The coach’s code of behaviour is a positive document for all coaches. It affirms a coach’s support for the concepts of responsibility, trust, competence, respect, safety, honesty, professionalism, equity and sportsmanship. The code also provides a reference point for clubs, parents, athletes, schools and employers to expect that a coach will demonstrate appropriate standards of behaviour.

Coach’s code of behaviour

• Operate within the rules and spirit of your sport, promoting fair play over winning at any cost.
• Encourage and support opportunities for people to learn appropriate behaviours and skills.
• Support opportunities for participation in all aspects of the sport.
• Treat each person as an individual.
• Display control and courtesy to all involved with the sport.
• Respect the rights and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
• Respect the decisions of officials, coaches and administrators in the conduct of the sport.
• Wherever practical, avoid unaccompanied and unobserved one-on-one activity (when in a supervisory capacity or where a power imbalance will exist) with people under the age of 18 years.
• Adopt appropriate and responsible behaviour in all interactions.
• Adopt responsible behaviour in relation to alcohol and other drugs.
• Act with integrity and objectivity, and accept responsibility for your decisions and actions.
• Ensure your decisions and actions contribute to a safe environment.
• Ensure your decisions and actions contribute to a harassment free environment.
• Do not tolerate harmful or abusive behaviours.
• Place the safety and welfare of the athletes above all else.
• Help each person (athlete, official etc) reach their potential - respect the talent, developmental stage and goals of each person and compliment and encourage with positive and supportive feedback.
• Any physical contact with a person should be appropriate to the situation and necessary for the person’s skill development.
• Be honest and do not allow your qualifications to be misrepresented.

Code of behaviour agreement form

All coaches wishing to become registered with the NCAS are required to sign an individualised coach’s code of behaviour agreement form. This form requires coaches to:

• agree to abide by the code of behaviour of the relevant national sporting organisation and/or training provider. The Australian Sports Commission has developed a coach’s code of behaviour. National sporting organisations and training providers must use this code unless they develop their own.
• acknowledge that the national sporting organisation and/or training provider may take disciplinary action against them, if they breach the code of behaviour (national sporting organisation and training providers are required to implement a complaints handling procedure in accordance with the principles of natural justice, in the event of an allegation).
• acknowledge that disciplinary action against them may include de-accreditation from the NCAS.