The Code of Conduct in Sports

A code of conduct for people involved in sports provides guidelines for ethical athletic activity and strives to ensure fair play and fun. Fair play is also the best method to insure the safest possible sporting activity. Involvement in sports and fitness activities helps young people learn discipline and cooperation, and it provides a means to grow healthy bodies.

  1. Motivation

    • Sports codes of conduct recognize the needs of participants, integrity of the game, relationships between players and the safety of players and spectators. Promotion of good sportsmanship and courtesy reflect the highest ideals of a code of conduct. Voluntary adherence to ethical practices in sports helps players to respect the values of judgment, leadership and respect for everyone involved in the game. Parents and guardians can have confidence that the best interests of their children will be protected.

    Officiating

    • Sporting contests bring great responsibility to the person judging the competition. Any personal involvement or business that would lead to a conflict of interest, or make it impossible to render impartial judgment during the game must be eliminated. Sports officials must not allow any person or organization to sway their judgment by the promise of gifts or bribes. Officials must be able to listen to comments and complaints by coaches and players without becoming angry and rendering decisions out of emotion and retribution.

    Life Skills

    • Involvement in team sports helps young people to develop skills that will be essential in every endeavor of life. Successful participation in sporting activities helps develop respect for other people and the discipline to keep working until the game is finished, no matter how difficult the obstacles. Athletes must learn not to give up, regardless of how far behind in the score your team is.

    Integrity

    • Players and coaches should always place the well being of every participant above the drive to win. Coaches are responsible to provide a safe playing environment, and to have emergency medical personnel available to provide appropriate and timely first aid for injured players. Sporting activities for young people should be free from illegal drugs, tobacco and the use of alcohol by either players, coaches or spectators. Participants should always be matched according to age and ability.

    Effort

    • Everyone who participates in individual and team sports should always play to the best of their ability. You may not be the best player on the team, but by giving your best effort you can be responsible for your team winning the game. Players should make a personal commitment to practice and development of athletic skills. Mediocre effort by any member of the team not only contributes to a losing effort but is damaging to team spirit and cohesiveness.