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TOPPERS CODE OF CONDUCT

Responsibilities, Expectations, & Code of Conduct

 

Social Media Responsibility:

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All individuals have the responsibility to:

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  • Only connect and communicate with others through social media in a positive manner.

  • Ensure comments, pictures, videos, etc. may not be interpreted as slurs, demeaning or inflammatory.

  • Comply with applicable privacy, confidentiality and intellectual property laws.

  • Refrain from the use of social media for the purposes of fraud and / or impersonation.

  • Refrain from uploading, posting, emailing, or otherwise transmitting:

    • Any content the is offensive, obscene, unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, hateful, invasive of another’s privacy or otherwise objectionable.

    • Material which is designed to cause annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety to others

    • Infringes the patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other propriety right of any other party

    • Any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising or commercial material, junk mail, spam, chain letter, or any other form of solicitation

    • Any material that contains software viruses or any other computer program designed to destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or telecommunication

 

Expectations of athletes:

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  • Show up to practices and tournaments on time and ready to play.

  • Ensure you have the proper equipment to play the game.

  • Let your coach know in plenty of time if you will be absent or late.

  • Drugs and alcohol use will NOT be tolerated (practices and tournaments).

  • Use of vaping products will NOT be tolerated (practices and tournaments).

  • Cell phones are to be put away during practices and games – your main focus should be VOLLEYBALL!

  • Most importantly, bring a positive, respectful, encouraging and dedicated attitude.

 

Athlete Code of Conduct:

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  • I will participate because I want to, not just because my parents or coaches want me to.

  • I will play by the rules, and in the spirit of the game.

  • I will control my temper – fighting and foul language can spoil the activity for everyone.

  • I will respect my opponents.

  • I will do my best to be a true team player.

  • I will remember that winning isn’t everything – that having fun, improving skills, making friends and doing my best are also important.

  • I will acknowledge all good plays/performances – those of my team and of my opponents.

  • I will remember that coaches and officials are there to help me. I will accept their decisions and show them respect.

  • I will attend all team games, practices, functions and meetings as requested.

  • I will notify the Head Coach, in advance of any scheduled vacations, that may conflict with team commitments.

Failure to follow these codes will result in disciplinary action and possible suspension.

 

 

Expectations of Parents:

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  • Make your love and support unconditional and never contingent on performance. The biggest issues between parents and their children often come when the parent makes the child feel like their encouragement and love is contingent on their performances.

  • Support, support, support! Support your child in many different ways. Listen to them when they need to be heard after a tough game or practice. Challenge them when they are exhibiting a bad attitude.  Confirm what they are going through is normal in sport.

  • Remain calm and composed during games. Avoid yelling at officials. Athletes find it very frustrating and embarrassing when parents yell at officials, or lose their composure in the stands.  There is enough pressure on these kids to perform as it is. Your added pressure from reacting to mistakes they make, being critical and negative, and just too emotional create unneeded stress and take away from the fun of the game.

  • Have them play for their reasons, not yours. Keep in mind that your child wants to be independent from you in some ways, and yet have your support.  In sport, let their goals drive the level of involvement. This will lead to less frustration and arguments.

  • Push to follow through on commitments, work hard, and be a good person. This is the time to challenge your child when they want to take a short cut that does not show commitment to the team or the coach. Pushing, however, to win is not healthy and will only create issues between you and your child.

  • Keep it fun. Try not to take sport too seriously. You will ruin it for your child and they will feel pressure if you are too critical, controlling, or overbearing. Keep it light!

  • Support the coach and don’t try to coach your child! Especially from the stands during a game.  Coaching your child, unless you are a part of the coaching staff, makes it very easy to confuse and frustrate the child. It can undermine the coach and destroy coach-athlete trust.

  • Have realistic expectations for your child’s success in sport. Try to be objective when your child is not receiving playing time or starting; or they struggle with their performances. They are not mini-adults; they are maturing young people who make many mistakes as well as doing many great things (sometimes in the same day!).

  • Limit your conversations about sport. Let them know you are interested, but also interested in all aspects of their lives!

  • Reinforce with your child to be a good sport. For example, emphasize shaking hands after games no matter how bitter the contest, and never belittling someone to make yourself feel better.

 

Parents Code of Conduct

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  • I will not force my child to participate in sports.

  • I will remember that my child plays sport for his or her enjoyment, not for mine.

  • I will encourage my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence.

  • I will teach my child that doing one’s best is as important as winning, so that my child will never feel defeated by the outcome of the game/event.

  • I will make my child feel like a winner every time by offering praise for competing fairly and trying hard.

  • I will never ridicule or yell at my child for making a mistake or losing a competition.

  • I will remember that children learn best by example. I will applaud good plays/performances by both my child’s team and their opponents.

  • I will never question the official’s judgment or honesty in public.

  • I will support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from children’s sporting activities.

  • I will respect and show appreciation for the volunteer coaches who give their time to provide sport activities for my child.

  • I understand that failure to follow this Code of Conduct will result in disciplinary action and possible suspension.

 

Coaching Creed

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  • Be a resourceful person able to assist the athlete to develop his/her athletic potential and self-dependency.

  • Recognize individual differences in athletes and always think of the athlete's long-term best interests.

  • Aim for excellence based upon realistic goals and the athlete's growth and development.

  • Lead by example. Teach and practice cooperation, self-discipline, respect for officials and opponents and proper attitudes in language, dress and deportment.

  • Make sport challenging and fun. Skills and techniques need not be learned painfully.

  • Be honest and consistent with athletes. They appreciate knowing where they stand.

  • Be prepared to interact with the media, league officials and parents. They too have important roles to play in sport.

  • Coaching involves training by responsible people who are flexible and willing to continually learn and develop.

  • Physical fitness should be a lifelong goal for all Canadians.

  • Encourage athletes to be fit all year, every year and not just for the season.

 

Coaches Responsibility:

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  • Treat everyone fairly within the context of their activity, regardless of gender, place of origin, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political belief or economic status.

  • Direct comments or criticism at the performance rather than the athlete.

  • Consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of their sport and of coaching.

  • Refrain from public criticism of fellow coaches; especially when speaking to the media or recruiting athletes.

  • Abstain from the use of tobacco or vaping products while in the presence of her/his athletes and discourage their use by athletes.

  • Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages when working with athletes.

  • Discourage the use of alcohol in conjunction with athletic events or victory celebrations at the playing site.

  • Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language in the conduct of his/her duties.

  • Ensure that each activity is suitable for the age, experience, ability and fitness level of the athletes, as well; educate athletes as to their responsibilities in contributing to a safe environment.

  • Communicate and co-operate with registered medical practitioners in the diagnoses, treatment and management of their athletes’ medical and psychological problems. Consider the athletes’ future health and well-being as foremost when making decisions regarding an injured athletes’ ability to continue playing or training.

  • Regularly seek ways of increasing professional development and self-awareness.

  • Treat opponents and officials with due respect, both in victory and defeat and encourage athletes to act accordingly. Actively encourage athletes to uphold the rules of their sport and the spirit of such rules.

  • Communicate and co-operate with the athlete’s parents or legal guardians, involving them in management decisions pertaining to their child’s development.

 

PLAYING TIME:

 

Playing time is a coaching decision and is earned by players in practice and success during competition. Playing time and an athlete’s role on the team is the responsibility and decision of the team coach. The coach will consider skill, attitude, attendance, and many other factors when determining playing time. 

 

Fair play rules only exist for 13u, 14u and 15u (Playing time will be equal in the first 2 sets).  There is no guarantee that a player will play in any given set, game or tournament.   

 

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE POLICY:

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If a player has concerns or questions (ex: playing time at a tournament, etc.), we ask that parents/players wait at least 24 hours before addressing the issue with the coach(es).  If you still wish to discuss concerns with the coach(es) after 24 hours, the player will speak directly to her coach(es) first to discuss the issues. (We believe this an important life skill for your daughter).  If the player is not comfortable speaking to the coach (younger player), she may bring a parent to meet with her coach.  This will be done either before or after practices, but please provide advance notice to the coach so they can be prepared to answer any questions or concerns you may have.  If player/parent concerns are not addressed in the meeting with the coach, they will contact the executive for feedback and, if required, a meeting with the coach(es), player and parent.  It is our desire to handle all concerns directly and in a timely manner to promote successful resolution.

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