Shefford Netball Club

Club Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct supports Shefford Netball Club’s mission to provide a safe, friendly and encouraging place where every player can enjoy netball, develop confidence, feel included and be proud to belong. It applies to parents and carers, players, coaches, volunteers and anyone representing or supporting the club. Everyone has a responsibility to live the club’s SHOOT values: Sportsmanship, Heart, Opportunity, One Team and Togetherness.

Sportsmanship: Respect the Game and Everyone Involved

• Players: Play fairly, follow the rules, accept umpire and coach decisions, and show respect to teammates, opponents, officials and spectators.
• Parents and carers: Model positive sideline behaviour, respect officials and coaches, and represent the club well at training, matches, events and online.
• Coaches and volunteers: Promote fair play, uphold standards of behaviour, communicate respectfully and act as positive role models for the club.

Heart: Encourage Effort, Confidence and Resilience

• Players: Give your best effort, keep going when things are challenging, listen to feedback, learn from mistakes and support others.
• Parents and carers: Encourage confidence, celebrate effort and progress, and avoid placing undue pressure on players about performance, selection or results.
• Coaches and volunteers: Help players build resilience, self-belief and confidence by recognising effort, improvement, commitment and personal growth.

Opportunity: Help Every Player Feel Included

• Players: Welcome teammates of all abilities and backgrounds, including others, and recognise that every player has something valuable to contribute.
• Parents and carers: Support an inclusive club environment where all families feel welcome, and every player is encouraged to take part.
• Coaches and volunteers: Create fair opportunities for players to learn, participate and develop at a pace that is right for them.

One Team: Work Together Positively

• Players: Encourage teammates, communicate positively, attend prepared, work hard for the team and help create a supportive team environment.
• Parents and carers: Work in partnership with coaches and volunteers, raise concerns respectfully through the right channels, and avoid giving conflicting coaching instructions from the sidelines.
• Coaches and volunteers: Build trust, cooperation and commitment across teams by communicating clearly, treating players fairly and supporting positive team culture.

Togetherness: Keep Club Life Safe, Friendly and Fun

• Players: Help make training, matches and club activities friendly, fun and safe, and speak to a coach, parent, carer or trusted adult if you feel worried, unsafe or unhappy.
• Parents and carers: Help build positive connections across the club community, respect the time and effort of volunteers, and use social media responsibly.
• Coaches and volunteers: Create a welcoming environment where players feel safe, encouraged and proud to belong, and follow safeguarding procedures whenever welfare concerns arise.

Behaviours That Do Not Align with Our Values

• Using abusive, discriminatory, bullying, aggressive or disrespectful language or behaviour.
• Harassing, intimidating, humiliating, excluding or belittling any player, coach, volunteer, official, opponent, spectator, parent or carer.
• Arguing with or challenging umpires, coaches or officials during or immediately after matches.
• Undermining team spirit through criticism, gossip, negativity or inappropriate social media activity.
• Putting pressure, winning or results ahead of player welfare, development, confidence and enjoyment.
• Ignoring safeguarding, welfare or conduct concerns.

Commitment

By following this Code of Conduct, parents, carers, players, coaches and volunteers help Shefford Netball Club remain a safe, inclusive and enjoyable place where everyone can train with heart, play as one team and feel that they truly belong. Concerns about behaviour should be raised calmly and respectfully through the appropriate club contact so they can be addressed fairly and constructively.