may result in a Player being de registered from the Club.

# Parents/Guardians and Supporters who in the opinion of the umpire, coach, team manager, ground marshal or any other club or league official are in breach of the Parents/Guardian and Supporters Code of Conduct will be approached by the ground marshal in the company of the opposition team's ground marshal and advised they are in breach of the Code of Conduct and reminded of the behaviour expectations. At a club event the team manager will assume the ground marshals responsibilities.

#A Parent/Guardian or Supporter failing to curb the offending behaviour will be asked to leave the venue or event and if a parent/guardian of a player, playing at the time, that player will be removed from the playing arena and escorted to the parent who may then leave the venue. If the parent and/or player refuse to leave the playing venue or event the League will be contacted and if deemed appropriate, the police. [For incidents that occur at Club home games the Game Day Marshal or other Club Official will take responsibility for ensuring the player and/or parent leave the playing venue. For away games the ground marshal or any club or League official will assume responsibility]

#The Parent/Guardian or Supporter will not be permitted to return to the venue or their child participate in any training, game or club event until such time as the Club Executive via the Club Secretary receives a written explanation and assurance that behaviour contrary to the Code of Conduct will not be repeated.

# If the Parent/Guardian or Supporter behaves in an inappropriate manner the parent/guardian or supporter will be required to attend a meeting between the Club's Executive Committee and any other club official, League official or person the Club deems appropriate to attend to address the matter. This Committee may impose match suspension(s) deemed appropriate for the offence and/or any other action deemed reasonable to address the parents's behaviour including deregistration of the parent and child from the Club.

The Club is committed to ensuring that natural justice and privacy of people involved in the breach are dealt with sensitively, irrespective of the alleged breach of the Code.