Belnorth Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct aims to set out the minimum standards for anyone involved in football. It should apply when playing, training or taking part in club-sanctioned activities, including as a spectator.

The Belnorth Code of Conduct has a general section and four specific sections which are applicable to the different roles that members may find themselves in during club activities. Members should also be aware of Football Australia’s National Code of Conduct and Ethics.

General Code of Conduct

In addition to the FA Code of Conduct, you must meet the following requirements during any activity held or sanctioned by Football Australia or a Member Federation and in your role as a coach of FA or a Member Federation. A member must not engage in the following conduct:

  1. offensive behaviour, including offensive, obscene, abusive, provocative, indecent or insulting gestures, language or chanting;
  2. physically assaulting another person;
  3. provocation or incitement of hatred or violence;
  4. intimidating another person or creating a hostile or unsafe environment within the sport;
  5. damaging property in connection with a Match or Competition;
  6. any conduct in breach of the FA Spectator Code of Behaviour or the Terms of Admission at a Match, including any involvement in spectator, supporter or crowd violence;
  7. any other conduct that brings, or may bring, FA, any of its sponsors, a Football Administrator or Football generally into disrepute or which is otherwise prejudicial to the interests of the FA or Football generally.

Coaches Code of Conduct

In addition to the FA Code of Conduct, you must meet the following requirements during any activity held or sanctioned by FA or a Member Federation and in your role as a coach of FA or a Member Federation:

  1. Operate within FA rules and promote integrity and good character amongst participants.
  2. Encourage and support opportunities for participants to learn appropriate behaviours and skills in all aspects of the sport.
  3. Treat each participant as an individual.
  4. Help each participant reach their potential – respect the talent, developmental stage and goals of each individual and encourage with positive and supportive feedback.
  5. Wherever practical, avoid unaccompanied and unobserved one-on-one activity (when in a supervisory capacity or where a power imbalance will exist) with participants under the age of 18 years.
  6. Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else.
  7. Adopt appropriate and responsible behaviour and ensure that your decisions and actions contribute toward creating an environment which minimises participant behaviour likely to bring the game of football into disrepute. Such behaviour is not to be tolerated and includes:
    1. Discriminatory behaviour, including public disparagement of, discrimination against, or vilification of, a person on account of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion;
    2. Offensive behaviour, including abusive, obscene, harmful, provocative or insulting gestures, language or chanting;
    3. Intimidation of match officials, coaches or administrators or the use of actions to pressure a match official, coach or administrator to take or omit to take certain action regardless of where such action is taken;
    4. Unwelcome physical contact or harassment which makes a person feel offended, humiliated and/or intimidated where that reaction is reasonable in the circumstances;
    5. Abuse of position to obtain personal benefit;
    6. Commission or charge of a criminal offence; or
    7. Any other conduct, behaviour or statement that materially injures the reputation and goodwill of FA or football generally.
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Agree to this Code of Conduct

Participants (Players) Code of Conduct

In addition to the General Code of Behaviour, you must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by FA or a Member Federation and in your role as participants of FA or a Member Federation:

  1. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of fellow participants, coaches, officials and spectators.
  2. Respect the talent, potential and development of fellow team members and competitors.
  3. Care and respect the equipment provided to you as part of your program.
  4. Be frank and honest with your coach concerning illness and injury and your ability to train fully within the program requirements.
  5. Maintain honesty in your attitude and preparation to training. Work equally hard for yourself and your team.
  6. Cooperate with coaches and staff in development of programs to adequately prepare you for competition at the highest level.
  7. Ensure that you do not exhibit behaviour that is likely to be construed as bringing the FA or the game of football into disrepute

Agree to this Code of Conduct

Officials/Volunteers Code of Conduct

In addition to the General Code of Behaviour, you must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by FA or a Member Federation and in your role as an official appointed by FA or a Member Federation:

  1. Operate within FA rules and promote integrity and good character amongst participants.
  2. Encourage and support opportunities for participants to learn appropriate behaviours and skills in all aspects of the sport.
  3. Treat each participant as an individual.
  4. Help each participant reach their potential – respect the talent, developmental stage and goals of each individual and encourage with positive and supportive feedback.
  5. Wherever practical, avoid unaccompanied and unobserved one-on-one activity (when in a supervisory capacity or where a power imbalance will exist) with participants under the age of 18 years.
  6. Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else.
  7. Maintain consistency and impartiality when making decisions
  8. Address unsporting behaviour and promote respect for all participants
  9. Adopt appropriate and responsible behaviour and ensure that your decisions and actions contribute toward creating an environment which minimises participant behaviour likely to bring the game of football into disrepute. Such behaviour is not to be tolerated and includes:
    1. Discriminatory behaviour, including public disparagement of, discrimination against, or vilification of, a person on account of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion;
    2. Offensive behaviour, including abusive, obscene, harmful, provocative or insulting gestures, language or chanting;
    3. Intimidation of match officials, coaches or administrators or the use of actions to pressure a match official, coach or administrator to take or omit to take certain action regardless of where such action is taken;
    4. Unwelcome physical contact or harassment which makes a person feel offended, humiliated and/or intimidated where that reaction is reasonable in the circumstances;
    5. Abuse of position to obtain personal benefit;
    6. Commission or charge of a criminal offence; or
    7. Any other conduct, behaviour or statement that materially injures the reputation and goodwill of FA or football generally.

Agree to this Code of Conduct

Parent/Guardian/Spectator Code of Conduct

In addition to the General Code of Behaviour, you must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by FA or a Member Federation and in your role as a parent/guardian of a participant of FA or a Member Federation:

  1. Treat your child the same irrespective of them winning or losing.
  2. Remember that your child participates in the sport of football for their enjoyment and not yours.
  3. Foster a safe and positive environment at training, games and whilst communicating with other members/referees/staff/volunteers within football.
  4. Get involved in appropriate ways if your child or the coach behaves in unacceptable ways during competitions.
  5. Let the coach do the coaching
  6. Understand that children will benefit from a break sometimes and that involvement in other sports is acceptable.
  7. Be there when your child performs poorly. Be an understanding listener rather than a critic, judge and/or fixer.
  8. Be prepared to give your child some space so that he/she can grow and develop as an independent person.
  9. Let your child know that your love for them is not associated with their sporting performances.
  10. Communicate with your child and ask them how they are really feeling about their sport and about competing in particular.
  11. Occasionally let your child compete without you being there and hovering over them.
  12. Emphasise the good things your child did in preparing for and during the competition.
  13. Try to avoid:
    1. Saying “we’re competing today” and instead say “you’re competing today”; give your child credit for accepting the responsibility of performing;
    2. Getting too pushy or believing that you are indispensable, let the coach do the coaching;
    3. Living through your child’s performances;
    4. Turning away when your child performs;
    5. Turning away when your child’s behaviour is unsportsmanlike;
    6. Telling your child what he/she did wrong after a tough competition;
    7. Making enemies with your child’s opponents or family during a competition;
    8. Making your child feel guilty by reminding them about all the time, money and sacrifices you are making for his or her sport;
    9. Thinking of your child’s sporting performances as an investment for which you expect a return;
    10. Badgering, harassing or use sarcasm to motivate your child;
    11. Comparing your child’s performances with those of other children; or
    12. Forcing your child to go to training, if they are sick of training find out why and discuss it with them.

Agree to this Code of Conduct

Belnorth Code of Conduct Agreement Form

Belnorth Code of Conduct

You have read the relevant Codes of Conduct above and agree to the follow: