Code of Conduct for Coaches, Referees and Committee Members

1. Purpose

Penrith Canoe Club is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, inclusive and positive environment for everyone taking part in Club activities.

Coaches, referees, Committee members, volunteers and other officials hold positions of trust and responsibility within the Club. They are expected to maintain appropriate standards of behaviour and to put the safety, welfare and wellbeing of participants, particularly children, young people and adults at risk, at the centre of their decisions and actions.

This Code applies to anyone carrying out these roles on behalf of Penrith Canoe Club, whether paid or voluntary.

2. Standards of Conduct

Coaches, referees, Committee members and other Club officials must:

Respect everyone
Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person and treat everyone fairly and without discrimination.
Put welfare and safety first
Place the safety and wellbeing of participants above performance, competition or sporting achievement and follow the Club's safety, safeguarding and operating procedures.
Maintain appropriate relationships
Develop appropriate relationships with participants based on mutual trust, respect and clear professional or volunteering boundaries.
Those in positions of responsibility must never use their position to obtain personal benefit, favour or inappropriate influence over a participant.
Encourage personal responsibility
Encourage participants to take appropriate responsibility for their own behaviour, actions and development.
Maintain appropriate competence
Hold, or work towards, appropriate and current qualifications, training and experience for their role where required.
Coaches and activity leaders must be considered competent by the Club to undertake the activities for which they are responsible.
Provide appropriate activities
Ensure that activities are appropriate for participants' age, ability, experience, maturity and individual needs.
Set clear expectations
Clearly explain what is expected of participants and what they can expect from coaches, officials and the Club. Where appropriate, parents or guardians should also be provided with this information.
Work with others
Cooperate appropriately with other coaches, officials, volunteers, parents, medical professionals and other relevant specialists where this is in the best interests of participants.
Promote good sporting behaviour
Promote fair play, respect, teamwork and the positive values of paddlesport.
Coaches and officials must not encourage or condone deliberate rule violations, cheating, bullying, discrimination or the use of prohibited substances.
Remain fit to carry out their role
Never undertake coaching, supervision, officiating or other safety-critical Club responsibilities while impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, medication or any other substance that could affect their judgement or ability to perform their role safely.
Set a good example
Consistently demonstrate appropriate standards of behaviour, communication and conduct.
Recognise positions of trust
Understand the influence and authority associated with positions such as coach, referee, Committee member or activity leader.
Appropriate boundaries must be maintained at all times, particularly when working with children and young people.
Avoid inappropriate or compromising situations
Avoid behaviour or situations that could reasonably be considered inappropriate or outside the proper boundaries of their Club role.
Where reasonably practicable, activities involving children and young people should be conducted openly and in environments where interactions can be observed by others.
Report safeguarding concerns
Report any safeguarding or welfare concern promptly and confidentially through the Club's safeguarding procedures.
Concerns should normally be reported to the Club Welfare Officer. Where appropriate, concerns may also need to be referred to Paddle UK or the relevant statutory authorities.
A person should not delay reporting a safeguarding concern because they are uncertain whether abuse or misconduct has occurred.
Protect confidentiality and privacy
Treat personal and safeguarding information confidentially and only share it with people who have a legitimate need to know.
Use appropriate communication
Communicate appropriately with participants, particularly children and young people, including when using email, messaging services, social media and other digital platforms.
Club-approved communication and safeguarding procedures should be followed.
Use photography and social media responsibly
Follow the Club's policies and procedures relating to photography, video, social media and the use of participants' personal information.
Respond appropriately to media enquiries
Do not make statements on behalf of Penrith Canoe Club concerning safeguarding incidents, allegations or other sensitive matters unless authorised to do so.
Any media enquiry concerning a safeguarding matter should be referred to the appropriate Club officer and, where necessary, Paddle UK.

3. Safeguarding and Positions of Trust

Good safeguarding practice protects both participants and the adults and volunteers working with them.

Those working with children and young people should, wherever reasonably practicable, avoid situations where they are unnecessarily alone and unobserved with a child or young person.

Physical contact should only take place where it is appropriate and necessary for the activity, safety, first aid or coaching and should always be carried out in an appropriate and respectful manner.

Coaches, officials and volunteers should be conscious of how their actions may reasonably be perceived by participants, parents, other members and the wider public.

4. Reporting Concerns

Anyone who witnesses, suspects or receives information concerning abuse, neglect, bullying, harassment, inappropriate behaviour or another safeguarding concern must report it promptly.

Concerns relating to children, young people or adults at risk should be reported to the Club Welfare Officer in accordance with the Club's safeguarding procedures.

Where there is an immediate risk of harm or an emergency, the appropriate emergency or statutory services should be contacted without delay.

Safeguarding concerns must be taken seriously. Individuals should not attempt to investigate allegations themselves unless this forms part of their formally authorised role.

5. Breaches of this Code

Failure to comply with this Code of Conduct may result in action being taken under the Club's complaints or disciplinary procedures.

Depending on the circumstances, the Club may temporarily restrict or suspend an individual's coaching, officiating, volunteering or other Club responsibilities while a concern is considered.

Serious safeguarding concerns may also be referred to Paddle UK or the appropriate statutory authorities.

6. Declaration

By undertaking a coaching, refereeing, Committee, volunteering or official role with Penrith Canoe Club, individuals agree to follow this Code of Conduct and the Club's relevant safeguarding, safety and operational policies.