1 - Code of Conduct for Parents / Guardians

2 - Code of Conduct for Children

3 - Code of Conduct for Coaches

4 - Supervision of children during club activities

1. Code of Conduct for Parents / Guardians

Trackside Lawn Tennis Club believes that as parents / guardians you should:

• Be a role model for your child and maintain the highest standards of conduct when interacting with young people, other parents, officials and organisers.
• Always behave responsibly and do not seek to unfairly affect a player or the outcome of the game.
• Never intentionally expose any young participant to embarrassment or disparagement by the use of flippant or sarcastic remarks.
• Always recognise the value and importance of the officials and volunteers who provide sporting and recreational opportunities for your child. Do not publicly question the judgement or honesty of referees, umpires, coaches or organisers.  Respect convenors, professionals, coaches, referees, umpires, organisers and other players. Parents are welcome to attend events and coaching sessions but should not interfere with the coach or organiser while working with the player.
• Encourage your child to play by the rules of tennis. Teach your child that honest endeavour is as important as winning and do all you can to encourage good sportsmanship.
• Set a good example by applauding good play on all sides. Encourage mutual respect for other junior members, teammates and opponents.
• Support all efforts to remove abusive behaviour and bullying behaviour in all its forms. Please refer to bullying policy, Appendix 17, within the club’s Child Protection Policy.

Parents / Guardians Code of Conduct:

1. I will respect the rules and procedures set down by the Irish Sports Council Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport.
2. I will respect my child’s teammates and leaders as well as players, parents and coaches from opposing teams. I will encourage my child to treat other participants, professionals, coaches, convenors, selectors and managers with respect.
3. I will give encouragement and applaud only positive accomplishments whether from my child, his/her teammates, their opponents or the officials.
4. I will respect my child’s leader(s) and support his/her efforts.
5. I will respect the officials and their authority during sessions and events whether within the club or outside.
6. I will never demonstrate threatening or abusive behaviour or use foul language.

The undertaking to abide by and support the club’s Child Protection Policy given by the parent/legal guardian is deemed to be their agreement to abide by this code of conduct.

2. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CHILDREN

All junior members are required to abide by the following Code of Conduct.

• Play fairly and have fun.
• Abide by the rules set down by team managers when travelling to away events.
• Behave in a manner that avoids bringing the game of tennis into disrepute.
• Respect officials and accept their decisions.
• Talk to one of the Children’s Officers if I have concerns.
• Respect opponents and always shake hands at the end of a match.
• Use my best efforts in competitive matches.
• Refrain from the use of bad language and inappropriate gestures.
• Refrain from ball/racquet abuse.
• Refrain from the use of coaching during competition.
• Never use unfair or bullying tactics to gain advantage on or off the court.
• Never use bullying tactics to isolate another player.
• Never pass on gossip about another player or adult.
• Never make false allegations about another player or adult.
• Never keep secrets about anyone who has caused me harm.
• Win with grace and lose with dignity.

The undertaking to abide by and support the club’s Child Protection Policy given by the parent/legal guardian of junior members is deemed to be agreement on the part of the junior member to abide by this Code of Conduct.

3. Code of Conduct for coaches

In order to act as a role model and to promote their safety and the safety of young people Tennis Coaches at Trackside LTC should:

Create a safe and enjoyable environment for children by:

• Planning and preparing appropriately and be positive during sessions. 

• Making sure all levels of participation are enjoyable and fun. 

• Prioritising skill development and personal satisfaction over highly structured competition. 

• Organising age and playing level appropriate organised play and competition and setting realistic goals & challenges. 

• Avoiding favouritism – each child will need attention according to their tennis needs. 

• Praising and encouraging effort as well as results. 

• Showing respect for all involved, children and adults. 

Recognise and ensure the welfare of children by:

• Keeping attendance records. 

• Not exposing a child to criticism, hostility or sarcasm. 

• Never swearing at, ridiculing, shouting unnecessarily or arguing with a child. 

• Being aware of and implementing the Tennis Ireland Long Term Player Development Pathway and a child’s developmental needs at each stage of the programme. 

• Working in an open environment. 

• Ensuring there is adequate supervision. 

• Implementing Tennis Ireland Policy on away trips. 

• Involving and updating parents, especially if a problem has arisen. 

• Respecting a child’s sensitivity. 

• Never using physical punishment or force. 

• Not using verbal or physical punishments or exclusion for mistakes.

Additional Information: 

• Do not allow or engage in bullying behaviour, rough physical games, sexually provocative games, never allow or engage in inappropriate physical contact of any kind or make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child. 

• Cooperate with the recommendations from medical and ancillary practitioners in the management of a child’s medical or related problems. You may request a certificate of medical fitness to ensure safe continued participation. 

• Avoid carrying out any medical testing or giving advice of a personal or medical nature if not qualified to do so or undertake any form of therapy (hypnosis etc.) in the training of children. Any such activity, if qualified, must only be with parent/guardian consent and the understanding of the child. 

• Keep any information in relation to a child/young person of a personal or medical nature strictly confidential unless the welfare of the child requires the passing on of this information on a need to know basis. 

• Never exert undue influence over a participant in order to obtain personal benefit or reward. 

• The acknowledgement of the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco is incompatible with a healthy approach to sporting activity and must be discouraged. Avoid the use of alcohol at all times whilst responsible for young people e.g. training sessions, events and on trips with young people. 

Supervision of children during club activities

• If late collections occur leaders should remain in pairs until participants have left. 
• It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to make arrangements for the collection of  young people. 
• If a parent is unavoidably delayed they should contact the club.  In the event that no contact is made with the club, the supervisor/coach will attempt to contact the parent using the contact number (s) provided by them.  If there is no answer they will ask the child if there is a family member whom they can contact.  If no contact can still be made the supervisor/coach plus another adult will wait with the child at the club or venue until the child has been collected by a parent or other adult nominated by the parent. 

Children attending club-organised coaching should let one of the adult supervisors/coaches know when they have arrived at the club - it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that children do this.  When they have finished their coaching/supervised session and are leaving with the adult nominated to collect them they (or the adult) should inform the supervisor / coach that they are leaving.  Under no circumstances should a child leave the club premises without informing the adult supervisor. 

If a child suffers an injury or accident the parents/guardians will be informed and An accident Report form completed. 

Attendance records and records of any incidents or accidents that occur will be kept by the club.

Supervision of changing rooms if necessary (where children are very young or need special assistance), will only be in pairs of the appropriate gender. 

The club welcomes and encourages parents who wish to stay and supervise sessions (for safety and supervision, not necessarily for the ‘technical’ expertise!)

Parents should note that adequate adult supervision as described above is provided only at the following times:

• During your child’s allocated coaching period as part of the child’s junior coaching programme.
• During any of the internal junior activities or other external competitions organised and run by the junior committee or coaches of the club.
• During any of the closed club tournaments run by the junior committee or coaches of the club.

Arrangements for supervision during home or away matches etc are outlined in the Travel Hosting Policy.

We wish to make it clear that while there may be adults present in the club premises at other times, the club does not regard their presence as the provision of adequate adult supervision and it is not responsible for the safety and protection of your child outside the specific activities listed above. 

While the club takes every reasonable measure to ensure the safety and protection of all its members including junior members while they are on the premises, such measures do not extend to the provision of adequate adult supervision other than for the activities organised by the club. In that regard it is the responsibility of each parent guardian to ensure that their child is adequately supervised at all times that they are on the club premises (including times when the child is receiving private coaching organised by the child’s parents)