The TGSRC Code of Conduct

PURPOSE 

This Code sets the standards of conduct required by Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club Members to: 

  • Ensure a clear understanding of what is expected and required in our conduct and behaviours to ensure a positive, healthy, supportive,  and professional environment. 

  • Protect our people and our reputation. 

  • Live our culture. 

This Code applies to all: 

  • Registered club members of Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club whether permanent, temporary, casual, or part-time. For the purposes of this code, ‘Club Members’ include rowers, coxswains, coaches, parents, guardians, and supporters.

  • Contractors, consultants, and others contracted to provide services to Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club. 

This Code is to be read in conjunction with and is incorporated into, all employment agreements and contracts club members have with Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club. Any other rules, regulations, policies, and codes of conduct of Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club or arising, for example, from membership of a sports body or a professional body shall not be affected by this Code. 

ALL CLUB MEMBERS 

Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of all its members. All club members  must always: 

  • Act in accordance with New Zealand Law. 

  • Display behaviour that represents the values of our club: Partnership, Respect, Involvement, Development, and Excellence

  • Follow all club policies.

CONFIDENTIALITY 

  • Maintain strict confidentiality of personal information and confidential information, whether received verbally, in writing or otherwise. 

HARASSMENT OR DISCRIMINATION 

  • Treat everyone with respect, and courtesy and without harassment or unlawful discrimination. 

  • Take all reasonable steps to eliminate any forms of unlawful discrimination and any physical, verbal, or emotional bullying or abuse by or of others. 

  • Act in accordance with the law and the Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club Bullying and Harassment Policy.

  • Demonstrate appropriate social behaviour by not using inappropriate language or harassing any members or officials. 

REPUTATION 

  • Behave in a way that enhances and supports the good reputation of Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club and does not bring the club into disrepute. 

  • Ensure that any statement, image, communication, or any other thing they put in the public domain related to their relationship with the  club itself, including in social media, is: 

    • Authorised by the Executive Committee. 

    • Does not have, or is not likely to have, a negative effect on the interests of, or harm the reputation of, any athletes, coaches, or club members for whom Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club provide services or for the club itself. 

HEALTH AND SAFETY 

  • Take all reasonable care when using the club’s equipment or facilities for your own safety and the safety of others and report the damage immediately. 

  • Abide by all Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club Health and Safety policies. 

COMMUNICATIONS 

  • Abide by the principles of this Code of Conduct when using any form of social media and electronic communication.

  • Not issue club-wide or squad-wide emails or communications without prior approval of the Executive Committee.

  • Not raise issues of disagreement with any member through any public, club or school-wide forum (including, but not limited to, social media, WhatsApp and replying to all emails) 

  • Accept there are consequences for breaching this Code of Conduct.

ATHLETES

  • Comply with all club policies and procedures. 

  • Always take care of equipment - it is very expensive to repair or replace and ensure any damage is reported immediately to a coach.

  • Understand that when out on the water the coach is in charge followed by the coxswain and stroke seat (when no coxswain is in the crew), therefore it is essential for the safety of all that their instructions are followed. 

  • When in or near a coach boat remember that they do pose a safety risk and always behave responsibly. Only operate one if: o You are 15 years or over and under direct supervision by an adult who must be seated beside you in the boat. o You have completed the club’s safety boat certification course.  

  • Do not interfere with, bully, or take unfair advantage of another club member. Verbal or written abuse of any person is not acceptable or permitted. 

  • Display positive sportsmanship for all athletes and achievements across all squads and crews. 

  • Never criticise another athlete for their performance. If you feel feedback could be beneficial, raise this respectfully with your coach.

  • Respect all members from other clubs and schools. Without them, there would be no racing. 

  • Do not take gear or equipment from any member of any club or school that does not belong to you personally, except on agreement  (i.e., Maadi swap) 

  • Show commitment. Work equally hard for yourself, your squad, and your crew(s). Turn up on time and ready to go for all training and racing. 

  • Correctly wear club uniform with pride at all regattas – uniform must be worn between the start of first and end of last race, and row suits are not to be taken down to the waist unless the club shirt is put on. 

  • Cooperate with your coach and respect their decisions about crews, boat selections, and seat placements.

  • Ensure that once in the boat at training or regattas, you are fully attentive to coaches, officials, and coxswains and ready to row hard.

  • Do not discuss publicly any aspects of any coaching debriefs that impact or include other athletes. 

  • Query any decisions made by your coaches respectfully. 

  • Show resilience by being flexible and accepting of changes that may need to occur during training and regattas.

  • Follow all instructions given for the purpose of ensuring your own safety and/or the safety of others. 

  • Do not consume any illegal drugs, alcohol or banned substances. 

  • Maintain positive and appropriate relationships with all other athletes, in a manner that is respectful and professional.

PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND SUPPORTERS  

  • Applaud efforts from all athletes. 

  • Display positive sportsmanship and support your children in a non-distracting manner. 

  • Encourage and guide athletes to accept responsibility for their own performance and behaviour. 

  • Remember your children are rowing for their own enjoyment and to achieve their own goals, they are not rowing for the entertainment of spectators or to meet parent expectations. 

  • Query any decisions made by coaches via the President. A commitment to being constructive and thinking about the situation from all sides before framing questions or comments will likely help resolve any issues in a positive manner. 

  • Remember we are an organisation led and run by volunteers. Be supportive to those volunteering their time within the club, accept that mistakes will be made and learned from and that all volunteers are doing the best they can to benefit the club and its members.

  • Be generous with your time to help complete the many activities required to ensure the smooth running of the club - transport, food preparation, laundry, fundraising, boat maintenance etc, these are all necessary for the functioning of the club.

  • Pass on your skills and knowledge as a club member to the next generation, supporting new parents ensures the longevity of our club. 

  • Be mindful that your child is a teenager and needs to be independent. As such it is important to respect their boundaries and allow them to be coached - as parents we take a back seat at camps and regattas. 

  • Never enter the boat park at regattas. 

  • Raise any concerns directly with the President or Child Safeguarding rep.

COACHES

  • Follow all club policies including: 

    • Ensuring the safety of anyone in a coach boat by making sure they are wearing appropriate life jackets. 

    • Ensuring the safety of athletes by ensuring floats are available for all rowers, and coxswains are wearing appropriate life jackets. o Ensure radios are charged and always taken out on the water and there is a second form of communication as a backup (i.e., cell phone in a bag).  

    • Ensuring only those who have completed a safety boat certification course are able to operate a coach boat or people aged 15 years  and over who are under your direct supervision (seated beside you) 

  • Develop squad and crew respect for the ability of all athletes as well as for the judgement of officials and other coaches.

  • Operate within the rules of rowing and in the spirit of fair play and encourage all athletes to do the same.

  • Be aware of the professional role of the coach as an educator – impart knowledge and skills, and role model personal and social behaviour.

  • Ensure the scheduling and length of training sessions take into consideration the maturity and ability of your squad.

  • Set regular training start and finish times, and communicate these through Teamer and ensure they are adhered to with little exception.

  • Ensure that equipment and facilities meet safety standards and are appropriate to the age and ability of the athletes.

  • Display positive sportsmanship, acknowledge, and support all athletes and coaches and their achievements.

  • Never criticise or belittle an athlete for making a mistake during racing. 

  • Keep abreast of changes in rowing training techniques and ensure that the information used is up-to-date and appropriate to the needs of your squad. 

  • Provide feedback to your squad and parents regularly, one-on-one and within squad debriefs as appropriate. In squad debriefs ensure feedback is constructive. 

  • Encourage and facilitate athletes’ independence and responsibility for their own behaviour, performance, decisions, and actions. ● Ensure physical contact with rowers or coxswains is appropriate to the situation and necessary for skill development. Avoid situations that could be construed as compromising. 

  • Wear the club uniform as appropriate at any medal or presentation ceremony. 

  • Raise and report any concerns regarding the welfare of crew members to the appropriate management leads - President, Child  Safeguarding rep. 

  • If the coaches have any concerns for their own safety or are in a position where they feel uncomfortable, they need to raise this with the appropriate management leads e.g., the Head Coach, Club President, and the Club Child Safeguarding rep.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 

  • Comply with all club policies and procedures. 

  • Ensure that any confidential information you have access to is kept securely. Do not share or discuss information with anyone unless it is necessary for you to carry out your role. 

  • Involve all members at appropriate levels of pre-season planning, ongoing leadership, evaluation, and decision-making through such things as, but not limited to, goal-setting sessions, code of conduct reviews, and club-wide debrief sessions. 

  • Ensure equal opportunities for participation are available to all club members regardless of gender, ability, cultural background, or religion.

  • Provide equipment and facilities, including club uniform, that is safe and fit for the purpose of training, racing, and regatta attendance.

  • Use your best endeavours to provide qualified and competent coaches who can deliver appropriate levels of coaching and have the skills to provide adequate supervision. 

  • Ensure all members sign the Club Code of Conduct annually. 

BREACHES OF THE CODE 

If club members of Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club do not follow the standards and behaviours set out in this Code, the issue will be escalated to the  Executive Committee and consequences can include the termination of club membership. This is to protect Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club  Members, the club itself and others affected by their behaviour. 

BREACH 

A breach of this Code is a failure by any Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club to abide by any one or more standards, behaviours, or obligations in this  Code. 

In addition, any Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club Member who commits any offence of the law or other unlawful act during their engagement with the club may be regarded as a breach of this Code. 

COMPLAINTS 

All Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club Members have an obligation to report any behaviour or conduct by any club members which may be in breach of this Code. Failure to do so is a breach of this Code. 

Also, any person may make a complaint about any Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club Member who they consider may have breached this Code. All complaints shall be made in the manner stated in the Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club Complaints Policy. 

INVESTIGATION AND DISCIPLINE 

If there is a complaint or an alleged breach of this Code, an investigation and /or disciplinary action may be undertaken against the offending Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club member in accordance with the applicable contract and/or policy or procedure, or by or on behalf of the Club President.