Engage in & Support Ethical Practice
How well do you engage in and support ethical practice in your program?
Read each question and then click on the question to evaluate your coaching. Based on your current coaching practice, consider whether this is an area that needs improvement, is acceptable, or is exceptional. If you are not sure, feel free to ask others (i.e., assistant coaches, athletes, administrators, community members, fans, etc.) or have another observe your practice to help you decide.
If you discover a need for improvement, refer to the resources available for ways to improve your coaching practice.
- 01
Description: A code of conduct is set by a governing body to set a standard of behavior for a sport context. The code provides guidelines that make it easier to deal with conduct and behavior issues as they arise.
Needs Improvement - My organization has not provided me with a code of conduct. I am not aware of what the code of conduct is composed of and thus it does not affect my behavior.
Acceptable - I am aware of the code of conduct for my sport context and abide by the code when interacting with those involved with my team.
Exceptional- I am aware of the code of conduct for my sport context and abide by the code when interacting with those involved with my team. Additionally, I reviewed these documents to highlight issues of concern in planning and executing practices. For example, I plan interactions in practice where I model these guidelines to my team.
Check out these resources if you are interested in improving coaching practice:
- 02
Description: Ethical behavior in sports is behavior rooted in fairness, integrity, responsibility, and respect towards teammates, opponents, coaches, and referees. Coaches will set ethical behavioral expectations and communicate those expectations to the team in some way. The initial means of communicating the expectations could be to the athletes in the first practice, to the parents at the parent meeting, or distributed a season’s expectations pamphlet. https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/more/resources/what-role-does-ethics-play-in-sports/
Needs Improvement – Although I communicate the ethical behavior (i.e., good sport conduct) I want my athletes to exhibit, I do not intentionally try to model these behaviors throughout the season and I have not thought about teaching them.
Acceptable - I set expectations and communicate the type of ethical behavior (i.e., good sport conduct) I want my athletes to exhibit. I also frequently model these behaviors in my interactions with them and others. I also look for teachable moments during practice or competitions to point out good sport conduct.
Exceptional - I set expectations for the season and share them with my athletes. I am consistent with reinforcements and consequences throughout the team. I also frequently model these behaviors in my interactions with them and others. In addition, I deliberately plan the teaching of ethical behavior and decision making as part of my practice plan.
Check out these resources if you are interested in improving coaching practice:
Maintain a Positive Sport Culture
- 03
Description: The goal of good sport conduct is to pursue victory with honor by giving one's best effort. This ethical behavior in sports is rooted in fairness (behavior without favoritism or discrimination), integrity (being honest with strong morals), responsibility (having and carrying out a duty), and respect (feeling of appreciation). https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/more/resources/what-role-does-ethics-play-in-sports/
Needs improvement - When I am informed that an athlete was acting out of line and was engaging in poor sport conduct (e.g., belittling another athlete) I do not always address the issue. I rarely go out of my way to reinforce good sportsmanship when I see it or set expectations for what good sportsmanship is on our team.
Acceptable – I communicate and set expectations for the type of good sport conduct I want to see on our team. When I am informed that an athlete was acting out of line and was engaging in poor sport conduct (e.g., belittling another athlete), I confront the athlete. An example of the confrontation could be in the form of a conversation and/or consequences (e.g., less playing time).
Exceptional - I communicate and set expectations for the type of good sport conduct I want to see on our team. When I am informed that an athlete was acting out of line and was engaging in poor sport conduct (e.g., belittling another athlete), I confront the athlete. An example of the confrontation could be in the form of a conversation and/or consequences (e.g., less playing time). Additionally, I use proactive positive reinforcement to promote the athlete’s ethical behavior. (e.g., thanking the athlete when the athlete helps an athlete up, or the coach congratulating the athlete on a good grade in school).
Check out these resources if you are interested in improving coaching practice:
- 04
Needs Improvement– I engage in ethical behavior but I have not really thought about developing an ethical decision making process.
Acceptable- I have a good sense of how to respond to ethical dilemmas in my coaching practice based on experience, core values, and my ethical role models. However, I am not familiar with ethical decision making models or ethical systems.
Exceptional - I have a good sense of how to respond to ethical dilemmas in my coaching practice based not only on my experience, core values, and role models but also on an ethical system and an ethical decision making process.
Check out these resources if you are interested in improving coaching practice: