Nurture your team’s love of the sport and their appreciation of physical activity.
Ensure your players are ready to take the court at the required time (e.g. jewelry removed, fingernails cut, etc).
Teach your players that rules of the game are mutual agreements, which everyone should abide by.
Develop team respect of the ability of opponents as well as for the judgement of officials and opposing coaches.
Be reasonable in your demands on young players’ time, energy and enthusiasm.
Avoid over-playing the talented players. The “just average” players need and deserve equal time.
Remember that children play for fun and enjoyment and that winning is only part of their motivation. Never ridicule or criticise a child for making a mistake or losing a game. Positive comments are motivational.
The scheduling, intensity and length of practice times should take into consideration the maturity level of the children.
Follow the advice of a doctor when determining when an injured player is ready to recommence play.
Make a personal commitment to keep yourself informed of sound coaching principles and the principles of growth and development of children.
Ensure players are familiar with the Players’ Rules & Code of Behaviour.
Players:
No chewing gum on court.
No swearing or bad language in the vicinity of the courts.
No playing around the sides or in between courts (including practice shooting on goal posts) while a game is in progress.
Be a good sport. Cheer all good players whether they be in your team or the other team.
Treat all players as you would like to be treated. Do not interfere with, bully, abuse or take advantage of another player.
Control your temper. Verbal abuse of umpires, officials or other players, deliberately fouling or provoking an opponent and throwing equipment is not acceptable or permitted in any sport.
Play for the “fun of it” and not just to please parents and coaches.
Play by the rules.
Never argue with an umpire. If you require clarification of a rule, only your captain can approach the official during quarter and half-time or after the game.
Work equally hard for yourself and your team. Your team’s performance will benefit and so will you.
Co-operate with your coach, team-mates and opponents. Without them there would be no game.
Players cannot play for a school other than the one they are registered with.
Players cannot play lower than the grade they are registered in.
Players can only play for a higher team for two games during the year. If that player plays for a higher team a third time, they must remain in the higher grade.
Players must cover wounds if they are bleeding.
Spectators:
Demonstrate appropriate social behaviour by not using foul language or harassing players, coaches, officials or umpires.
Condemn the use of violence in any form, be it by spectators, coaches, officials or players.
Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no game.
Encourage children to always play according to the rules and umpires’ decisions.
Children play organised sports for fun. They are not playing for the entertainment of spectators only, nor are they miniature professionals.
Applaud good performance and efforts by your team AND the opponents. Congratulate both teams upon their performance regardless of the game’s outcome.
Respect the umpire and officials’ decisions. You may want to talk to the coach at practice but the umpires must not be approached to explain their decision by anyone other than the team captain and this can only be at quarter or half time and only for a clarification of a rule.
Never ridicule or criticise a child for making a mistake during a game. Positive comments are motivational.
Parents:
Nurture your child’s love of sport and their appreciation of physical activity.
Encourage children to always play according to the rules.
Focus upon the child’s efforts and performance rather than the overall outcome of the event. This assists the child in setting realistic goals related to her ability by reducing the emphasis on winning.
Teach children that an honest effort is as important as victory, so that the result of each game is accepted without undue disappointment.
Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from sporting activities and provide positive role models for your children.
Never ridicule or shout at a child for making a mistake during a game.
Remember children learn best from example. Applaud any good play by both teams.
If you disagree with an official, raise the issue through the team management. Do not confront the official yourself.
Recognise the value and importance of volunteer coaches and umpires and encourage your child to appreciate their efforts. They give their time and resources freely to provide recreational activities for the children and deserve your support.
If children are interested, encourage them to play sport. However if a child is not willing to play, do not force them.
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