Code of Conduct – Howth Celtic Athletic Football Club

Players
Coaches
Parents

Code of Conduct for Players

Play for the enjoyment, not just to please your parents or coach.
Play by the laws of the game.
Never argue with the referee’s decision.
Play with control. Do not lose your temper.
Play for yourself and your team – your team’s performance will benefit and so will your own.
Be a “good sport”. Applaud all good play whether by your team or the opponent.
Respect your opponent. Treat all players as you would like to be treated.
Give opponents a hand if they are injured, put the ball out of play so they can receive attention.
Do not “bully” or take advantage of any player. Do not accept “bullying” in your club.
Co-operate with referees, coaches, teammates, and opponents.
Remember that the goals of the game are to have fun and improve skills.
At the final whistle applaud and thank your opponents and the referee for the match.
Always remember that you owe a duty of care to your opponents.
Tackle hard but fairly; do not intend to hurt your opponents.
Win with humility – lose with dignity. Nobody likes a sore loser.
Do not attempt to cheat by diving or feigning injury in an attempt to con the referee.
It is most important that you don’t keep secrets. Tell your Club Children’s officer, your parents, or anyone you trust id someone is causing you harm or distress.

Code of Conduct for Coaches

Firstly, thank you for volunteering to Coach at the Club, you are the lifeblood of grassroots football. To help you, the club have put in place a code of conduct.

The Club’s primary aims are to provide a safe, fun environment to play competitive football and to keep young people involved in sport as long as possible. As a club we are aware that recent research suggesting that an increasing number of children are leaving sport between the ages of eight and 16. Among the reasons given were that sport was no longer fun, they did not get to play and an overemphasis on winning. We ask all coaches to make every effort to ensure that we keep a balanced approach to competition and make sure all players get a chance to play. This is a club for all the community.

The establishment of good practices in football are critical. A football team reflects the attitude and behaviour of their coach. A Coach must speak and act in a manner consistent with this reality.

As a Coach at Howth Celtic AFC I will:

Complete Garda Vetting before commencing my role.
Complete the Safeguarding 1 course.
Respect the rights, dignity and worth of each person, and treat each person equally within the context of the sport.
Place the health, well-being, and safety of each player above all other considerations.
Abide by the rules of the game.
Strive to develop an appropriate working relationship with each player based on mutual respect.
Have regard for the code when working with young players in the game.
Guide players to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.
Ensure that the activities and strategies that are directed and advocated are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience, and ability of players involved.
Clarify with the players (and where the players are under the age of 18, their parents) exactly what is expected of them and also what they are entitled to expect from the Coach/Mentor.
Be knowledgeable with the laws of the game and the rules of any competition in which a team under their stewardship is participating.
Encourage players to adhere to the club’s code of conduct for players.
Observe the highest standards of integrity and fair dealing.
Promote a positive approach to the game, placing emphasise and praise on fair play, honest endeavour, and teamwork.
Have regard to Playing Time for all team members: the Club’s goal is to afford players equal playing time in the early stages of development during matches. This may change with competitive league football at U13’s and above but still, our philosophy is that any child that is regularly training with a squad should get suitable game time and always be made feel part of the team. Minimum playing time is 15 minutes.
Players are only permitted to play for one team in Cup competitions, once a player has played in a cup match, they are cup tied.
Consistently display high standards of behaviour and comment.
Demonstrate due respect towards match officials.
Accept the decisions of the match officials.

As a Coach at Howth Celtic AFC I will not:

Place excessive pressure on children to perform to unrealistically high expectations.
Subscribe to the ethos of “win at all costs”.
Exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
Verbally abuse players, match officials or opposing supporters. This cannot be accepted in any shape or form.
Use or tolerate the use of inappropriate language.
Encourage or condone violations of the laws of the game, behaviour contrary to the spirit of the game, or the use of questionable strategies or tactics.
Encourage or condone the use of prohibited substances.
Never regard players or match officials as fair targets for ignorant or abusive behaviour.
Never criticise a player for making a mistake – mistakes are part of learning.

Code of Conduct for Parents

Remember, young people are involved in football for their enjoyment, not yours.
Encourage your child always to play by the laws of the game.
Teach young children that honest endeavour is as important as winning, so that the result of each game is accepted without disappointment.
Help young people to work towards skill improvement and good sportsmanship.
Set a good example by applauding good play on both sides.
Never ridicule, humiliate, or shout at young players for making a mistake or losing a match.
Do not place emphasis on winning at all costs.
Do not force an unwilling child to participate in the playing of football. If the child is to play, he/she will do so in good time and through your encouragement. There are other aspects of football other then playing which are equally fulfilling.
Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from football.
As a spectator, do not use profane language or harass referees, coaches, or players.
Do not publicly question the referee’s judgement and never their honesty.
Recognise the value and importance of the volunteer referees and coaches. They give their time and resources to provide recreational activities for young people.