Code of Conduct

As a responsible athlete you will: –

• Treat others with the same respect and fairness that you wish to receive.
• Anticipate your own needs, be organised and on time.
• Thank those that help you in athletics.
• Always bring a positive attitude to the club.
• Work as part of a team.
• Show loyalty to your club.
• Show patience with and respect diversity.
• Act with dignity at all times.
• Notify a running leader if you have to go somewhere whilst at club, where and when you will return.
• Always inform you running leader if you wish to take a different route at session and them know when you return.
• Avoid destructive behaviour and leave athletics venues as you find them.
• Never engage in illegal or irresponsible behaviour.
• Bringing animals to the sessions must be agreed with by your running leader.
• Challenge anyone whose behaviour falls below the expected standards of ‘Athletics Welfare.’
• Speak out immediately if anything makes you concerned or uncomfortable (telling your run leader and/or the
• welfare officer) or if you suspect a club mate has suffered misconduct by someone else.
• Club Kit must be worn for sessions, race events and any promotional events.

When logging onto and using social networking, videos sharing websites or blogs including personal use on computers and mobile phones, members including committee, leaders and runners must not: –

• Conduct themselves in a way that is detrimental to the club or brings RKR into disrepute.
• Allow their interaction on these websites or blogs to damage working relationships between leaders, committee members and runners.
• Make any derogatory, offensive, discriminatory or defamatory comments about the club, its members or sponsors.
• Make any comments about club members that could constitute unlawful discrimination, harassment or bullying contrary to the Equality Act 2010 – You could be personally liable for your actions under this legislation.
• Disclose any club secrets, confidential or sensitive information belonging to the club, its members and sponsors or information about the club’s work services, development or member morale.

Club members must remember that social networking websites are a public forum even if they have set their account settings at a restricted access or ‘friends only’ level, and therefore they should not assume their entries on any website will remain private.

As a responsible coach/leader you will: –

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every athlete/runner and treat everyone equally, regardless of background or ability.
• Place the welfare and safety of the athlete/runner above the development of performance.
• Develop appropriate working relationships with members (especially under 18’s), based on mutual respect and trust.
• Do not exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
• Encourage and guide athletes/runners to accept and take responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.
• Avoid critical language or actions, such as sarcasm, that undermine the athletes/runner’s self-esteem.
• Not spend time alone with a young athlete/runner unless clearly in view of others.
• Always explain why and ask for consent before touching an athlete/runner.
• Make sure you are appropriately qualified for activities that you coach/lead and update your licence and education when required by UK Athletics.
• Adopt safe training regimes appropriate to the age, stage of development and capacity of the athlete/runner.
• It is to your discretion if animals are allowed to run with your group. Safety to yourself and your runners is our main priority.
• Change groups if it is in the club’s best interest.
• Work as part of a team.
• At the outset, clarify with athletes/runners (and where appropriate, their parents or carers) exactly what is expected of them and what performers are entitled to expect from us.
• Never try to recruit, either overtly or covertly, athletes/runners who are already receiving coaching.
• Co-operate fully with other colleagues (e.g. other coaches, officials, team members, governing body staff) in the best interests of the club.
• Consistently promote positive aspects of the sport (e.g. fair play, sportsmanship) and never condone rule violations or the use of prohibited or age inappropriate substances.
• Challenge inappropriate behaviour or language by others.
• Report any accidental injury, distress, misunderstandings or misinterpretations (including if a child appears to have been sexually aroused by your actions). A brief written report of such incidents should be submitted to the Welfare Officer as soon as possible, and the parents/carers notified. The accident book is located at base.
• Report any suspected misconduct by other coaches/leaders or athletics personnel.
• Never use derogatory terminology to another member, leader or committee staff.
• Use confidentiality where needed.
• Consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance.
• Always bring a positive attitude to sessions.
• Always promote positive attitude towards the Club.
• Club Kit must be worn for sessions, race events and any promotional events.