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Introduction
Fair play is the guiding principle of the FAI Code of Ethics.
In taking this approach children are encouraged to:
• Do their best put in their best effort.
• Improve and develop their skills.
• Make friends.
• Play by the rules.
• Appreciate/accept everyone in the group, regardless of
ability, race, religion, gender etc.
Coaches/volunteers should
never:
• Exert undue influence over a participant in order to obtain
personal benefit or reward.
• Share a room with a young person alone on away trips.
• Engage in rough physical games, sexually provocative games
or allow or engage in
inappropriate touching of any kind, and/or make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child.
• Use any form of corporal punishment or physical force on a young person.
• Take measurements or engage in certain types of fitness testing without the presence of another adult.
• Spend excessive amounts of time with children away from others.
• Take sessions alone
• Take children to their homes.
• Take children on journeys alone in their care
In promoting “Sport for Fun” coaches should:
• Encourage participation and fun.
• Promote the development of skills as opposed to winning at all costs.
• Emphasise and praise effort.
• Act as a good role model.
• Actively discourage children/young players from abusing referees, officials, team mates or opponents (take off offending players).
• Insist on
FAIR PLAY (take off offending Players)
• Be realistic with your expectations.
• Be aware of children’s feelings.
• Teach players to respect different cultures.
Safety
Coaches have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the players with whom they work as far as possible within the limits of their control. Therefore, coaches should seek to create a safe and enjoyable environment in which to play and train.
In this respect:
• Regular safety checks should be carried out in relation to premises, training facilities and equipment.
• Parents/guardians should be informed of the starting and finishing times of training sessions and matches.
• A first aid kit should be available at all training sessions /matches and injuries should be Reported to the club
• Parents/Guardians should be notified of injuries/illness which their children incur while participating in any football activity a
positive approach to the involvement of children in sport.
Responsibility to Report
Any person, who has concerns about a child’s welfare or who suspects that a child is being abused, or is at risk of abuse, has a responsibility to report their concerns to the Health Board or Gardai.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are often given to children for security, enabling parents to keep in touch and make sure they are safe.
However such technology has also allowed an increase in direct personal contact with young people, in some cases used to
cross personal boundaries and cause harm. Within clubs there is a need to encourage responsible and secure use of mobile
phones.
In this respect Coaches are advised to:
• Use group texts for communication among athletes and teams and inform parents of this at the start of the season
• It is not appropriate to have constant communication for individual athletes • Don’t use the phone in certain locations; inappropriate use of your camera phone may cause upset or offence to another person, e.g. changing rooms
