The Role of the Glen Shields FC Coach
The safety, welfare and well-being of our youth are of primary concern to all involved with the Glen Shields Futbol Club ('Club', 'GFC'). To promote the basic principles of awareness and protection for our youth, the Club has adopted the volunteer application format used by similar size and scope youth organizations around the nation. GFC is pleased to institute this new program as it will serve the benefit of all players, parents, coaches and volunteers of the Club and its Academy Training Program.1. In order to protect GFC staff, (including volunteer Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and paid professional staff) and program participants, at no time during a GFC game, practice or other GFC events will a staff person be alone with a single child where they cannot be observed by others. As the Club Staff supervises players, they should conduct themselves in a way that other staff can see them.
2. Staff shall never leave a youth unsupervised at practice, game or an event.
3. Staff shall not abuse children including:
- Physical abuse – strike, spank, shake, slap;
- Verbal abuse – humiliates, degrade, and threaten;
- Sexual abuse – inappropriate sexual touching or exposure or conduct which creates a sexually hostile environment;
- Mental abuse – shaming, withholding love, cruelty.
- Neglect – withholding food, water, basic care, etc.
5. Staff while representing the GFC or any of its programs; it is the responsibility of all staff to ensure they and all players under their direction will not attempt to embarrass or otherwise demean, or act in any way which would serve to bring the Club, its members or the game into disrepute.
6. Staff will display respect for the referee and their decisions at all times no matter how difficult it may be.
7. Staff are responsible to show respect for fellow coaches and their decisions during games and practices.
8. Staff member receiving an ejection from a game, s/he will notify the appropriate Director of Rep and the Director of Coaching and Player Development ('DOC') in writing, following an immediate phone call of the incident to the appropriate VP of Rep.
9. Staff are responsible to record all cautions and ejections of their players and notify the Director of Rep and DOC of a player being suspended in writing.
10. Staff will assume the best of each other, and discuss any issues, concerns, disagreements between each other first privately before any other persons are involved.
11. Staff is responsible for encouraging good conduct by players, managers, team officials, parents and family members on and off the field.
12. Staff must use positive techniques of guidance, including redirection, positive reinforcement and encouragement rather than competition, comparison and criticism. Staff will have age appropriate expectations and set up guidelines and environments that minimize the need for discipline. Physical restraint is to be used only in situations necessary to protect the child or other children from harm, and subsequently must be documented in writing to the Director of Rep and DOC.
13. Staff will respond to youth with respect and consideration and treat all children equally regardless of sex, race, religion, culture or financial status.
14. Staff will respect children’s rights to not be touched in ways that make them feel uncomfortable, and their right to say no.
15. Staff will refrain from intimate displays of affection towards others in the presence of children, parents, and staff.
16. Staff must appear clean, neat, and appropriately attired in assigned Club Coaching Equipment.
17. Using, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during working/volunteer hours is strictly prohibited.
18. Smoking or use of tobacco in the presence of children or parents during coaching/volunteer hours is prohibited.
19. Employees, volunteers and staff may be required to take a drug test.
20. Profanity, inappropriate jokes, sharing intimate details of one's personal life, & any kind of harassment in the presence of children or parents is prohibited.
21. Staff will portray a positive role model for youth by maintaining an attitude of respect, loyalty, patience, courtesy, tact, and maturity.
22. Staff are not to transport children in their own vehicles without parental consent.
23. Staff may not date program participants or parents of players for the team which staff has been assigned to coach.
24. Under no circumstances should staff release children to anyone other than the authorized parent, guardian, or other adult authorized by the parent or guardian (written parent authorization on file with Glen Shields).
25. Staff are required to report known or suspected instances of child abuse and understand that not doing so may be considered a misdemeanor.
26. Staff will provide priority to the development of the players as people before winning at all costs which defeats and dishonours the sport of soccer and the game itself.
27. Staff are responsible to adhere to the GFC Team/Club Player Development Philosophy and Curriculum outlined to support the program.
28. Staff are responsible to adhere to the GFC Coaching Development Philosophy and Curriculum outlined to support the program.
29. Staff are responsible to adhere to the GFC Playing Style and Curriculum outlined to support the competitive program.
30. Coaches shall accommodate requests from other Coaches for Players when needed as per Club Policy determined by the DOC.
31. Staff are responsible for approval by the DOC on seasonal team plan for the calendar year (set up an individual meeting), development of common philosophies and clarity of roles of responsibilities which can prevent disagreements during games and practices.
32. The Staff (Head Coach) will document all practice and game tactics in their Coaches Notebook at all times. In a case of absence of practice or game the Coaches Notebook will be made available to be used to follow the last session or game tactics.
33. The Head Coach will be evaluated on their coaching abilities every month and provided verbal and written feedback. The Coaches Notebook will be monitored periodically to correspond with your seasonal plan and will be signed off in the corner by the appropriate Director.
34. The Head Coach will receive prior approval of all staff members from the DOC following all the necessary procedures and clearances each season of competition.
35. The Head Coach will attend all Coaches Meetings and Clinics and will notify the DOC in writing of any absences. Staff Coach will make sure Assistant Coaches are also attending.
36. The Head Coach will be responsible for the Manager to be at all Managerial Meetings.
37. The Head Coach is responsible for all financial decisions and payments of commitments of the Glen Shields Rep Team assigned. This includes commitments to Club Fees, Uniforms & Apparel Ordered, League Fee Committed to, League Bonds & Fines, Referee Fees, Field Costs and Rentals, and any other fees provided in the annual team budgets.
38. Staff will assume the best of the Club and vice-versa, and discuss any issues, concerns, disagreements between each party involved and not speak ill of the Club or any members in public.
39. Staff will make sure the GFC Player Code of Conduct and Parental Code of Conduct is understood and signed by each of the respective parties and filed.
You should immediately notify the DOC if you feel that you have been the victim of discrimination or if you have been unlawfully harassed, or if you feel a fellow GFC Staff member employee is being unlawfully harassed. If possible, such notice should be in writing (signed and dated), stating the date, place, time, nature of harassment, and the name(s) and position(s) of the offending party and any witnesses to the alleged harassment. If you feel the DOC is involved in any way, or believe for some other reason the DOC cannot be approached, then you may make your complaints directly to the President of the Club.
I understand that violations of the GFC Coaches Code of Conduct will result in the appropriate action taken by the Club including termination of contractual agreement to coach any and all teams within the Glen Shields Futbol Club and the Academy Training Program depending upon the severity of the Coaches misconduct. Additionally any staff member who:
Receives a League Suspension:
- First Violation – Meeting with the Director of Rep for explanation of conduct – Notice from the Club to meet w/ Discipline Committee
- Second Violation – Meeting with the Board of Directors to review circumstances and status with Club
- First Violation – Phone call from Director of Rep
- Second Violation – Notification to GFC staff and written notice from the Club into Personnel File
- Third Violation – Meeting with the VP Of Rep & DOC
- Fourth Violation – Meeting with the Board of Directors to explain circumstances and determine status with Club