A.S.A. Code of Ethics

Teachers/Coaches and Instructors

Teaching/Coaching is a deliberately undertaken responsibility, and sports Teacher/Coaches are responsible for the observation of the principles embodied in the Code of Ethics.

Humanity

1. Teacher/Coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every human being and their ultimate right to self-determination.
2. Teacher/Coaches must treat everyone equally within the context of their activity, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability or political persuasion.

 Relationships 

1. The good teacher/Coach will be concerned primarily with the well being, health and future of the individual performer and only secondary with the optimisation of performance.
2. A key element in a teacher/coaches relationship is the development of independence.  Performers must be encouraged to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance in training, in competition, and in their social life.
3. Teachers/Coaches are responsible for setting and monitoring the boundaries between a working relationship and friendship with their performers.  This is particularly important when the coach and performer are the opposite sex and/or when the performer is a young person.  The Teacher/Coach must realise that certain situations or friendly actions could be misinterpreted, not only by the performer, but by outsiders motivated by jealousy, dislike or mistrust and could lead to allegations of sexual misconduct or impropriety.
4. The relationship between coach and performer relies heavily on mutual trust and respect.  In detail this means that the performer should be aware of the Teachers’/Coaches’ qualifications and experience and must be given the opportunity to consent to or decline proposals for training and performance.

Commitment

1. Teachers/Coaches should clarify in advance with performers and/or employer the number of sessions, fees (if any) and method of payment.  They should also explore with performers and/or employers the expectation of the outcome of teaching/coaching.
2. Teachers/Coaches have a responsibility to declare to their performers and/or employer any other current teaching/coaching commitments.  Teachers/Coaches should also find out if any prospective client is currently receiving guidance from another Teacher/Coach.  If so, that Teacher/Coach should be contacted to discuss the situation.
3. Teachers/Coaches who become aware of a conflict between their obligation to their performers and their obligation to their Governing Body or other organisation employing them must make explicit the nature of conflict, and the loyalties and responsibilities involved, to all parties concerned.

Co-operation

1.  Teachers/Coaches should communicate and co-operate with other sports and allied professions in the best interest of their performers.  An Example of such contact would be the seeking of educational and career advice/counselling for young performers whose training impinges upon the performance of their studies.

2.  Teachers/Coaches must communicate and co-operate with medical and ancillary practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment and management of their performers’ medical and psychological problems.

Advertising

1. Advertising by sports Teacher/Coaches in respect of qualifications and/or services shall be accurate and professionally restrained.
2. Teachers/Coaches shall not display any affiliation with an organisation in a manner that falsely implies sponsorship or accreditation by that organisation.

Integrity 

1. Teachers/Coaches should refrain from public criticism of fellow Teachers/Coaches.  Differences of opinion should be dealt with on a personal basis and more-serious disputes should be referred to the Governing Body (ASA) or to the ISTC.
2. Teachers/Coaches must not encourage performers to violate the rules of their sport and should actively seek to discourage such action.  Furthermore, Teachers/Coaches should encourage performers to obey the spirit of such rules.
3. Teachers/Coaches must not compromise their performers by advocating measures which could be deemed to constitute seeking to gain an unfair advantage.  Above all, Teachers/Coaches must never advocate the use of proscribed drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances.
4. Teachers/Coaches must treat opponents and officials with due respect both in victory and defeat and should encourage their performer to act in a similar manner.
5. Teachers/Coaches must accept responsibility for the conduct of their performers insofar as they will undertake to discourage inappropriate behaviour.

Confidentiality

1. Teachers/Coaches inevitably gather a great deal of personal information about performers in the course of a working relationship.  Teacher/Coach and performers must reach agreement as to what is regarded as confidential information, i.e. not divulging to a third party without the express approval of the performer. 
2. Confidentiality does not preclude the disclosure of information, to persons who can be judged to have a ‘right to know’, relating to performers when relevant to the following:
   • Evaluation of the performer within the sport for competitive selection purposes and recommendations concerning performers for professional purposes;
   • Pursuit of disciplinary action involving performers within the sport;
   • Pursuit of disciplinary action by the ASA and/or ISTC involving fellow coaches in alleged breaches of this Code of Ethics and Conduct.

 Abuse of Privilege

1. The Teacher/Coach must consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of their sport and of teaching/coaching – to performers, other Teachers/Coaches, officials, spectators, the media and the general public.
2. Personal appearance is a matter of individual taste but the sports Teacher/Coach has an obligation to project an image of health, cleanliness and functional efficiency.
3. The Teacher/Coach should never smoke when teaching/coaching.
4. Teacher/Coach should not drink alcohol so soon before teaching/coaching that their judgement may be impaired and the smell will still be on their breath when working with performers.

Safety 

1. Teachers/Coaches have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the performers with whom they work as far as possible within the limits of their control.
2. All reasonable steps should be taken to establish a safe working environment.
3. The work done and the manner in which it is done should be in keeping with regular and approved practice within that sport.
4. The activity being undertaken should be suitable for the age, experience and ability of the performers.
5. Performers should have been systematically prepared for the activity being undertaken and made aware of their personal responsibilities in terms of safety.

 Issues of Competence

1. Teachers/Coaches shall confine themselves to practice in those fields of sport which they have been trained/educated, and which is recognised by the ASA and ISTC as being valid.  Valid areas of expertise are those directly concerned with sports coaching.  Training includes the accumulation of knowledge and skills through both formal Teacher/Coach education courses and by experience at a level of competence acceptable for independent teaching/coaching practice.
2. Teachers/Coaches must be able to recognise and accept when to refer performers to other agencies.  It is the responsibility of the Teacher/Coach as far as possible, to verify the competence and integrity of the person to whom they refer a performer.
3. Teachers/Coaches should welcome evaluation of their work by colleagues and be able to account to performers, employers Governing Bodies and colleagues for their actions.
4. Teachers/Coaches have a responsibility to themselves and their performers to maintain their own effectiveness, resilience and abilities, and to know when their personal resources are so depleted as to make it necessary for them to seek help and/or withdraw from teaching/coaching whether temporarily or permanently.

Violation of this Code

An alleged breach of this Code shall be grounds for making a complaint under ASA Law.  This is a formal expression of dissatisfaction with the actions of behaviour of clubs, bodies, organisations or individuals or with alleged unfair practice in connection with the sport and will be dealt with by a Judicial Tribunal.

The procedures for making a complaint are set out in the ASA Judicial Laws which are reproduced in the current edition of Laws of the Sport and the ASA Handbook.  Any complaint relating to matters contained in this Code may be referred by the Chairman of the District Judicial Tribunal to an independent investigator to be appointed by the ASA.  The terms of reference shall be set by the ASA; Dependent upon the outcome of the investigation the Chairman of the DJT may direct that the matter may not proceed as a complaint under the ASA judicial system.  In such a situation the Chief Executive may authorise such other action for instance the offering of guidance of education support or the issue of a warning as to future conduct, as may be appropriate in the circumstances.  Thereafter dependant upon the outcome of such other actions the Chief Executive may refer the matter back to the Chairman of the DJT for reconsideration as to whether the matter may proceed as a complaint.

The ASA Child Protection Officer shall have the power to exceptio9nal circumstances to commence or take over conduct of any complaint made in respect of any breach of any of the provisions of this Code.

I have read and understand the Code of Ethics.

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