Coaches / Managers / Team Officials Code of Behaviour

As a coach, manager, or team official selected to represent HA or a Member in an event conducted or sanctioned by HA or a Member, you must meet the following requirements regarding your conduct:

• Treat all players with respect at all times.
• Do not tolerate acts of aggression.
• Commit to providing a quality service to your players. This includes offering a well-planned, sequential training program and seeking continuous improvement through performance appraisal and ongoing education.
• Provide a safe environment for training and competition.
• Provide feedback to players and other participants in a manner sensitive to their needs. Avoid overly negative feedback and emphasize that winning is not always the priority.
• Recognise players’ rights to consult with other coaches and advisers. Cooperate fully with other specialists (e.g., sports scientists, doctors, and physiotherapists).
• Place the safety and welfare of the players above all else. Be courteous, respectful, and open to discussion and interaction.
• Treat all players fairly, regardless of gender, race, place of origin, athletic potential, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, socioeconomic status, and other conditions.
• Determine, in consultation with the player, what information is confidential and respect that confidentiality.
• Encourage and facilitate players’ independence and responsibility for their own behaviour, performance, decisions, and actions.
• Involve players in decisions that affect them and encourage them to respect one another.
• Ensure that tasks and training are suitable for the age, experience, ability, and physical and psychological conditions of the players. Recognise and cater to individual differences.
• Ensure any physical contact with players is appropriate and necessary for skill development.
• Be acutely aware of the power dynamics in the coach-player relationship and avoid any sexual intimacy with players.
• Avoid situations with players that could be construed as compromising or lead to a conflict of interest. Report any potential conflicts of interest to IHA as soon as possible.
• Adhere to the HA Anti-Doping Policy. Actively discourage the use of performance-enhancing drugs, illegal substances, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Abide by relevant Child Protection Requirements and Legislation in the State where you perform your duties.
• Do not exploit any coaching relationship to further personal, political, or business interests at the expense of the best interest of your players.
• Accept and respect the role of officials in ensuring competitions are conducted fairly according to established rules. Behave in a sportsmanlike manner at all times toward other coaches, officials, players, and spectators.
• Refrain from using obscene, offensive, or insulting language, making obscene gestures, or making detrimental statements about officials’ performance or decisions.
• Know and abide by the rules, regulations, and standards, and encourage players to do likewise. Accept both the letter and the spirit of the rules.

Social Media Policy

Ipswich Hockey is committed to the health, safety, and general wellbeing of all its members and participants. To achieve these goals, Ipswich Hockey has adopted the Hockey Australia Member Protection Policy, including the social media policy outlined below:

• HA/IHA acknowledges the value of Social Media platforms in promoting and celebrating the achievements in hockey.
• When using the Internet for professional or personal pursuits, all members must respect the HA/IHA brand, the sport of hockey in Australia, and follow this Policy to ensure HA’s/IHA’s intellectual property and its relationships with sponsors and stakeholders are not compromised, or that the organisation is not brought into disrepute.

Social Media Platforms include but are not limited to:

• Social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace)

• Video and photo sharing websites (e.g., Instagram, Flickr, Snapchat, YouTube)

• Micro-blogging sites (e.g., Twitter)

• Weblogs (including personal blogs or those hosted by traditional media publications)

• Forums and discussion boards

• Online encyclopedias (e.g., Wikipedia)

• Any other website that allows simple publishing tools for users or organizations

• All individuals bound by this policy must conduct themselves appropriately on social networking sites when sharing information related to our sport. Social media postings, blogs, status updates, tweets, and text messages:

  • Must not contain material that is or has the potential to be offensive, aggressive, defamatory, threatening, discriminatory, obscene, profane, harassing, embarrassing, intimidating, sexually explicit, bullying, hateful, racist, sexist, or otherwise inappropriate.
  • Must not be misleading, false, or injure the reputation of another person.
  • Must not contain material that breaches laws, court orders, undertakings, or contracts.
  • Should respect and maintain the privacy of others and promote the sport in a positive way.

• HA/IHA recommends caution in using Social Media to avoid inappropriate use, whether unintentional or due to failure to fully understand the ramifications. Please consider refraining from:

  • Including personal information about yourself or others in posts or text messages.
  • Publishing something that makes you uncomfortable—use your best judgment and never post when emotional, upset, or intoxicated.
  • Posting someone else’s picture without their permission.
  • Commenting on rumours—do not deny or affirm them or speculate.

The General Code of Conduct must be adhered to by all parties.

As a player or member of IHA, you are required to comply with this policy and meet the following requirements regarding your conduct:

• Behave in a sporting manner and act considerately towards all players, officials, and spectators.
• Do not make detrimental, negative, or unfair statements regarding the performance of any match official, player, coach, or umpire in person or online.
• Always play by the rules and ensure that hockey is not brought into disrepute by your actions.
• Do not engage in gambling activities related to the outcome of a hockey match or competition.
• Do not show unnecessary dissension, displeasure, or disapproval towards any match official's decision, whether through actions, verbal comments, or online abuse.
• Abstain from using tobacco, vaping, and consuming alcoholic beverages while in playing or representative uniform.
• Adhere to the HA Member Protection Policy, IHA Social Media Policy, and IHA Drugs, Alcohol, and Vaping Policy.
• Respect the rights, dignity, and worth of every person regardless of gender, age, ability, cultural background, sexuality, or religion.
• Do not engage in any conduct that adversely affects or discredits the game of hockey, HA, Members, or any associated party.
• Refrain from using obscene, offensive, or insulting language and making obscene gestures that may insult other players, officials, or spectators.
• Do not post anything on the internet or social media that reflects negatively on any other player, IHA, HA, or anyone else associated with hockey.
• Accept and respect the role of officials in ensuring fair competitions, and always behave in a sportsmanlike manner towards coaches, officials, players, and spectators.
• Know and abide by rules, regulations, and standards, and encourage others to do likewise. Accept both the letter and the spirit of the rules.
• Take appropriate action when faced with acts of aggression.

MANAGERS ROLES CODE OF CONDUCT

The Manager shall:

• Adhere to the Coach / Manager / Selector Code of Behaviour (and Policy on Consumption of Alcohol).
• Maintain overall responsibility for the Team and accompanying Umpires and Tech Officials, ensuring all members adhere to the IHA’s Code of Conduct.
• Accompany the Team for both forward and return travel and stay with the Team in the IHA booked accommodation. (Variations for travel may be approved by the IHA upon request).
• In conjunction with the IHA Treasurer, be responsible for all “Team” monies before, during, and after the event. Ensure that all levies due to IHA are paid to the Treasurer before the Team begins a Championship.
• Attend any official meetings.
• Follow medical professionals' advice when determining when an injured Player is ready to recommence training and competition.
• Be well-acquainted with all Championship Rules and Conditions.
• Maintain direct contact with the Secretary of IHA (secretary@ipswichhockey.com) or other nominated Officials in case of unforeseen circumstances.
• For teams flying, remind Players to bring all appropriate documentation to the airport (e.g., full identification, proof of vaccination if required).
• Adhere to the IHA Social Media Policy.

Prior to an event, the Manager shall:

• Maintain regular communication with players, parents, and/or guardians regarding training details, including any trial games. Any social media accounts created for communication must include either the RCD or a member of the Executive Committee.
• Organise the collection of the Manager’s Folder, uniforms, and other equipment (including the game ball) from IHA.
• Ensure all Players and Umpires have returned all relevant forms by the due date.
• Ensure all Players have paid accounts by the due date or made alternative arrangements with the IHA Treasurer as soon as the team is announced.
• Attend all training sessions.
• In consultation with the IHA Championships Coordinator, contact accommodation to confirm room configurations and other relevant information (e.g., laundry facilities).
• Organise room allocations in conjunction with the Coach and advise the IHA Championships Coordinator.
• Liaise with IHA Vice President Sponsorship & Media (sponsorus@ipswichhockey.com) for promotions and publicity requirements, particularly for competition results.
• Liaise with the Secretary (secretary@ipswichhockey.com) for details of any official functions.
• In conjunction with the Coach, conduct a meeting with the Players, Parents, and/or Guardians to outline and discuss playing and behaviour expectations, including nutrition and performance of the Team while competing.

During an event, the Manager shall:

• Be responsible for all meals for players and staff.
• Establish a regular meeting room.
• After conferring with the Coach, advise the Team, Umpires, and Tech Officials of the daily program, including uniform colours, match times, social activities, etc.
• Confer with the Coach on the nutritional intake and maintenance for Players and ensure that Players adhere to nutritional requirements.
• In conjunction with the Coach, be responsible for resolving any significant issues or disputes. Before taking any action, a member of the IHA Executive must be consulted.
• Be responsible for washing Players, Umpires, and Tech Officials uniforms as required.
• Seek medical advice and assistance for Players, Umpires, and Tech Officials who are ill or injured.
• Not share a room with a junior Team Player unless the Manager is their parent/guardian.
• Not allow their visitors, including family members, to enter Players’ rooms.

After the event, the Manager shall:

• Complete the Manager’s report (as per guidelines provided by IHA) and return it to the Secretary within 14 days of the competition's conclusion.
• Provide feedback on the accompanying Umpire/s and Tech Official to the Umpires Committee if required.
• Return all Uniforms to the Uniform Committee or other designated coordinator within 14 days of the event's conclusion in good order.

Note: Failure to carry out the duties as listed above, such as collecting all monies or returning uniforms, gives IHA the right to investigate any discrepancies or incidents and impose an appropriate penalty. These penalties may include payment to IHA for the cost previously covered by the Association.

Accommodation for family members is not permitted at the same venue as the Team

You also confirm that you have read, understood and will abide by the current IHA Rep Policy, Social Media Policy, Managers code of conduct and the Managers Roles code of conduct

Updated policies can be accessed via the website www.ipswichhockey.com