It is the policy of the Woodville Little Athletic Centre that all athletes conduct themselves properly at home meetings, away meetings, and all Association events. The Centre takes a dim view of poor behaviour and will do everything it can to ensure it does not occur.
Athletes are expected to behave well and to promote the Centre and themselves in the best possible way. Bad behaviour disrupts and unsettles other athletes.
This can affect their performance and also gives parents a poor impression of the Centre. Bad behaviour includes:
- swearing at other athletes, officials and parents
- disrupting, fighting with or making fun of other athletes during their events
- questioning an official’s judgment or impartiality
- failure to control temper
- displaying bad sportsmanship
- failing to follow instructions from officials, chaperones or Committee members
- using equipment in a dangerous manner or unsupervised
Chaperones have the authority to warn misbehaving athletes and ask them to conform to Centre policy. Similarly, officials and Committee members can issue warnings to athletes. Parents can advise a Committee member of any behaviour concerns so they can be followed up.
The Centre has adopted the following guidelines in relation to bad behaviour:
- The athlete will be given a warning on the initial offence. A warning given at one meeting carries over to subsequent meetings
- A second warning will result in the athlete losing all points gained for the meeting in which it was given
- A third warning will also result in point loss and the athlete’s parents being asked to ensure their child observes the behaviour code. The athlete receives a probationary period of 4 weeks
- Further failure on the athlete’s part to comply with the behaviour code within the probationary period may result in the parents being asked to remove the child from the Centre.
Generally, the majority of athletes behave and only a few can be disruptive. It is up to all of us to ensure that our children can participate in athletics for fun and fitness without other influences which reflect on their ability and undermine their confidence.
