As a sports coach are there any legal
requirements which I must adhere to?
Often people who involve themselves in sport
as coaches are directly involved with young children and vulnerable
individuals. Accordingly they must be subject to appropriate checks
as to their suitability to work in this environment such as
Criminal Record Bureau and Vetting and
Barring schemes required by the individual sport.
In order to be a coach for a particular sport
within the UK it is likely
that you will be required to achieve certain qualifications. For
example if you wish to coach tennis within England you will be
required at attain the required level of coaching certificate of
qualification from the National Governing Body of Tennis in England.
Therefore, there will be certain requirements
and laws from the particular sport which you wish to become a coach
in regarding the behaviour and standards of coaching.
Are there any general laws which I should be
aware of?
Code of Ethics and Conduct for Sports Coaches
The Code of Ethics and Conduct for Sports
Coaches has been developed by the National Foundation for the Code
of Ethics which was published by the British Institute of Sports
Coaches (BISC). Furthermore it also follows European Union direction
as it adopts the principles contained within the Council of Europe’s
Code of Sports Ethics.
The British Institute of Sports Coaches (BISC)
Code formed the value statement which underpins the National
Vocational Qualification Standards for Coaching, Teaching and
Instructing.
Does the code form part of any legislation?
The code is simply a framework within with to
work and is to be used as a series of guidelines rather than as a
set of instructions. Consequently it is not part of any existing
legislation. All coaches in the UK should, however, be aware of it
as a course of good practice.
What does the Code say?
The code details various areas and issues with
which all sports coaches are expected to conform to. These ethical
standards cover a number of areas including the following:
- Humanity
- Relationships
- Commitment
- Cooperation
- Integrity
- Advertising
- Confidentiality
- Abuse of privilege
- Safety
- Competence
Humanity
- Coaches must respect the rights, dignity
and worth of every human and their ultimate right to
self-determination.
- Coaches must treat everyone equally and
with sensitivity within the context of their ability and the
activity which they undertake. Particularly this must be done
regardless of gender, ethnic origin, cultural background, sexual
orientation, religion of political affliction.
Relationships
- Coaches must be concerned primarily with
the well-being safety, protection and future of the individual.
- One of the key elements in a relationship
between coach and individual is for the coach to develop the
notion of independence with the individual athlete or performer.
The individual must be encouraged to accept responsibility for
their own behaviour and performance in both training and
competition.
- As the relationship between coach and
individual is a working relationship, the boundaries of this
must be monitored by the coach especially when the individual is
a young person.
- In certain sports and activities physical
contact by a coach is necessary. If this is the case then the
coach must ensure that no action on their part could be
misconstrued and that any requisite National Governing Body (NGB)
guidelines are followed.
- As the relationship between coach and
individual performer of athlete relies heavily on mutual trust
and respect the coach should make the performer immediately
aware of the coach’s qualifications and experience and must be
given the opportunity to consent to or decline proposals for
training, performance or competition.
Commitment
- Coaches should clarify in advance with
individuals the number of sessions, fees and method of
payments. They should also explore with individuals their
expectations from the coaching sessions.
- If the coach has any other coaching
commitments these should be disclosed to the individual and vice
versa.
- If at any stage there becomes a conflict
between the coach’s obligations to an individual and to the
National Governing Body which they adhere to they should
immediately make clear this conflict to all parties involved.
Cooperation
- Coaches must communicate and cooperate
with other sports and allied professions in the best interests
of the individual under their coaching. For example they should
communicate with the education authorities and career counselors
in relation to young performers whose involvement in sport may
affect their studies. Coaches should also seek sports science
advice through the British Association of Sport and Exercise
Sciences (BASES).
Integrity
- Coaches must not encourage individuals to
violate the rules of their sport. Similarly coaches must not
compromise their performers by advocating measures that could
constitute unfair advantage.
- Coaches must ensure that the activities,
training and completion programs they put in place are direct or
appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the
individual performer or athlete.
- At no point should a coach advocate or
encourage the use of prohibited drugs or any other performance
enhancing substance.
Advertising
- Advertising by sports coaches
specifically means that they must accurately represent their
qualifications, training and services when advertising for new
clients. Evidence must be able to be presented in relation to
their current qualifications and to support any claim associated
with the promotion of their services.
Confidentiality
- It is an inevitable factor due to the
relationship between coach and individual performer or athlete
that the coach must gather a large amount of personal
information about the individual performer or athlete.
Consequently it us up to the coach and the individual to decide
on what information is to be regarded as confidential and
therefore unable to be transferred to a third party without
their consent.
If a person has a right to know about the
information then the fact that it is confidential does not stop it
being disclosed. This occurs in the following situations:
- Where it needs to be evaluated for
competitive selection purposes
- Where it is needed for a recommendation
for employment
- Where it is required in relation to
disciplinary action involving performers within the sport
- Where it is required in relation to
disciplinary action by a sports organisation against one of its
members
- Where it is required to make
recommendations to family or parents whereby the health or
safety of the individual may be at stake.
- Where it is required in pursuit of action
to protect children from abuse
Abuse of Privilege
- As a sports coach is seen to be
privileged to be in regular contact with performers and
occasionally to travel and reside with individual performers or
athletes in the course of their coaching or competitive practice
a coach must not attempt to exert undue influence in order to
obtain personal benefit or reward.
- Coaches must not smoke or drink while
coaching. They must not do anything which may affect their
competence to coach and which would compromise the safety of the
individual performer or athlete.
Safety
- Coaches must ensure that all reasonable
steps have been taken to ensure a safe working environment. This
means that the work done should be kept in practice with the
standards required by the National Governing Body. For example
in sports such as gymnastics the National Governing Body will
require that all coaches adhere to certain safety standards when
an individual is undertaking a particular aspect of the sport.
- Coaches also have a duty to protect
children from harm and abuse.
Competence
- Coaches shall only practice in those
elements of sport for which their training and competence is
recognised by the appropriate National Governing Body.
- The National Occupational Standards for
Coaching, Teaching and Instructing along with the approved
National Governing Body coaching awards provide the framework
for establishing competence at the different levels of coaching
practice.
