OUR CODE OF CONDUCT

PONY CLUB AUSTRALIA CODE OF CONDUCT

The aims and objectives of Pony Club are:
⦁ Encouraging young people to enjoy all kinds of sport and pleasure connected with horses and riding.
⦁ Providing instruction in riding and horsemanship and instilling in young people a love of their horses, a sense of responsibility and acceptance of the responsibility for the proper care of their animals.
⦁ Promoting the highest ideals of sportsmanship, citizenship and loyalty, thereby cultivating strength of character and self-discipline.

Knowledge and compliance with this code of conduct is a requirement of all members and spectators of Pony Club. This code of conduct is based on “Play by the Rules” developed by the Sports Australia.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR RIDERS

⦁ Ride by the rules.
⦁ Never argue with an official. If you disagree, have your coach or team manager approach the official during a break or after the competition.
⦁ Control your temper. Verbal abuse of officials, sledging other riders or deliberately distracting or provoking an opponent are not acceptable or permitted behaviours in any sport.
⦁ Work equally hard for yourself and/or your team. Your team’s performance will benefit and so will you.
⦁ Be a good sport. Applaud all good performances whether they are made by your team or the opposition.
⦁ Treat all participants in Pony Club as you like to be treated. Do not bully or take unfair advantage of another competitor.
⦁ Cooperate with your coach, team-mates and opponents. Without them, there would be no competition.
⦁ Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit, not just to please your parents and coaches.
⦁ Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
⦁ Take care of your horse and his/her needs and welfare. Recognise and be grateful for your horse’s effort and performance.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PARENTS

⦁ Remember that children participate in Pony Club for their enjoyment, not yours.
⦁ Encourage children to participate, do not force them.
⦁ Focus on your child’s efforts and performance rather than whether they win or lose.
⦁ Encourage children to ride according to the rules and to settle disagreements without resorting to abuse or hostility.
⦁ Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a competition.
⦁ Remember that children learn best by example. Appreciate good performance and skillful riding by all participants.
⦁ Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from Pony Club activities.
⦁ Respect officials’ decisions and teach children to do likewise.
⦁ Show appreciation for volunteer coaches, officials and administrators. Without them, your child could not participate in Pony Club.
⦁ Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

SPECTATOR’S CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

⦁ Respect the decisions of officials and teach young people to do the same.
⦁ Never ridicule or scold a young rider for making a mistake. Positive comments are motivational.
⦁ Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by other spectators, coaches, officials or riders.
⦁ Show respect for your rider’s fellow competitors. Without them there would be no competition.
⦁ Do not use violence, harassment or abuse in any form (that is, do not use foul language, sledge or harass riders, coaches, officials or other spectators)
⦁ Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR OFFICIALS

⦁ Ensure that rules and regulations match the skill levels and needs of young people.
⦁ Compliment and encourage all riders.
⦁ Be consistent, objective and courteous when making decisions. Condemn unsporting behaviour and promote respect for all opponents.
⦁ Emphasise the spirit of the event rather than the errors.
⦁ Keep up to date with the latest trends in officiating and the principles of growth and development of young people.
⦁ Be a good sport yourself. Remember, you set an example. Your behaviour and comments should be positive and supportive.
⦁ Place the safety and welfare of the riders above all else.
⦁ Give all young people a ‘fair go’ regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ADMINISTRATORS

⦁ Involve young people in planning, leadership, evaluation and decision-making related to Pony Club.
⦁ Give all young people equal opportunities to participate.
⦁ Create pathways for young people to participate in sport, not just as a player but as a coach, official, administrator, etc.
⦁ Ensure that rules, disciplines, games and training schedules are modified to suit the age, ability and maturity level of young riders.
⦁ Provide quality supervision and instruction for junior riders.
⦁ Remember that young people participate for their enjoyment and benefit.
⦁ Help coaches and officials highlight appropriate behaviour and skill development, and help improve the standards of coaching and officiating.
⦁ Ensure that everyone involved in junior sport emphasises fair play, rather than winning at all costs. Do not overemphasise awards.
⦁ Give a code of behaviour sheet to spectators, officials, parents, coaches, players and the media, and encourage them to follow it.
⦁ Remember, you set an example. Your behaviour and comments should be positive and supportive.
⦁ Understand and implement all Pony Club policies including Child Safe Policy and Member Protection Policy, and the ASC National Junior Sport Policy.
⦁ Make it clear that abusing young people in any way is unacceptable and will result in disciplinary action. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COACHES

The coach’s code of conduct is a positive document for all coaches. It affirms a coach’s support for the concepts of responsibility, trust, competence, respect, safety, honesty, professionalism, equity and sportsmanship. The code also provides a reference point for clubs, parents, athletes, schools and employers to expect that a coach will demonstrate appropriate standards of behaviour.
Safety and Health of Participants
⦁ Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else.
⦁ Be aware of and support the sport’s injury management plans and return to ride guidelines.
Coaching excellence
⦁ Help each person to reach their potential
⦁ Respect the talent, developmental stage and goals of each person and encourage them with positive and constructive feedback.
⦁ Encourage and support opportunities for people to learn appropriate behaviours and skills.
⦁ Support opportunities for participation in all aspects of the sport.
⦁ Treat each participant as an individual.
⦁ Obtain appropriate qualifications and keep up-to-date with the latest coaching practices and the principles of growth and development of participants.
Honour the sport
⦁ Act within the rules and spirit of your sport.
⦁ Promote fair play over winning at any cost.
⦁ Respect the decisions of officials, coaches and administrators.
⦁ Show respect and courtesy to all involved with the sport.
⦁ Display responsible behaviour in relation to alcohol and other drugs.
Integrity
⦁ Act with integrity and objectivity and accept responsibility for your decisions and actions.
⦁ Ensure your decisions and actions contribute to a harassment-free environment
⦁ Wherever practical, avoid unaccompanied and unobserved one-on-one activity (when in a supervisory capacity or where a power imbalance exists) with people under the age of 18.
⦁ Ensure that any physical contact with another person is appropriate to the situation and necessary for the person’s skill development.
⦁ Be honest and do not allow your qualifications or coaching experience to be misrepresented.
⦁ Never advocate or condone the use of illicit drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances or methods.
⦁ Never participate in or advocate practices that involve competition fixing.
Respect
⦁ Respect the rights and worth of every person, regardless of their age, race, gender, ability, cultural background, sexuality or religion.
⦁ Do not tolerate abusive, bullying or threatening behaviour.