All Club Coaches, Officials and Volunteers

The Code represents England Athletics’ organisational behaviours and values – Accountability, Quality Performance, Integrity, Communication, Respect translating them into action to help and protect our volunteers and athletes. It is adopted from the UKA Code of Conduct, full details of which can be found on the UKA website. All volunteers must demonstrate these behaviours:

Accountability

  • At all times work within the limits of your professional competence
  • Act to safeguard the health and safety of ALL athletes and colleagues at all times
  • Ensure your Coach License and DBS are up to date.

Quality Performance

  • Keep your professional knowledge and skills up to date.
  • Reflect on your own performance and behaviours and recognise when fatigue, stress, physical or mental illness may affect your duties. You should always seek medical advice from your doctor and then comply with that advice.
  • Seek and receive feedback on your performance and behaviours graciously
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Integrity

  • Display consistently high standards of behaviour and appearance
  • Act ethically, professionally and with integrity, and take responsibility for your actions.
  • Provide feedback in a positive constructive manner.
  • Consider the well-being and safety of participants before the development of performance
  • Be aware of the demands on athletes’ time, energy and enthusiasm (e.g. school demands / other commitments).
  • Make sure all activities are appropriate to the age, ability and experience of those taking part.
  • Develop an appropriate working relationship with athletes, based on mutual trust and respect.
  • Never ridicule or shout at an athlete for making a mistake or losing, be professional at all times.
  • Never exert undue influence over performers to obtain personal benefit or reward
  • DO NOT condone bullying, if you suspect a coach, volunteer, athlete or parent of bullying please follow the correct reporting procedure (see section on Safeguarding and Welfare)
  • Only use safe, developmental, approved, recommended methods of coaching, ensuring the safe use of suitable equipment, safe for the user and the surrounding athletes.

Respect

  • Ensure you and your athletes demonstrate respect for opponents, officials, opposing coaches and supporters
  • Ensure you and your athletes demonstrate respect for all coaches, volunteers and athletes at the club.
  • Speak positively and advocate your colleagues, others coaches, volunteers and all athletes.
  • Never condone rule violations, rough play or the use of prohibitive substances
  • Promote the positive aspects of the sport (e.g. fair play)
  • Respect the athlete’s right to self-determination when deciding who they are coached by.

Additionally, for Club Coaches

  • Hold the appropriate, valid qualifications and insurance cover.
  • Follow all guidelines laid down by the national governing body and the club.
  • Be a positive role model and mentor to up and coming coaches and athletes.

Athletes

All members (and non-members) using the facilities on a club training night

In the interest of Health & Safety, the Club requires that athletes and parents read and comply with the following guidelines for the use of all athletic facilities at the John Charles Centre for Sport.  These are dedicated training facilities and therefore all athletes are instructed to conduct themselves in a proper manner.

Coaches are responsible for the athletes in their groups, ensuring that all their athletes are aware of This Code of Conduct and help the club to enforce these guidelines.

General

  • All athletes are required to sign in at the Club desk when they attend a training session on club nights. This is a requirement for Health and Safety regulations and not signing in may cause serious security risks.
  • All athletes are required to pay for the use of the facilities. For members this is linked to the membership of the club and is either an annual or monthly payment.  Non-members using the facilities on club nights must pay Leeds City Athletic Club, by card to use the facilities when signing in.  Any non-payers will be asked to leave.  Regular offending non-payers will be refused entry into the facilities and asked to train elsewhere.
  • Athletes must not entre the hall without their coach being present.
  • Boisterous behaviour in the athletic hall or reception area will not be tolerated.
  • Footballs, rugby balls etc must not be taken in to the athletic hall, or to the outdoor track and infield, unless specifically instructed by a coach for use during supervised training.
  • Headphones of any kind are NOT permitted in the athletics hall or the outdoor track and infield.
  • Please use lockers for your valuables and turn off mobile phones, iPads, iPods and any other electrical device whilst training.
  • No videoing or photography in the athletics hall or outdoor track and infield without Leeds City Athletic Club permission. This is a safeguarding measure.
  • Changing rooms and showers are to be left tidy when you have finished.

Use of Equipment

  • Do not take equipment home.
  • Treat equipment with respect and report any damage to your coach or any club official.
  • All equipment used during training must be returned to the storage unit immediately after the training session and locked away. It is the coach’s responsibility for the safe return of any equipment borrowed.

Indoor Hall

  • Athletes must NOT play on, sit on, or misuse the high jump or pole vault mats.
  • Maximum spike length is 5mm indoors and 6mm outdoors.
  • Clean footwear only to be worn indoors.
  • Do not enter the indoor facility wearing outdoor spikes or muddy trainers.
  • Spikes must be removed before you leave the athletic hall. Do not walk around corridors/changing rooms/toilets or reception area wearing spikes.
  • Athletes must be supervised by a qualified club coach, level 2 and above, whilst training.
  • During training, only athletes and coaches are allowed in the athletic hall. Spectators and unsupervised children must keep out for safety reasons.  The only exception being when a coach specifically requests the presence of a parent or guardian (Coach then takes responsibility for that person).
  • Do not remove weights or other equipment from the JCCS weights room.
  • Do not inappropriately use weights and equipment when training indoors.
  • ONLY run in the proper direction on the indoor track which is from the upper sports hall end ( i.e near the reception) to the lower sports hall end (i.e near the roller shutter doors).
  • Water and Sports drinks (non-fizzy) only, may be taken in to the athletic hall. Hot drinks or drinks without lids are not permitted.
  • No food to be consumed in the hall. Chewing gum must be disposed of in a bin before entering the hall.
  • Athletes and Coaches must not lift heavy equipment. (Coaches may request equipment from JCCS staff).
  • When your training session is over you must leave the athletic hall to make way for the next group

Outdoor Track and Infield

  • When using the outdoor facilities, athletes, coaches and spectators must not walk/run across the track and infield.
  • Spectators wishing to use the stadium stands must walk around the tarmac shoulder of the track.
  • Do not walk or stand in the way of others on the track.
  • Athletes must not enter the equipment storage unit (the Garage), or remove any equipment from it unless they are accompanied by a qualified club coach level 2 and above. Spectators are not allowed to enter the storage unit under any circumstance.
  • When your training session is over you must leave the track to make way for the next group.
  • The instructions of the Complex Manager and staff are to be followed at all times.
  • The Complex Manager is authorised to close the facilities for safety or any other reason he/she deems necessary, and to remove or ban any persons who misuse the facilities. If the manager is forced to do this, the General Committee will give their full support in order to protect the interest of the other members.
  • Run only Anti Clockwise around the outdoor track. IF space allows shuttle runs and drills can be done on a straight in either direction if instructed by your coach.

The club has the right to challenge any behaviours demonstrated that are deemed inappropriate and contrary to this Code of Conduct.