Coach Code of Conduct

The athlete/coach relationship is a privileged one. Coaches play a critical role in the personal as well as athletic development of their athletes. They must understand and respect the inherent power imbalance that exists in this relationship and must be extremely careful not to abuse it.

Coaches must also recognize that they are conduits through which the values and goals of a sport organization are channeled. Thus, how athletes regard their sport is often dependent on the behavior of the coach.

The following Code of Conduct has been developed to aid coaches in achieving a level of behavior that will allow them to assist their athletes in becoming well-rounded, self-confident and productive human beings.

• Treat everyone fairly!
• Respect your athlete’s dignity. When teaching, don’t criticize the child, comment on the performance.
• Display a high personal standard and project a favorable image of soccer and of coaching. For example:
  • Don’t criticize fellow coaches in public, when speaking to media or in front of the youth.
  • Refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol while in the presence of your team and discourage their use of it. Abstain from these items when working with your athletes.
  • Never advocate or condone the use of drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances.
  • Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing, or any other offensive language in the conduct of your duties.
  • FSS provided attire must be worn at all FSS sanctioned events.
• Ensure the safety of each one of your players; teach them to be safe too!
• Consider your athlete’s future health and well-being as foremost when making decisions regarding an injured player’s ability to play and train.
• Regularly seek ways of increasing your own professional development as a coach.
• Treat opponents and officials with due respect both in victory and defeat and encourage your athletes to do likewise. Actively encourage athletes to uphold the rules of their sport and the spirit of such rules.
• Communicate and cooperate with the athlete’s parents or guardians, involving them in management decisions pertaining to their child’s development.
• Respect the chain of command.  Follow the appeal process for any resolution.

See the coach code of conduct policy

Form for coaches to sign