Code of
Conduct

This Code of Conduct outlines the minimum standards of behaviours for anyone involved in the Oakleigh Youth Club Football Club (OYCFC), and applies both on and off the football field and at all OYCFC events.  Each role must abide by their necessary Codes of Conduct due to differing role requirements, whilst maintaining an understanding of the Codes of Conduct outlined for other personnel.

This Code of Conduct aims to protect children and reduce any opportunities for abuse or harm to occur.  It also helps club personnel and volunteers by providing them with guidance on how to best support children and how to avoid or better manage difficult situations.

This Code of Conduct applies to all people involved in OYCFC’s activities, including coaches, officials, volunteers and parents.

Coaches, Officials, Volunteers and Parents agree to:

  • Adhere to our Child Safe Policy, this Code of Conduct and other OYCFC policies
  • Take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse
  • Treat everyone with respect, including listening to and valuing their ideas and opinions
  • Welcome all children and their families and carers and be inclusive
  • Respect cultural, religious and political differences and act in a culturally sensitive way, particularly when interacting with children who are Aboriginal or otherwise culturally or linguistically diverse, and those with a disability
  • Model appropriate adult behaviour
  • Listen to children and respond to them appropriately
  • Report and act on any breaches of this Code of Conduct, complaints or concerns appropriately and treat them seriously and with respect
  • Comply with the OYCFC’s guidelines on physical contact with children
  • Work with children in an open and transparent way; other adults should always know about the work you are doing with children
  • Respect the privacy of children and their families, and only disclose information to people who have a need to know

Coaches, Officials, Volunteers and Parents MUST NOT:

  • Seek to use children in any way to meet the needs of adults
  • Ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse
  • Use prejudice, oppressive behaviour or language with children
  • Discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, culture, vulnerability or sexuality
  • Initiate unnecessary physical contact with children or show favouritism through the provision of gifts or inappropriate attention
  • Enter a room, toilet or space alone with children and/or young people where you will be conducting things of a personal nature, such as toileting or changing clothes
  • Have unauthorised contact with children and young people online or by phone

Players:

  • Understand and play by the rules
  • Respect decisions made by club personnel, umpires and officials
  • Work as part of a team
  • Display good sportsmanship behaviours
  • Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit
  • Report any behaviours or language that you view as inappropriate to your club’s Child Safety Officer

Officials:

  • Place the safety and welfare of the players above all else
  • Ensure that all members are included within the club environment and can participate regardless of their race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality or religion
  • Maintain consistent, impartial and objective decisions
  • Address any unsportsmanlike behaviour around the club and promote respect for all members and club personnel
  • Ensure any physical contact with a child or young person is appropriate to the current situation (eg. training exercise) and explain these actions to the individual before doing so

Child Safety Officer:

  • Place the safety and welfare of the players above all else
  • If a child makes a disclosure regarding abuse or neglect, or gives you enough information to form reasonable grounds of belief, you must report to either the police or relevant governing authority
  • Conversations must remain confidential unless the context of the information leads you to believe abuse or neglect has, or is likely to occur
  • Conduct your club responsibilities with due care, competence and diligence

Coaches:

  • Place the safety and welfare of the players above all else
  • Ensure your behaviour and language is free from discrimination, prejudice or indecency
  • Encourage all players through constructive and positive feedback
  • Ensure all qualifications are up to date with the latest practices and policies
  • Maintain good sportsmanship behaviours when your team loses, as children will model your behaviour
  • Ensure any physical contact with a child or young person is appropriate to the current situation (eg. training exercises) and explain these actions to the individual before doing so
  • Maintain the concept that sport is for the enjoyment for everyone
  • Be reasonable with the expectations and demands of players, club officials and umpires
  • Respect any decisions made by club personnel and/or umpires
  • Teach players to understand and respect the rules of the game; players may model their behaviour off yours
  • Promote desirable personal and social behaviour to be displayed around the football club

 Board / Committee Members & Administrators:

  • Ensure that club personnel such as managers and coaches are appointed appropriately and have the best interests of the children and club in mind
  • Conduct your club responsibilities with due care, competence and diligence
  • Ensure all resources for reporting a breach of this code of conduct, incident or complaint are accessible to players, coaches, officials, parents and spectators
  • Maintain an inclusive environment regardless of an individual’s race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality or religion

Parents:

  • Encourage your child to participate, have fun and try their best
  • Offer help to coaches or other club personnel at training sessions or on game day, where possible
  • Display appropriate behaviour free from discrimination, prejudice or indecency
  • Remember that your actions and words carry a lot of weight in terms of encouraging or discouraging a child from continuing to participate
  • Maintain a focus on the children’s efforts and performance rather than the end result of the game
  • Model appropriate behaviour, including respect for all players, club personnel and umpires
  • Respect any decisions made by coaches, club personnel and/or umpires

Spectators:

  • Maintain respect for the player’s participation and effort
  • Respect any decisions made by coaches, club personnel and/or umpires
  • Report any behaviours that display discrimination, harassment, bullying or violence of any form, whether it be by another spectator, coach, club personnel or player

By observing these standards you acknowledge your responsibility to immediately report any breach of this code to Sonya Moreland, ph: 0417 015 682 or Andrew Allan, ph: 0417 516 756, Child Safety Officers of OYCFC, email: childsafetyOYCFC@gmail.com.

This Code of Conduct will be reviewed by OYCFC annually.