Overview

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The following codes are deemed to be incorporated into the Women’s National Premier League Rules of Competition:

• Australian Sports Commission Junior Sport Codes of Behaviour,

• FFA National Spectator Code of Behaviour,

• FFA National Code of Conduct,

• Victorian Code of Conduct for Community Sport

 

It is vital that everyone involved in Football, whether they are athletes, coaches, parents, officials or supporters, understand their responsibilities to ensure that all participants enjoy the sport.

 

It is strongly recommended that all players, parents, officials, coaches and members be given a copy of these codes by their Club, and that each Club ensures the codes are clearly displayed in their Clubrooms.

 

As well as reading and seeking to understand the instructions contained in the codes, FFV asks all participants to recognise that there are underlying principles which extend beyond those specific instructions.

 

General Principles for all Persons Involved in Sport

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• Operate within the Rules and spirit of Football, 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.

• Do not tolerate harmful or abusive behaviours.

• Do not bring the game of Football into Disrepute, by engaging in discriminatory, offensive or criminal behaviour.

• Ensure your decisions and actions contribute to a harassment free environment.

• Do not bring the game into Disrepute by engaging in harassment, including sexual harassment or any unwelcome sexual conduct which makes a person feel offended, humiliated and/or intimidated.

• Do not bring the game into Disrepute by provoking or inciting hatred or violence, including crowd violence.

• Do not bring the game into Disrepute by engaging in corruption, forgery or falsification, or by abusing a position to obtain a personal benefit.

• Do not bring the game into Disrepute by the throwing or fixing of a match, by accepting bribes, or by any conduct intended to unfairly effect the result of a match;

• Do not bring the game into Disrepute by any other conduct that materially injures the reputation and goodwill of Football.

 

(NB for the purposes of this code of behaviour ‘Disrepute’ means conduct, statement or appearance in public that is damaging to reputation).

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Players’ Code of Behaviour

 

• Give your best at all times.

• Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit.

• Play by the Rules.

• Do not argue with the Match Official. If you disagree, have your captain or coach approach the Match Official during a break in play or after the Match is concluded.

• Control your temper. Verbal abuse of officials or other players, deliberately distracting or provoking another person is not acceptable or permitted in any sport.

• Be a good sport and be prepared to acknowledge good play whether it is from your Team or the opposition.

• Treat all players as you would like to be treated. Do not interfere with, bully or take unfair advantage of another player.

• Respect the rights and worth of every person, regardless of their age, race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality or religion.

• Co-operate with your coach, Teammates and opponents. Without them, there would be no competition.

• Remove all jewelry prior to training and Match play, as it is a hazard to you and those around you.

• Do not accept or use any banned or unauthorised drug(s), including the consumption of alcohol at any time.

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Any player who does not comply with this Code of Behaviour may be suspended from playing one or more future matches.

 

Coaches’ Code of Behaviour

 

• Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else.

• Be aware of and support the sport’s injury management plans and return to play guidelines.

• Help each person (athlete, official, etc) to reach their potential. Respect the talent, developmental stage and goals of each person and encourage them with positive and constructive feedback.

• Encourage and support opportunities for people to learn appropriate behaviours and skills.

• Support opportunities for participation in all aspects of the sport.

• Treat each participant as an individual.

• Obtain appropriate qualifications and keep up-to-date with the latest coaching practices and the principles of growth and development of participants.

• Act within the rules and spirit of your sport.

• Promote fair play over winning at any cost.

• Respect the decisions of officials, coaches and administrators.

• Show respect and courtesy to all involved with the sport.

• Display 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 harassment-free environment.

• Wherever practical, avoid unaccompanied and unobserved one-on-one activity (when in a supervisory capacity or where a power imbalance exists) with people under the age of 18. Follow the Child Safety Regulations at all times.

• Ensure that any physical contact with another person is appropriate to the situation and necessary for the person's skill development.

• Be honest and do not allow your qualifications or coaching experience to be misrepresented.

• Never advocate or condone the use of illicit drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances or methods.

• Never participate in or advocate practices that involve match fixing.

• Respect the rights and worth of every person, regardless of their age, race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality or religion.

• Do not tolerate abusive, bullying or threatening behaviour

 

Administrators’ Code of Behaviour

 

• Act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the sport as a whole.

• Ensure that any information acquired or advantage gained from the position is not used improperly.

• Conduct your responsibilities with due care, competence and diligence.

• Do not allow prejudice, conflict of interest or bias to affect your objectivity.

• Respect the rights and worth of every person, regardless of their age, race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality or religion.

• Help coaches and officials highlight appropriate behaviour and skill development, and assist in raising the standards of coaching and officiating.

• Ensure everyone involved in football emphasises fair play, and not winning at all costs.

• Be tolerant and calm under pressure and approach problem solving in a supportive manner as members and players will expect you to set an example for others.

 

Match Officials’ Code of Behaviour

 

• Place the safety and welfare of the athletes above all else.

• Be consistent and impartial when making decisions.

• Address unsporting behaviour and promote respect for all people.

• Modify your approach to suit the skill levels and needs of players.

• Praise and encourage all participants.

• Be consistent, objective and courteous when making decisions.

• Do not tolerate unsporting behaviour and promote respect for all opponents.

• Emphasise the spirit of the game rather than focus on negative aspects.

• Encourage and promote rule changes to all players and members.

• Be a good sport yourself, as actions speak louder than words.

• Keep up to date with the latest trends in refereeing.

• Remember that you set the example on the park, therefore, your behaviour and comments should always be positive and supportive.

 

Parents’ Code of Behaviour:

 

• Remember that children play the sport for their enjoyment, and not yours;

• Encourage children to participate and have fun.

• Focus on the child’s effort and performance rather than winning or losing.

• Encourage children to always participate according to the rules;

• Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a competition.

• Remember that children learn best by example, so applaud good play by both Teams;

• Support all efforts to remove racial and religious vilification, verbal and physical abuse from sporting activities;

• Respect the rights and worth of every person, regardless of their age, race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality or religion.

• Respect the match official’s decisions and teach your child to do likewise;

• Show respect and appreciation to Club officials, including coaches, officials and administrators. Ensure any issues are raised through the correct channels;

• Do not smoke or consume alcohol on the sidelines of matches or at training.

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Any parent who does not comply with this Code of Behaviour or who otherwise causes a disturbance may be evicted from a venue and banned from attending future matches.

 

Spectators’ Code of Behaviour:

 

All spectators must comply with the FFA National Spectator Code of Behaviour.

It is important that all spectators at a Football Federation Victoria (FFV) approved fixture are able to enjoy the Match in a safe and comfortable environment. Accordingly, each person present at a FFV fixture must:

 

• Respect the decisions of the Match Officials, and teach children to do the same;

• Never ridicule or unduly scold a child for making a mistake;

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability, race, colour, religion, language, politics, national or ethnic origin; Not use violence in any form, whether it is against other Spectators, Team Officials (including coaches) or Players;

• Not engage in discrimination, harassment or abuse in any form including the use of obscene or offensive language or gestures, the incitement of hatred or violence or partaking in indecent or racist chanting;

• Comply with any terms of entry of a venue, including bag inspections, prohibited and restricted items such as flares, missiles, dangerous articles and items that have the potential to cause injury or public nuisance;

• Not, and must not attempt to, bring into a venue national or political flags or emblems (except for the recognised national flags of any of the competing Teams) or offensive or inappropriate banners, whether written in English or a foreign language;

• Not throw missiles (including on to the field of play or at other spectators) and must not enter the field of play or its surrounds without lawful authority; and

• Conduct themselves in a manner that enhances, rather than injures, the reputation and goodwill of FFV, FFA, and football generally.

• It is the host Club’s responsibility to ensure this Spectator Code of Behaviour is implemented and enforced against all spectators.

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Any person who does not comply with this Spectator Code of Behaviour or who otherwise causes a disturbance may be evicted from a venue and banned from attending future matches.

 

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If any of these behaviours take place within a sport or recreational context, the relevant State Sporting Association, league, association or club is able to impose penalties or sanctions. For this to occur, the breach must be confirmed through an appropriate assessment process at the appropriate level.

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