Code of Fair Play
Children’s sport is something the whole family should enjoy. However, over the years there have been an increasing number of incidents nationwide that has spoiled this enjoyment. It is with this in mind that we would like to draw the following Fair Play Rules to your attention.

Fair Play Code for Children in Sport

• Return the elements of enjoyment and satisfaction to the child participant.
• Make adults aware that children play to satisfy themselves and not necessarily to satisfy adults or their own peer group.
• Improve physical fitness of youth by encouraging participation in some form of sport or physical recreation by making it attractive, safe and enjoyable for ALL children.
• Participation is more important than winning.

To reach these objectives we would like to offer the following thoughts:

Parents Code

1. Do not force an unwilling child to participate in sports.  Allow them an opportunity to be comfortable within the environment if they feel nervous, before encouraging them to participate.
2. Remember children are involved in organised sports for their enjoyment not yours. Have fun with them.
3. Encourage your child to always play by the rules and show sportsmanship.
4. Teach your child that honest effort is as important as victory so that the result of each game is accepted without undue disappointment.
5. Disappointment is part of sport, and needs to be handled with sensitivity to the child.
6. Turn defeat into victory by helping your child work towards skill improvement and good sportsmanship. NEVER RIDICULE OR YELL AT YOUR CHILD for making a mistake or losing a competition.
7. Remember that children learn best by example. APPLAUD GOOD PLAY by your team and members of the opposing team.
8. DO NOT PUBLICLY QUESTION the official’s judgement and never their honesty. During club night activities and Open Days, the official’s judgement stands. During Junior Athletic Championship events, protests must be lodged through correct process – via the Team Manager only.  Avondale Athletics is a club of sportsmanship and integrity, and we will not tolerate our club families with public questioning of official judgement from the grand-stand or public seating area.
9. Support all efforts to REMOVE VERBAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE from children’s sporting activities.  This applies to everyone on the track and field, including parents, athletes and officials.
10. Recognise the value and importance of volunteer coaches and parent helpers. They give their time and resources to provide recreational activities for your child.

1. Give everything a go and embrace an opportunity to learn.
2. Listen to the parent-helpers and do as they ask of you – it may be for your own safety.
3. Do not ridicule any other athlete.
4. Do not use bad language to any parent-volunteer or official, they are here to help you have fun in athletics.
5. Be gracious in your disappointments – we don’t win all the time, but use it as an opportunity to grow.
6. Say thank you to the parent-helpers and officials.
7. At Junior Athletic Championships, shake hands with your competitors at the end of an event. They turned up to compete just like you did, they deserve some recognition regardless of where they placed.
8. While wearing Avondale Athletics uniform, you must conduct yourself with integrity and humility, even if some one else is giving you a hard time. Use your common sense and walk away. Feel free to discuss any incident with a parent-helper or an Avondale Athletics official.
9. Make sure to make lots of friends at athletics – not just in our club, but from other clubs too.

Let’s all have an enjoyable year at Avondale Athletics!!