13 tips for creating a student-athlete code of conduct

It is fairly common for high school athletic programs to have codes of conduct for their student-athletes. These documents detail the standards that athletes are expected to meet and guide their deportment to maintain their place on a team.

In part, codes of conduct stem from two philosophical foundations. First, participating in athletics, unlike basic education, is not a right. It is a privilege, and the courts have continuously upheld and maintained this stance. This means that student-athletes have to meet certain standards to play.

In addition, the education-based athletics concept expects that student-athletes grow and develop, and this involves life-long values and qualities. These elements would typically include integrity, ethics, serving as a role model, and many others. Quite often, these are some of the aspects that are rightfully included in documents detailing expected standards for athletes.

Where do you start to put together your code of conduct? Check with your colleagues and see what they include in their code to get ideas. Please avoid, however, merely deleting their school’s name and inserting yours. Unless you give full credit to this school or the person who created this document, taking the complete set of expectations, or even specific parts of it, would constitute plagiarism.

Some expectations are relatively standard and would be found in many codes of conduct. In most cases, you would come across many of the following. Student-athletes would be expected to:

• Attend and participate in classroom activities, complete assignments, and maintain good academic standing in all of their courses. In addition, student-athletes should be on time, cooperate, and not be a destructive influence in class.
• Always display good sportsmanship and serve as a positive ambassador for his or her team, program, and school. This would include being respectful to the officials, coaches, and opponents.
• Be a good, supportive teammate. This would include encouraging and helping other athletes during practice sessions and games. Even if a student-athlete is competing for the same position as one of his or her fellow players, the welfare and goals of the team should always come first.
  Never be involved with hazing and bullying, this would also include cyberbullying. There is no place for this type of negative, destructive behavior in high school athletics, and it should never be tolerated. It is also imperative that student-athletes should report any suspected or actual incidents, and do their part to protect other athletes.
• Be respectful and follow the directions of the bus or van driver. Since the safety of everyone on board and the other vehicles on the road is at risk, proper deportment during team travel is a requirement.
• Traveling to away contests has to be done with the team on a bonded school vehicle unless an athlete has a pre-approved and signed parent release form.
• Be responsible for and take care of issued uniforms and equipment. An athlete would be expected to return all items after the season and to pay for anything lost or damaged.
• Respectfully interact with officials and opponents. This is, after all, a key part of sportsmanship, and is a foundational piece of the education-based athletic concept.
• Serve as a positive role model and ambassador for the team, program, and school. This expectation extends beyond participating in a game or contest; it includes in school, throughout the community, and even after the season ends.
• Avoid the use of alcohol, cigarettes, anabolic steroids, illicit drugs, and other dangerous substances.
• Report all injuries to the athletic trainer and follow all directives. Just as with dangerous substances, when an athlete does not follow the instructions of the athlete trainer, he or she can also put others at risk and possibly exacerbate the injury or create a problem for treatment and rehabilitation.
• Regularly attend, provide complete effort, and participate in all practice sessions. Any athlete with an injury should follow the protocols developed by the athletic trainer, and he or she should attend, observe, and support teammates, if possible.
• Quite commonly, a student-athlete code of conduct may conclude with a general, overlapping statement something to the effect of: “Beyond the expectations and standards listed in the student-athlete code of conduct, all participants are also expected to conform to and meet all standards as detailed in our district’s student code of conduct.” Since athletics is a co-curricular offering, this is a reasonable and logical addition.

Since many school settings are somewhat unique, you should also include aspects and items that represent your program and school community. Through experience, and in consultation with coaches and administrators, always include items that will guide your student-athletes to meet your school-specific standards and norms.

» ALSO SEE: Hiring an athletic trainer for your department

Typically, an athlete would be expected to sign and date a copy of the code of conduct. This indicates that they have read the document and agree to follow the provisions in it. Obviously, all signed documents should be kept on file, and if there is ever a problem or lack of compliance the signed copy would be used to hold the student-athlete accountable.

As with most elements of an athletic program, it would be wise to annually review your student-athlete code of conduct, and make any adjustments as necessary. There may be some new situations or aspects that warrant being added to your document, or something may no longer be required or relevant. It is vitally important that your code accurately and completely provides positive guidelines, expectations, and standards for your student-athletes.