Sporting Code of Conduct
As a founding member of the Hong Kong Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (HKSF&OC), the Club believes that every Club member and affiliate should abide by the Olympian spirit of sportsmanship, as expressed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics: “The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”
- In adopting a Sporting Code of Conduct, the Club enjoins its members and affiliates to set positive examples by embracing the highest ideals of sportsmanship. These include self-discipline, compassion, service, aspiration, and fairness.
- The Sporting Code of Conduct will apply to every Sporting Section, all of its participants including non-VRC members affiliated with the Sections as temporary members or guests, and every member of the Club who is involved in Club-run activities and competitions.
- The Sporting Code of Conduct applies to Sporting Section officers, players, coaches, captains, team managers, club committees and officeholders, parents, spectators, and users of social media.
- All members must respect the rights, dignity, and worth of all participants regardless of gender, ability, race, cultural or ethnic background, language, religious beliefs, age, sexual orientation, or sexual identity.
- All members and affiliates should respect the invaluable contributions made by coaches, captains, and officials, and publicly accept their decisions.
- All members and affiliates should strive to be positive role models and treat other players and officials with the same level of respect they would expect to be shown to them.
- All members and affiliates should encourage everyone to enjoy their sport and understand that people have different motivations for taking part.
- Categories of inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour relating to Club sporting activities include physically abusive coaches or anyone else engaged in training with the Club, verbally abusive feedback from team members to the coaches, captains, and volunteer officials of the Sporting Section, instances of public humiliation by any participant, sexual harassment, abusive spectator behaviour, and in the case of children’s sporting events, angry parents who inflict verbal or physical abuse on sports participants, coaches, captains, volunteer officials, other members’ children, as well as the children of other competitors and their parents.
- The Club recognizes that coaches require some latitude in verbal expression, but this should not be taken as an excuse by members who are not part of the coaching staff to abuse team members on any level, whether verbal, physical, or emotional.
- Team selection is the sole prerogative of the coach, captains, and coaching staff and lies outside the complaint mechanisms established by Sporting Sections.
- What constitutes verbal, physical, sexual and emotional abuse may be subject to cultural and individual interpretation. While the Club recognizes that different standards exist, it relies on Club members, guests and affiliates to exercise good judgement and to strive to embody the Olympian ideal that it is more important to play well, than to win badly.
- No class of Sporting Section members should be discriminated against as long as their Sporting Section dues, if any, are current. This implies that new members of a Sporting Section and temporary members should be given an equal opportunity to compete for seats or places in competitions on the same basis as long-established members.
- In addition to the Sporting Code of Conduct, the VRC supports a Coaching Code of Conduct. In instances of specific grievance, members may refer to the Coaching Code of Conduct supported by the Club while recognizing that the Chairman and General Committee will not mediate or pass judgment except in the most extreme of circumstances where the Club’s reputation is at stake or liability is involved.
Coaching Code of Conduct
The Victoria Recreation Club (“VRC”) is committed to the highest ideals of sport and expects all its coaches to honour that spirit, regardless of the particular sport they practice or Sporting Section to which they belong. All VRC coaches agree to observe the following code of conduct: which they belong. All VRC coaches agree to observe the following code of conduct:
Respect for Others
- I will respect the rights, dignity and worth of athletes, coaches, other volunteers, friends, parents, and spectators.
- I will treat everyone equally regardless of sex, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, gender orientation, age, or level of ability.
- I will be a positive role model for the athletes and other coaches.
Ensure a Positive Experience
- I will ensure that for each athlete I coach, the time spent with the VRC is positive.
- I will respect the talent, developmental stage, and goals of each athlete.
- I will ensure that each athlete competes in events that challenge that athlete’s potential and are appropriate to that athlete’s ability.
- I will be fair, considerate and honest with athletes and communicate with athletes using simple, clear language.
- I will encourage each athlete to perform to the best of the athlete’s ability at all events.
Act Professionally and Take Responsibility for My Actions
- My language, manner, punctuality, preparation and presentation will demonstrate high standards.
- I will display control, respect, dignity and professionalism to all involved in the sport (athletes, coaches, opponents, officials, administrators, spectators, parents, media, etc.).
- I will encourage athletes to demonstrate the same qualities.
- I will not drink alcohol, smoke, or take illegal drugs while representing the VRC at training sessions or during competitions.
- I will refrain from any form of personal abuse towards athletes and others, including verbal, physical, and emotional abuse.
- I will be alert to any form of abuse from other sources directed towards athletes in my care.
Quality Service to the Athletes
- I will encourage my team(s) to represent and compete for the VRC at the highest level of sportsmanship.
- I will seek continual improvement through performance evaluation and ongoing coach education.
- I will be knowledgeable about the Sports Rules and skills of a sporting coach.
- I will follow a planned training program.
- I will follow the National and International Body rules for my sport.
Health and Safety of the Athletes
- I will place the health and safety of my charges at the top of my priorities.
- I will encourage athletes to seek medical advice when required.
- I will maintain the same interest and support towards sick and injured athletes.
- I will allow further participation in training and competition for sick and injured athletes only when appropriate.
- I will adhere to and enforce all VRC Safety Rules.