BC School Sports Coaching Code of Conduct

270.0     COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT

271.0   The coach/student-athlete relationship is a privileged one. Coaches play a critical role in the personal and athletic development of their student-athletes. Therefore, coaches are expected to model the fundamentally positive aspects of school sport. Coaches, including community coaches:

272.0         RULES OF CONDUCT

272.1  Shall recognize that school sport is an extension of the classroom, and shall conduct themselves accordingly when performing coaching duties;

272.2  Shall observe the Competitive Rules and Regulations of BCSS, and those of their local athletic association and applicable sport commission;

272.3  Shall observe the rules of the sport, the spirit of the rules of the sport, and shall encourage student-athletes to do the same;

272.4  Shall fulfil all competition, invitational, playoff and championship competitive and event obligations, in accordance with athletic association policy, sport commission policy and tournament-related agreements;

272.5  Shall treat all participants fairly and equitably, by refraining from discriminating against any student-athlete with respect to race, color, ancestry, place of origin, religion, family status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation;

272.6  Shall respect the rulings of officials without gesture or argument, and shall require student-athletes to do the same;

272.7 Shall not use foul, profane, harassing or offensive language or gestures in the conduct of coaching duties;

272.8  Shall not use physical force of any kind in the conduct of coaching duties;

272.9 Shall not, under any circumstances, endorse, recommend, or suggest the use of performance-enhancing drugs or supplements by any student-athlete;

272.10 Shall abstain from the use of tobacco products and alcohol while in the presence of student-athletes, and shall discourage their use by student-athletes;

272.11 Shall not, under any circumstances, require or imply that a student-athlete must be involved in any summer program or club program as part of his/her responsibilities as a school team member;

272.12 Shall not, under any circumstances, require or imply that a student-athlete cannot or should not participate in any BCSS-approved sport in the season preceding or following the coach’s season of play; and

272.13 Shall not, under any circumstances, start pre-season tryouts or practices to the detriment of any in-season sport.

273.0        PROCEDURE FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING RULES OF CONDUCT

273.1 Subject to 273.2, all complaints alleging a violation of the Rules of Conduct by a coach shall be processed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the local athletic association to which the coach’s school belongs.

273.2  All complaints alleging a violation of the Rules of Conduct by a coach during or in connection with zone playoff or provincial championship competition shall be processed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the applicable sport commission.

273.3  There is no appeal to BCSS or any of its committees from a decision of a local athletic association or sport commission.