About codes of conduct

GUFC codes of conduct are in place to ensure football is a positive and enjoyable for everyone. GUFC adopts the SSFA codes of conduct for all members, including coaches. All members are expected to abide by the codes. Copies of all our codes of conduct are available under Documents and Forms.

Coaches code of conduct

  1. Do not tolerate acts of aggression.
  2. Provide feedback to players and other participants in a manner sensitive totheir needs. Avoid overly negative feedback.
  3. Recognise players’ rights to consult with other coaches and advisers. Cooperate fully with other specialists (for example, sports scientists, doctors and physiotherapists).
  4. Treat all players fairly within the context of their sporting activities, regardless of gender, race, place of origin, athletic potential, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, socio-economic status and other conditions.
  5. Encourage and facilitate players’ independence and responsibility for their own behaviour, performance, decisions and actions.
  6. Involve the players in decisions that affect them.
  7. Encourage players to respect one another and to expect respect for their worth as individuals regardless of their level of play.
  8. Ensure that the tasks and/or training set are suitable for age, experience, ability, and physical and psychological conditions of the players.
  9. Ensure any physical contact with players is appropriate to the situation and necessary for the player’s skill development.
  10. Be acutely aware of the power that you as a coach develop with your players in the coaching relationship and avoid any sexual intimacy with players that could develop as a result.
  11. Avoid situations with your players that could be construed as compromising.
  12. Actively discourage the use of performance enhancing drugs, and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances.
  13. Do not exploit any coaching relationship to further personal, political or business interests at the expense of the best interest of your players.
  14. Accept and respect the role of officials in ensuring that competitions are conducted fairly and according to established rules.
  15. Know and abide by rules, regulations and standards, and encourage players to do likewise. Accept both the letter and the spirit of the rules.
  16. Be honest and ensure that qualifications are not misrepresented.

In addition, the following general codes apply to all members:

  1. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of others.
  2. Be fair, considerate and honest in all dealing with others.
  3. Be professional in, and accept responsibility for, your actions.
  4. Make a commitment to providing quality service.
  5. Be aware of, and maintain an uncompromising adhesion to high standards, rules, regulations and policies.
  6. Operate within the rules of the sport including national and international guidelines.
  7. Do not use your involvement with GUFC to promote your own beliefs, behaviors or practices where these are inconsistent with those of GUFC
  8. Demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility especially when dealing with persons under 18 years of age.
  9. Avoid unaccompanied and unobserved activities with persons under 18 years of age, wherever possible.
  10. Be aware of responsibilities under the Child Protection Act and report any matters as required under the mandatory reporting requirements of the Child Protection Act.
  11. Refrain from any form of harassment, discrimination or racial vilification of others.
  12. Refrain from any behaviour that may bring GUFC or football into disrepute.
  13. Provide a safe environment for the conduct of the activity.
  14. Show concern and caution towards others who may be sick or injured.
  15. Be a positive role model.

Codes of conduct for other members

For coaches, in addition to upholding your own codes of conduct, you also have a role to play in ensuring everyone associated with your team (manager, players, parents and spectators) are aware of their codes of conduct. For copies of all codes go to our Document and Forms section.