Behaviour

We play as part of the Yarra Junior Football League. With this comes a level of expectation on our coaches, players and parents of the children. Please take a moment to review this Code of Conduct information as we commit to abiding by each for the enjoyment of everyone at the club. All persons associated with the Club must comply with this Behaviour Policy. Any breaches should be reported to your team manager or to the Club Secretary and will be managed in accordance with the Issue Resolution Policy.

Coaches

• Abide by the Laws of the Game, Club Rules and League Rules

• Teach the rules: rules are mutual agreements which nobody should break

• Avoid overplaying talented players

• Maximise fun: Place winning in perspective

• Stress safety always

• Consider maturity levels: Devise training programs to suit all

• Develop team respect: For opponents, umpires and coaches

• Recognise the importance of proper injury treatment

• Keep up to date with Coaching developments

• Attain Coaching accreditation

• Avoid derogatory language based on gender or race

• Shall not engage in the aggressive recruitment of players (aggressive recruitment is to be determined on the facts of each particular case. As a guide only, aggressive recruitment will be considered to have occurred where there is contact on more than one occasion with a player (parent/guardian) and/or inducement is offered to a player to change Clubs)

Players

• Play by the laws and rules

• Don’t argue

• Control your temper

• Be a team player

• Be a good sport

• Treat all players fairly

• Cooperate with your coach and teammates

• Play for fun and improvement

• Avoid all remarks based on race or gender

Parents

• Encourage participation but do not force them

• Teach that honest effort is the victory, not the winning

• Encourage to play by the rules

• Never ridicule mistakes or losses

• Remember, involvement is for their enjoyment, not yours

• Remember, they learn best by example. Applaud both teams

• Recognise positively the recreational contribution of voluntary officials

• Never publicly disagree with officials.

• Support all efforts to remove verbal, racial and physical abuse

• Support your club officials to foster high standards of behaviour for your Club/League

Racial and religious vilification

No person in his/her capacity as a spectator or participant in the Club in the course of carrying out his/her duties shall engage in conduct that offends, humiliates, intimidates, contempt’s, ridicules, incites, threatens, disparages, vilifies or insults another person on the basis of that person’s race, religion, colour, descent, gender, sexual orientation, ability or national or ethnic origin.

All persons associated with the Club must comply with these requirements. Any breaches should be reported to your team manager or to the Club Secretary and will be managed in accordance with the Issue Resolution Policy.

Reported Players

It can be a very traumatic experience for a junior player to be reported or to be the victim of a reportable incident. The Club will endeavour to ensure that the distress associated with this event is minimised. To ensure this happens, the following needs to occur:

• The Coach and Team Manager need to manage the situation in a calm and supportive manner.

• The player is removed from the ground for the Coach to be able to talk to.

• The Team Manager should ensure the parents and supporters remain calm, and do not incite a further incident

• Ensure all the details of the incident are immediately noted, as this may be needed as evidence at the tribunal

• After the game, the Secretary of the Club needs to be notified of the report.

YJFL Penalties or Fines

A player who is suspended is not eligible to be selected to play. Players (and their parents) are liable for the payment of any fines issued by the YJFL at a tribunal hearing. Players will not be allowed to be selected to play, until any outstanding fine has been paid in full.