Coaches
COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT
1. Remember that basketball is for enjoyment.
Remember that basketballers play for fun and enjoyment and that
winning is only part of their motivation. Always make sure that
participants are made to feel welcome whenever they attend for training
or a match.
Ensure that activities are carefully planned, well structured and varied to
provide opportunities for individual and team development. Be willing to
depart from the plan to take advantage of an unexpectedly high interest
in a particular activity.
Never ridicule players for making mistakes or losing a competition. See
errors or losses as an opportunity to learn in a constructive way.
Comment in a way that is positive and designed to create interest,
involvement and development.
2. Be reasonable in your demands.
In scheduling training and playing times and days, be reasonable in your
demands on players’ time, energy and enthusiasm, taking into account
their age, level of play and other commitments such as school and
employment.
Young children are likely to have more time but short attention spans.
They may have plenty of energy but are likely to need more guidance on
how best to look after their bodies. The differences in physical and
mental maturity can be quite marked in younger children of the same age
group. All these factors need to be considered in coaching young
children.
Older children have greater demands from their studies and many of
them need to work to assist their schooling. They also have many social
demands. Try to assist them in achieving a good balance between the
various demands on them.
Adults should in most cases be capable of making their own decisions on
priority between basketball and other demands such as work, family and
social engagements. Respect those decisions.
3. Teach understanding and respect for the rules.
Teach your players that understanding and playing by the rules is their
own responsibility and that the rules exist for the safety, proper order
and enjoyment of all people involved in basketball. The lessons to be
learned in this respect in basketball are lessons that can and should be
carried over into all aspects of their lives. Do not encourage players to
ignore or deliberately break any rules.
4. Give all players a reasonable amount of court time.
All players need and deserve reasonable court time. Avoid over-playing
the talented players. It is unfair to both them and those who are not so
talented. Players cannot improve without the opportunity of a reasonable
amount of match practice. Talented players can burn out. Having no or
little time in court can cause players to suffer from morale problems and
they can lose interest in the sport altogether.
5. Develop team respect for the ability of opponents including their
coaches.
Part of participation in sport is respect for all participants in the game.
Encourage your players to accept that their opponents are entitled to
proper courtesy. This means introducing themselves to their opponents
on court, congratulating them whether they win or lose and accepting
loss gracefully. Teach them that the opposition coach is there trying to
do the best for their team and is also entitled to respect.
6. Instil in your players respect for officials and an acceptance of their
judgement.
Players should be taught to understand that officials have a very difficult
task to perform and that without them games could not be played. They
are there to enforce the rules of play but they cannot always be right.
Teach your players to accept bad calls graciously. Abuse of referees is
unacceptable behaviour that should not be tolerated. Players who
consistently dispute decisions or do not accept bad decisions should be
singled out for counselling and guidance.
7. Guide your players in their interaction with the media, parents and
spectators.
It is sometimes very difficult for players to concentrate on the game when
there is the distraction of the presence of friends and relatives as
spectators. Coaches have a difficult role to play in teaching players
respect for their parents and other spectators but also teaching them to
maintain concentration on the team plan if spectators become overenthusiastic.
Parents sometimes make demands on their children’s time which
interferes in their basketball activities. Respect this and try to structure
your coaching and their training and playing times and obligations to take
those demands into account. There are many other factors which need to
be balanced, including venue availability and requirements of
administrators. The coach’s task is not easy.
The presence of media at a basketball game can lead to a temptation by
some players to “show off” or otherwise act differently from how they
would act normally. Encourage your players to not be awed by the
presence of the media. Also teach them that if they are approached for
an interview after a game they are representing the whole sport and
should behave accordingly.
8. Group players according to age, height, skills and physical maturity,
whenever possible.
Uneven competition can lead to a loss of enthusiasm. Coaches should
always try and group players of reasonably equal ability. In coaching
children it is important to remember the different maturity rates for
children of the same age. A player in their early teenage years may be the
tallest in their team and yet because they have matured early, be one of
the shorter players in only a brief time. Coaches must be ever vigilant to
ensure that changes in height and other physical characteristics are
noticed and acted upon.
9. Ensure that equipment and facilities meet safety standards and are
appropriate to the age and ability of the players.
In our increasingly litigious and accountable society, all those involved in
sport have a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to ensure the
safety and well being of participants. Coaches are in a unique position to
control many of the factors which can have an effect on this welfare.
Coaches should be aware of the dangers factors such as heat and
dehydration, wet floors and other potentially hazardous environmental
situations can cause. A coach has a responsibility to avoid putting
players into dangerous conditions.
10. Be prepared to lose sometimes.
Everyone wins and loses at some time. Be a fair winner and a good loser.
Disappointment at losing is natural, but it should not be obvious to the
point of being unpleasant for others. Just as unpleasant can be the
boastful winner. Recognise that even in defeat, the loser has achieved
something, just by playing. Not everything in life can be a winning
situation. Losing can be an important learning experience for your wider
life goals. Guide your players to accept a loss in this spirit.
11. Act responsibly when players are ill or injured.
Show concern and take responsibility for players who are sick or injured
whilst under your care. Follow the advice of a physician when
determining when an injured or ill player is ready to recommence play. If
a player is injured on court, make sure that there is no danger of further
aggravation of the injury by prompt removal of the player if this is
appropriate. Qualify yourself to administer first aid so that you can
recognise the seriousness of an injury or illness and act accordingly.
12. As well as imparting knowledge and skills, promote desirable
personal and social behaviours.
Be aware of the role of the coach as an educator. Particularly with young
people, the way they perform in their lives is influenced by many factors.
An important influence is the person they see as a role model. Coaches
often take on the part of role model for many young people. It is
therefore important to ensure that the influence from coaches is seen in a
positive light rather adversely. What you say and how you act can be
most important in modelling the behaviour of players.
13. Keep your knowledge current.
Seek to keep abreast of changes in sport. Ensure that the information
used is up to date, appropriate to the needs of players and takes into
account the principles of growth and development of children. Players
cannot learn from you if your skills and knowledge are inadequate.
14. Ensure that any physical contact with a player is appropriate.
Physical contact between a coach and a player except that which would be
considered usual social contact such as the shaking of a hand or a “high
five” should be rare. Gestures which can be well meaning, or even
considered by some to be acceptable, may be unacceptable to others.
Sometimes physical contact can be misinterpreted as sexual harassment
or even molestation. Particular care needs to be taken in coaching
children. Ensure that if there is physical contact with a player that it is
appropriate to the situation and necessary for the player’s skill
development.
15. Avoid personal relationships with players.
Personal relationships with players can often be misinterpreted as
something sinister. Friendship with players is essential to building trust
between a coach and players. However, the power imbalance in a
coaching situation can make it unwise for a relationship to develop
beyond friendship. Particular care must be taken when coaching children.
16. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person.
Regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background, religion or other
factor irrelevant to the game, all persons connected with basketball are
entitled to equal treatment and respect. Avoid any remarks that could be
construed as offensive or discriminatory. Sometimes even a joke may
give offence. Even if a person refers to themselves with a particular label,
it should not be taken as an invitation for you to do so. Using discretion is
imperative and it is better to err on the side of caution.
17. Always respect the use of facilities and equipment provided.
Facilities and equipment cost money and will only function properly if
kept in good order. Ensure that you and your players do not abuse
anything provided for use. Discourage players from hanging off hoops or
“slam dunking”. Quite properly, these practices are banned in most
venues. Not only can equipment be damaged but serious injury can
occur.
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