Coaches Code of Conduct
All fencing coaches must ensure that:
- every individual, particularly all young/vulnerable people in their care, are respected as individuals and treated equitably and with dignity at all times
- all training complies with the current guidance issued by British Fencing and does not lead to any form of abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, bullying, neglect)
- all relationships are based on respect, honesty and openness
- the personal development of participants of any age or ability takes priority over the development of their performance
- all participants, including young/vulnerable fencers, be responsible for their own behaviour and performance.
- they maintain an ongoing commitment to their own training and work with others (referees, medical advisors, sports scientists, parents and other coaches) to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all fencers, in order that they can develop within the sport and in life outside
- all participants’ needs for confidentiality are respected
- coaching is delivered within their own competency and qualifications.
- standards of personal behaviour engender positive role models, in accordance with British Fencing guidance
- clear expectations are set in partnership with all participants, their parents and carers, to ensure that:
All fencing coaches have a responsibility to develop in partnership with all fencers, particularly parents and young/vulnerable fencers, clear expectations both on and off the piste and what the young/vulnerable fencer is entitled in return to expect of the coach. - they promote good behaviour within the rules of the sport.
British Fencing coaches should never:
- invite a child to their home or secluded place when they will be alone with the coach.
- share a bedroom with a minor or vulnerable person
- engage in a sexual relationship with a young person for whom they are responsible
- neglect their responsibility for any child or vulnerable person under their care at any time
- bully a particpant either physically or verbally, nor induce any state of emotional distress as a form of control.
- engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games
- make sexually suggestive remarks to a young/vulnerable participant even in fun.
- allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
- allow the use of inappropriate language to go unchallenged
- do things of a personal nature for a fencer that they can do for themselves unless specifically requested to do so and only then with the utmost discretion
- vacate a venue until the supervision of the safe dispersal of all the fencers is complete (NB delegation of this duty may be allocated to another official)
- spend excessive amounts of time with individual fencers away from others
- abuse the coaches position of power or trust in any way
- allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon
- embarrass, humiliate or undermine any individual or cause them to lose self esteem
- make remarks about another individual that are in any way offensive or in any way can be construed as such.
- fail to record any incident in line with British Fencing guidelines.