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St Gerard's Athletic Club Dundalk and the Athletics Ireland (A.I.) is fully committed to safeguarding the well being of all of its members. Every individual in the club should at all times, show respect and understanding for members rights, safety and welfare and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the organization and the guidelines contained in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children's Sport.
In St Gerard's AC (and the A.I.) our first priority is the welfare of the young people and we are committed to providing an environment which will allow participants to perform to the best of their ability, free from bullying and intimidation.
St Gerard's AC (and Athletics Ireland) wishes to provide the best possible environment for all young people involved in the sport. Young people deserve to be given enjoyable, safe sporting opportunities, free of abuse of any kind. These participants have rights, which must be respected, and responsibilities that they must accept. Young people should be encouraged to realise that they have responsibilities to treat other participants and sports leaders with fairness and respect.
Young athletes are entitled to:
Young athletes should always:
Young athletes should never:
St Gerard's AC and Athletics Ireland believes that parents should:
Be a role model for their child and maintain the highest standards of conduct when interacting with children, other parents, with officials and organisers.
Always behave responsibly and do not seek to unfairly affect the competition or training their child is participating in.
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 volunteers who provide sporting / recreational opportunities for their child. Do not publicly question the judgment or honesty of officials, coaches, organisers, or other athletes.
Encourage their child to participate within the rules. Teach their child that honest endeavour is as important as winning and do all they can to encourage good sportsmanship.
Set a good example by applauding other participants. Encourage mutual respect for individual competitors, team mates and all participants in specific events.
Parents should support all efforts to remove abusive behaviour and bullying behaviour in all its forms.
I will respect the rules and procedures set down in Athletics Ireland's Code of Ethics for Children's Sport.
I will respect my child's team-mates, leaders (e.g. Manager, Coaches, Officials, Judges), and parents, as well as all athletes, parents and coaches. I will encourage my child to treat other participants, coaches, selectors, officials and managers with respect.
I will give encouragement and applaud only positive accomplishments whether from my child, his/her team-mates, their opponents or the officials.
I will respect my child's leader(s) and support his/her efforts.
I will respect the officials and their authority during sessions and events
I will never demonstrate threatening or abusive behaviour or use foul language.
I will always collect my child on time and accompany my child to events.
St. Gerard's AC and Athletics Ireland recognises the key role leaders (coaches, selectors and team managers etc) play in the lives of children in sport.
All Leaders e.g. coaches, officers, administrators, team managers should have as their first priority the children's safety and enjoyment of the sport and should adhere to the guidelines and regulations set out in the Code of Ethics.
Leaders must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every child and must treat everyone equally, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion or ability.
Leaders working with young people in Athletics Ireland should be suitable and appropriately qualified. Leaders will be expected to go through appropriate recruitment and selection procedures, (see application and reference forms overleaf), that apply to all persons with substantial access to young people, whether paid or unpaid. References will be needed and will be followed up.
There will be a sign-up procedure, whereby the appointed/reappointed leaders agree to abide by the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children in Sport and to their policies.
Leaders will be given a copy of the Athletics Ireland Code of Ethics and they should be made aware of the procedures contained within the Code.
Once appointed the leader must act as a role model and promote the positive aspects of sport and of Athletics Ireland and maintain the highest standards of personal conduct.
The use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco must be actively discouraged as being incompatible with a healthy approach to sporting activity.
Remember your behaviour to athletes, other officials, and opponents will have an effect on the athletes in your care.
Be generous with praise and never ridicule or shout at athletes for making mistakes or not performing as expected. All young athletes are entitled to respect.
Be careful to avoid the star system. Each child deserves equal time and attention, at all times during his/her involvement in athletics.
Care must be taken not to expose a child intentionally or unintentionally to embarrassment or disparagement by use of sarcastic or flippant remarks about the child or his/her family.
Physical punishment or physical force must never be used. Never punish a mistake by verbal means, physical means, or exclusion.
Insist that athletes in your care respect the rules of athletics. Insist on fair play and ensure young athletes are aware you will not tolerate cheating or bullying behavior.
Remember that young athletes compete for fun and enjoyment and that skill development and personal satisfaction have priority over highly structured competition. Never make winning the only objective.
Encourage the development of respect for opponents, officials, selectors and other coaches and avoid criticism of fellow coaches.
When travel/overnight travel is involved, the Managers / Coaches / Leaders travelling with young athletes must sign a separate agreement. Parents and participants will also be asked to sign permission forms in these instances.
Leaders are responsible for setting and monitoring the boundaries between a working relationship and friendship with athletes. It is advisable for coaches not to involve young athletes in their personal life i.e. visits to coaches home or overnight stays.
All Leaders should avoid working alone and ensure there is adequate supervision for all activities.
It is important to realise that certain situations or friendly actions could be misinterpreted by the participant or by outsiders.
When approached to take on a new athlete, ensure that any previous coach - athlete relationship has been ended by the athlete / others in a professional manner.
When young athletes are invited into adult groups/squads, it is advisable to get agreement from a parent/carer. Boundaries of behaviour in adult groups are normally different from the boundaries that apply to junior groups/squads. Athletics Ireland will set out a policy document reflecting this.
Leaders who become aware of a conflict between their obligation to their athletes and their obligation to Athletics Ireland must make explicit the nature of the conflict and the loyalties and responsibilities involved, to all parties concerned.
Leaders/Coaches should communicate and co-operate with medical and ancillary practitioners in the
diagnosis, treatment and management of their athlete's medical or related problems. Avoid giving advice
of a personal or medical nature if you are not qualified to do so. Any information of a personal or medical
nature must be kept strictly confidential unless the welfare of the child requires the passing on of this
information.
The nature of the relationship between leader/coach and a participant can often mean that a leader will
learn confidential information about an athlete's family. This information must be regarded as confidential
and except where abuse is suspected, must not be divulged to a third party without the express permission
of the player/family.
Set realistic goals for the participants and do not push young athletes. Create a safe and enjoyable environment.
Do not criticise other leaders, (officials, coaches, and selectors). You are the role model for the children in your care.
Leaders / Coaches should familiarise themselves with the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children's Sport and with the Athletics Ireland Code of Conduct and follow the procedures if they suspect or receive complaints of abuse of any sort.
Leaders should:
Where possible Leaders should avoid:
Sports Leaders should not:
The club will be called St Gerard's Athletic Club Dundalk.
The club will affiliate annually with the Athletics Association of Ireland or its Successor.
All club members including committee members and coaches, shall register annually with the Athletic Association of Ireland and will be subject to the rules and regulations of the AAI.
The club will summon an Annual General meeting, which will be held in January each year.
The club shall maintain adequate financial records, which shall be audited and presented to registered members at the AGM.
The club shall submit a copy of their annual report to their respective County Board.
The club shall elect from its members the following officers:-
All club officers and committee members shall familiarise themselves with the Code of Ethics for Good Practice for Children's Sport.
The club shall register club colours and confirm with IAAF/AAI rules.
The club shall be in affiliation with its appropriate County Board and Provincial Council of the AAI.
The Club committee shall meet at least eight times a year, where all decisions and records are minted and circulated to all committee members.
The club shall endeavour to promote all facets of athletics.
The club shall endeavour that no member be discriminated against on the basis of age, sex or creed.
The club will endeavour to recruit coaches for all disciplines in the conformity with the coach education programmed.
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