CODE OF CONDUCT / RESPECT 1 OF 9

1. MEMBERSHIP
Catholic United Football Club is an unincorporated association run by a committee.
Chairman James Paviour
Secretary Warren O’Neill
For all membership enquiries contact secretary@catholicutd.co.uk

2. CODE OF CONDUCT ADULT PLAYERS
Catholic United Football Club has adopted the FA Code of Conduct for Adult players and ask that all members read and respect the code.
Code of Conduct: Adult Players

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.

Players tell us they want a referee for every match, yet 7,000 match officials drop out each season because of the abuse and intimidation they receive on and off the pitch. Respect your referee today and you may just get one for every match this season.

Play your part and observe The FA's Respect Code of Conduct for players at all times.

On and off the field, I will:

Adhere to the Laws of the Game
Display and promote high standards of behaviour
Promote fair play and behave within the spirit of the Laws of the Game
Always respect the match officials' decisions
Never engage in public criticism of the match officials
Never engage in offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour
Avoid bullying, intimidation and poor behaviour
Speak to my team-mates, the opposition and my coach/manager with respect
Ask my team captain to talk to the referee if I have a problem relating to the game
Remember we all make mistakes
Shake hands with the opposing team and the match officials at the end of every game

I understand that breaches of the code may result in action being taken by my County FA and /or The FA. TheFA.com/Respect

3. CODE OF CONDUCT YOUTH PLAYERS
Catholic United Football Club has adopted the FA Code of Conduct for Youth players and ask that all members read and respect the code.
Code of Conduct: Young Players

It is important everyone behaves themselves when playing football.

As a player, you have a big part to play. That's why The FA is asking every player to follow a Respect Code of Conduct.

When playing football, I will:

Always do my best, even if we're losing or the other team is stronger
Play fairly - I won't cheat, complain or waste time
Never be rude to my team-mates, the other team, the referee, spectators or my coach/team manager
Do what the referee tells me
Shake hands with the other team and referee at the end of the game
Listen to my coach/team manager and respect what he/she says
Talk to someone I trust, for example my parents or the club welfare officer if I'm unhappy about anything at my club.

I understand that if I do not follow the code, action may be taken.
TheFA.com/Respect

4. CODE OF CONDUCT SPECTATORS

Catholic United Football Club has adopted the FA Code of Conduct for Spectators and ask that all members read and respect the code.

Code of Conduct: Spectators

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.

This club is supporting The FA's Respect programme to ensure football can be enjoyed by everyone in a safe and positive environment.

Play your part and always observe The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for spectators and parents/carers.

I will:

Remain outside the field of play and behind the Designated Spectator Area (where provided)
Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour
Always respect the match officials' decisions
Applaud effort and good play as well as success

In addition, when attending youth games, I will:

Remember that children play for FUN
Let the coaches do their job and not confuse the players by telling them what to do
Encourage the players to respect the opposition and match officials
Never criticise a player for making a mistake -mistakes are part of learning

I understand that breaches of the code may result in action being taken by my County FA and /or The FA.

5. CODE OF CONDUCT OFFICIALS

Catholic United Football Club has adopted the FA Code of Conduct for Officials and ask that all members read and respect the code.

Code of Conduct: Coaches

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.

In The FA's survey of over 37,000 grassroots participants, behaviour was the biggest concern in the game. This included both the abuse of match officials and the unacceptable behaviour by over competitive parents, spectators, and coaches on the sidelines.

The FA's Respect programme is aimed at tackling unacceptable behaviour across the whole game.

Play your part and observe The FA's Respect Code of Conduct for coaches, team managers and club officials always.

I will:

Show respect to others involved in the game including match officials, opposition players, coaches, managers, officials, and spectators
Adhere to the Laws of the Game
Display and promote high standards of behaviour
Always respect the match officials' decisions
Never enter the field of play without the referee's permission
Never engage in public criticism of the match officials
Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour.

When working with players, I will:

Place the well-being, safety and enjoyment of each player above everything, including winning
Explain exactly what I expect of players and what they can expect from me
Ensure the parents/carers of all players under the age of 18 understand these expectations
Refrain from, and refuse to tolerate any form of bullying
Develop mutual trust and respect with every player to build their self-esteem
Encourage each player to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance
Ensure all activities I organise are appropriate for the players' ability level, experience, age and maturity
Co-operate fully with others in football (e.g. officials, doctors, physiotherapists, welfare officers) for each player's best interests

I understand that breaches of the code may result in action being taken by my County FA and /or The FA.

TheFA.com/Respect

6. CODE OF CONDUCT MATCH OFFICIALS

Catholic United Football Club has adopted the FA Code of Conduct for Match Officials and ask that all members read and respect the code.

Code of Conduct: Match Officials

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.

The behaviour of the match officials has an impact, directly and indirectly, on the conduct of everyone involved in the game - both on the pitch and on the sidelines.

Play your part and observe The FA's Respect Code of Conduct for Match Officials at all time.

When officiating I will:

Be honest and completely impartial at all times, irrespective of the teams, players or team officials involved in the match
Apply the Laws of the Game and competition rules fairly and consistently
Manage the game in a positive, calm and confident manner
Deal with all instances of violence, aggression, unsporting behaviour, foul play and other misconduct
Not tolerate offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour from players and officials
Support my match official colleagues at all times
Set a positive personal example by promoting good behaviour and showing respect to everyone involved in the game
Communicate with the players and encourage fair play
Respond in a clear, calm and confident manner to any appropriate request for clarification by the team captains
Prepare physically and mentally for every match
Complete and submit, accurate and concise reports within the time limit required for games which I officiate

I understand that breaches of the code may result in action being taken by my County FA and /or The FA.

TheFA.com/Respect

7. ANTI BULLYING POLICY

CATHOLIC UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

ANTI-BULLYING
POLICY

Statement of Intent
We are committed to providing a caring, friendly, and safe environment for all of our players so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our Club. If bullying does occur, all players should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a TELLING Club. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff.

What Is Bullying?
Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.

Bullying can be:
• Emotional being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures)
• Physical pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
• Racist racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
• Sexual unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
• Homophobic because of, or focussing on the issue of sexuality
• Verbal name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
• Cyber All areas of internet ,such as email & internet chat room misuse
Mobile threats by text messaging & calls
Misuse of associated technology , i.e. camera &video facilities

Why is it Important to Respond to Bullying?
Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Pupils who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving.

Schools have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying and football clubs are no exception.

Objectives of this Policy
• All Staff, Managers and Coaches, players and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
• All Staff, Managers and Coaches, players and parents should know what the Club policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
• All players and parents should know what the Club policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
• As a Club we take bullying seriously. Players and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.
• Bullying will not be tolerated.

Signs and Symptoms
A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:
• is frightened of walking to or from school / sport
• doesn't want to go on the school / public bus
• begs to be driven to school / sport
• changes their usual routine
• is unwilling to go to school (school phobic) or sports events
• begins to truant
• becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence
• starts stammering
• attempts or threatens suicide or runs away
• cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares
• feels ill in the morning
• begins to do poorly in school work
• comes home with clothes torn or books damaged
• has possessions which are damaged or " go missing"
• asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)
• has dinner or other monies continually "lost"
• has unexplained cuts or bruises
• comes home starving (money / lunch has been stolen)
• becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
• is bullying other children or siblings
• stops eating
• is frightened to say what's wrong
• gives improbable excuses for any of the above
• is afraid to use the internet or mobile phone
• is nervous & jumpy when a cyber message is received

These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated

Procedures
1. Report bullying incidents to staff
2. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be recorded by staff
3. In serious cases parents should be informed and will be asked to come into a meeting to discuss the problem
4. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted
5. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated, and the bullying stopped quickly
6. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour

Outcomes

1) The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise. Other consequences may take place.
2) In serious cases, suspension or even exclusion will be considered
3) If possible, the pupils will be reconciled
4) After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.

Prevention
We will use appropriate methods for helping children to prevent bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include:
• writing a set of Club rules
• signing a behaviour contract
• writing stories or poems or drawing pictures about bullying
• reading stories about bullying or having them read to a team or assembly
• making up role-plays (or using football role-plays)
• having discussions about bullying and why it matters

Policy last revised: 9th April 2022

8. PLAYER PROTECTION POLICY

CATHOLIC UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
Player Protection Policy
Catholic United Football Club aims to provide a safe, friendly environment in which the players can develop their football and team working skills, in an atmosphere that is competitive, but also encourages fair play. The club is always pleased when its teams do well but winning is not the priority. To achieve this, the club has developed the following policy.
Every child and young person who plays football should be able to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in football.
Catholic United Football Club recognises, however, that child abuse is also a very emotive and difficult subject. It is important to understand the feelings involved, but not to allow them to interfere with our judgement about any action to be taken.
The Club recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual, or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is determined to meet its obligation to ensure that those individuals providing football opportunities for children and young people through the Club, do so to the highest possible standard of care.
The aims of the Club's Player Protection Policy are:
• To develop a positive and pro-active position in order to best protect all children and young people who play football, enabling them to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment.
• To deliver quality assured child protection training.
• To demonstrate best practice in the area of child protection.
• To promote ethics and high standards throughout the Club.
The key principles underpinning this Policy are that:
• The child's welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration.
• All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual identity.
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
• Working in partnership with children and young people and their parents/carers is essential.
The Club's Regulations on child protection are:
1. Any act, statement, conduct or other matter which harms a child or children, or poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour which is improper and brings the Club into disrepute.
2. In these Regulations the expression "Offence" shall mean any one or more of the offences contained in Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and any other criminal offence which reasonably causes The Club to believe that the person accused of the offence poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children.
3. Upon receipt by the Club of:
notification that an individual has been charged with an Offence; or
notification that an individual is the subject of an investigation by the Police, social services or any other authority relating to an Offence; or
any other information which causes The Club reasonably to believe, that a person poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, then The Club shall have the power to order that the individual be suspended from all, or any specific football activity, for such period and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
4. In reaching its determination as to whether an order under Regulation 3 should be made, The Club shall give consideration, inter alia, to the following factors:-
whether a child is, or children are, or may be at risk of harm;
whether the matters are of a serious nature;
whether an order is necessary, or desirable to allow the conduct of any investigation by The Club, or any other authority or body to proceed unimpeded.
5. The period of an order referred to in 3 above shall not be capable of lasting beyond the date upon which any charge under the rules of The Club or any offence is decided or brought to an end.
6. Where an order is imposed on an individual under Regulation 3 above, The Club shall bring and conclude any proceedings under the rules of The Club against the person relating to the matters, as soon as reasonably practicable.
7. Where a person is convicted or is made the subject of a caution in respect of an offence, that shall constitute a breach of the rules of The Club and The Club shall have the power to order the suspension of the person from all, or any specific football, for such period (including indefinitely) and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
8. For the purposes of these regulations, The Club shall act through its Management Committee.
9. Notification in writing of an order referred to above, shall be given to the person concerned as soon as reasonably practicable.
Acknowledgements
Catholic United Football Club would like to thank the Football Association, the NSPCC
and the National Coaching Foundation
for their assistance in the development of this document.

9. CLUB EQUALITY POLICY

CATHOLIC UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
Respect
Equality Policy
As the governing body of the game, the Football Association is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the game at every level. Football belongs to, and should be enjoyed by, anyone who wants to participate in it.
This Equality Policy has been produced to provide a framework for
Catholic United Football Club to implement an agreed set of guidelines that can provide more opportunities to all people to take part in the game.
The aim of this Policy is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect and that Catholic United Football Club are equally accessible to every individual.
Equality Policy
Catholic United Football Club are committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address any such inequalities and by providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.
Catholic United Football Club are committed to confronting and eliminating discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability, and to encouraging equal opportunities.
Catholic United Football Club, in all its activities, will not discriminate, or in any way treat anyone less favourably, on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability. The club will ensure that it treats people fairly
and with respect and that it provides access and opportunities for all members of the community to take part in, and enjoy, its activities.
Catholic United Football Club will not tolerate harassment, bullying, abuse, or victimisation of an individual, which for the purposes of this Policy and the actions and sanctions applicable are regarded as discrimination. This includes sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal. The club will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs.
Catholic United Football Club are committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all members to abide and adhere to these policies and the requirements of the relevant equalities legislation
–
Race Relations
Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and Age Discrimination Act 2006, as well as any amendments to these Acts.
Catholic United Football Club commits itself to the immediate investigation of any claims, when they are brought to its attention, of discrimination on the above grounds. Such claims should be made in writing to the club’s Chief
Executive. Where such claims are found to be proved, the club will ensure that the practice is stopped and subsequent sanctions will be imposed, as appropriate. Implementation
Catholic United Football Club will continue to follow Football Association guidance in equality, which will support the Association in its commitment to ens uring that this Equality Policy is purposefully monitored, evaluated, and developed.
Catholic United Football Club is committed to the development of a programme of ongoing training and awareness - raising events and activities to promote the eradication of discrimination within football. The club is
committed to the publication and promotion of this Policy and will ensure regular consultation with organisations involved with equality, to ensure that its policies, programmes, and services are based on current legislation, research, and good practice.
This Equality Policy is fully supported by the Council of Essex County FA, and the club ’s Chief Executive is responsible for the implementation of this Policy.

Catholic United Football Club

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