Codes of Conduct

GENERAL CODE OF CONDUCT

As a member of Australian Fencing Federation (AFF), a member association or an affiliated club (AHFC) or a person required to comply with AFF’s member protection policy, you must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by AFF, a member association or an affiliated club (AHFC) and in any role you hold within AFF, a member association or an affiliated club (AHFC):

1. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of others.

2. Be fair, considerate and honest in all dealing with others.

3. Be professional in, and accept responsibility for, your actions.

4. Make a commitment to providing quality service.

5. Be aware of, and maintain an uncompromising adhesion to, AFF’s standards, rules, regulations and policies.

6. Operate within the rules of the sport including national and international guidelines which govern AFF, the member associations and the affiliated clubs (AHFC).

7. Do not use your involvement with AFF, a member association or an affiliated club (AHFC) to promote your own beliefs, behaviours or practices where these are inconsistent with those of AFF, a member association or an affiliated club (AHFC).

8. Demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility especially when dealing with persons under 18 years of age, as your words and actions are an example.

9. Avoid unaccompanied and unobserved activities with persons under 18 years of age, wherever possible.

10. Refrain from any form of harassment of others.

11. Refrain from any behaviour that may bring AFF, a member association or an affiliated club (AHFC) into disrepute.

12. Provide a safe environment for the conduct of the activity.

13. Show concern and caution towards others who may be sick or injured.

14. Be a positive role model.

15. Understand the repercussions if you breach, or are aware of any breaches of, this code of behaviour.

COACH'S CODE OF CONDUCT

In addition to the General Code of Behaviour, any coach must meet the following requirements in regard to their conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by AFF, a member association or an affiliated club (AHFC) and in their role as a coach appointed by AFF, a member association or an affiliated club (AHFC):

1. Do not tolerate acts of aggression.

2. Provide feedback to participants and other participants in a manner sensitive to their needs. Avoid overly negative feedback.

3. Recognise participants’ rights to consult with other coaches and advisers. Cooperate fully with other specialists (for example, sports scientists, doctors and physiotherapists).

4. Treat all participants fairly within the context of their sporting activities, regardless of gender, race, place of origin, athletic potential, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, socio-economic status and other conditions.

5. Encourage and facilitate participants’ independence and responsibility for their own behaviour, performance, decisions and actions.

6. Involve the participants in decisions that affect them.

7. Encourage participants to respect one another and to expect respect for their worth as individuals regardless of their level of play.

8. Ensure that the tasks and/or training set are suitable for age, experience, ability, and physical and psychological conditions of the participants.

9. Ensure any physical contact with participants is appropriate to the situation and necessary for the participant’s skill development.

10. Be acutely aware of the power that you as a coach develop with your participants in the coaching relationship and avoid any sexual intimacy with participants that could develop as a result.

11. Avoid situations with your participants that could be construed as compromising.

12. Actively discourage the use of performance enhancing drugs, and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances.

13. Do not exploit any coaching relationship to further personal, political or business interests at the expense of the best interest of your participants.

14. Accept and respect the role of officials in ensuring that competitions are conducted fairly and according to established rules.

15. Know and abide by rules, regulations and standards, and encourage participants to do likewise. Accept both the letter and the spirit of the rules.

16. Be honest and ensure that qualifications are not misrepresented.

OFFICIAL CODE OF CONDUCT

In addition to the General Code of Behaviour, any official or referee must meet the following requirements in regard to their conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by AFF, a member association or an affiliated club (AHFC) and in their role as an official appointed by AFF, a member association or an affiliated club (AHFC:

1. Place the safety and welfare of the participants/participants above all else.

2. Accept responsibility for all actions taken.

3. Be impartial.

4. Avoid any situation which may lead to a conflict of interest.

5. Be courteous, respectful and open to discussion and interaction.

6. Value the individual in sport.