Below are additions to the AFF ‘Code of Conduct’. Some of what is below, is an echo of the AFF Policy, however, there are some areas that are unique to Fencing Victoria and the Victorian Community

1. Victorian Community Sport Code of Conduct

Every person — spectator, player, club member, official, participant, administrator, coach, parent or member of the community — involved with the sport, should work to ensure:

• Inclusion of every person regardless of their age, gender or sexual orientation
• Inclusion of every person regardless of their race, culture or religion
• Opportunities for people of all abilities to participate in the sport and develop to their full potential
• Respect is shown towards others, the club and the broader community
• A safe and inclusive environment for all
• Elimination of violent and abusive behavior
• Protection from sexual harassment or intimidation.

This code applies to community sport, training and club-sanctioned activities.

2. Fencing Victoria General Code of Behaviour

 As a member of Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club or a person required to comply with Fencing Victoria’s Member Protection Policy, you must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club and in any role you hold within Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club:

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of others.
• Be fair, considerate and honest in all dealing with others.
• Be professional in, and accept responsibility for, your actions.
• Make a commitment to providing quality service.
• Be aware of, and maintain an uncompromising adhesion to, Fencing Victoria’s standards, rules, regulations and policies.
• Operate within the rules of the sport including national and international guidelines which govern Fencing Victoria, the member associations and the affiliated clubs.
• Do not use your involvement with Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club to promote your own beliefs, behaviours or practices where these are inconsistent with those of Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club.
• Demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility especially when dealing with persons under 18 years of age, as your words and actions are an example.
• Avoid unaccompanied and unobserved activities with persons under 18 years of age, wherever possible.
• Refrain from any form of harassment of others.
• Refrain from any behaviour that may bring Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club into disrepute.
• Provide a safe environment for the conduct of the activity.
• Show concern and caution towards others who may be sick or injured.
• Be a positive role model.
• Understand the repercussions if you breach, or are aware of any breaches of, this code of behaviour.

3. Fencing Victoria Coach Code of Behaviour

In addition to Fencing Victoria’s General Code of Behaviour, you must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club and in your role as a coach appointed by Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club:

• Do not tolerate acts of aggression.
• Provide feedback to players and other participants in a manner sensitive to their needs. Avoid overly negative feedback.
• Recognise players’ rights to consult with other coaches and advisers. Cooperate fully with other specialists (for example, sports scientists, doctors and physiotherapists).
• Treat all players fairly within the context of their sporting activities, regardless of gender, race, place of origin, athletic potential, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, socio-economic status and other conditions.
• Encourage and facilitate players’ independence and responsibility for their own behaviour, performance, decisions and actions.
• Involve the players in decisions that affect them.
• Encourage players to respect one another and to expect respect for their worth as individuals regardless of their level of play.
• Ensure that the tasks and/or training set are suitable for age, experience, ability, and physical and psychological conditions of the players.
• Ensure any physical contact with players is appropriate to the situation and necessary for the player’s skill development.
• Be acutely aware of the power that you as a coach develop with your players in the coaching relationship and avoid any sexual intimacy with players that could develop as a result.
• Avoid situations with your players that could be construed as compromising.
• Actively discourage the use of performance enhancing drugs, and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances.
• Do not exploit any coaching relationship to further personal, political or business interests at the expense of the best interest of your players.
• Accept and respect the role of officials in ensuring that competitions are conducted fairly and according to established rules.
• Know and abide by rules, regulations and standards, and encourage players to do likewise. Accept both the letter and the spirit of the rules.
• Be honest and ensure that qualifications are not misrepresented.

4. Fencing Victoria Player Code of Behaviour

In addition to Fencing Victoria’s General Code of Behaviour, you must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club and in your role as a player/participant in any activity held by or under the auspices of Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club:

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of fellow players, coaches, officials and spectators.
• Do not tolerate acts of aggression.
• Respect the talent, potential and development of fellow players and competitors.
• Care for and respect the equipment provided to you as part of your program.
• Be frank and honest with your coach concerning illness and injury and your ability to train fully within the program requirements.
• At all times avoid intimate relationships with your coach.
• Conduct yourself in a professional manner relating to language, temper and punctuality.
• Maintain high personal behaviour standards at all times.
• Abide by the rules and respect the decision of the official, making all appeals through the formal process and respecting the final decision.
• Be honest in your attitude and preparation to training. Work equally hard for yourself and your team.
• Cooperate with coaches and staff in development of programs to adequately prepare you for competition at the highest level.

5. Parent Code of Behaviour

As a parent/guardian of a player/participant in any activity held by or under the auspices of Fencing Victoria, a member association or an affiliated club, you must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any such activity or event:

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of others.
• Remember that your child participates in sport for their own enjoyment, not yours.
• Focus on your child’s efforts and performance rather than winning or losing.
• Never ridicule or yell at your child and other children for making a mistake or losing a competition.
• Show appreciation for good performance and skilful plays by all players (including opposing players).
• Demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility especially when dealing with or in the vicinity of persons under 18 years of age, as your words and actions are an example.
• Respect officials’ decisions and teach children to do likewise.
• Do not physically or verbally abuse or harass anyone associated with the sport (player, coach, umpire and so on).
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
• Be a positive role model.
• Understand the repercussions if you breach, or are aware of any breaches of, this code of behaviour.