Parent Code of Conduct
Junior Ice Hockey Club Parent Code of Conduct Policy
1. Purpose
The purpose of this Parent Code of Conduct is to ensure that every junior ice hockey player has a safe, positive and enjoyable environment in which to participate, develop and enjoy the sport.
Parents and guardians play an important role in creating that environment. Their behaviour should support the development, wellbeing and enjoyment of all players, regardless of ability, selection, team position or performance.
This policy sets clear expectations for parents and guardians representing or attending activities of Coventry Blaze Junior Ice Hockey Academy
2. Scope
This Code of Conduct applies to all parents, guardians and family members attending or participating in club activities, including:
Training sessions
Matches and tournaments
Home and away fixtures
Club events and presentations
Team travel and accommodation
Changing-room and rink areas
Club meetings and activities
Communications with coaches, volunteers, officials and other parents
Social media and online communications relating to the club
3. Our Expectations
Parents and guardians are expected to:
Put the wellbeing and enjoyment of young players first.
Support the club's coaches, volunteers and officials.
Encourage positive behaviour and good sportsmanship.
Treat everyone involved in the club with dignity and respect.
Remember that junior ice hockey is a youth development environment, not simply a competitive result-driven environment.
Act as positive role models for their children and other players.
4. Respect for Players
Parents must:
Encourage their child and other players positively.
Praise effort, commitment, improvement and teamwork rather than focusing solely on results.
Avoid shouting instructions to players from the stands or rink-side.
Never criticise, ridicule, embarrass or humiliate a child for their performance.
Never compare their child negatively with teammates or opponents.
Allow coaches to coach and players to play.
Respect the fact that children develop at different rates and have different abilities.
Parents should remember that a young player may already be under significant pressure during a match. Their journey home should be an opportunity for support rather than criticism.
5. Respect for Coaches and Volunteers
Coaches and volunteers give their time and expertise to support young players.
Parents are expected to:
Treat coaches and volunteers respectfully.
Support reasonable coaching decisions.
Avoid challenging or criticising coaches in front of players.
Raise genuine concerns through the appropriate club process.
Respect team selection, ice time and tactical decisions, even when they disagree.
Avoid attempting to coach their child from the spectator area.
Recognise that coaches are responsible for managing the team during training and games.
Parents must not approach a coach immediately after a heated incident or while emotions are high to argue about selection, ice time, tactics or a particular decision.
Where a concern needs to be discussed, parents should request an appropriate time to speak privately.
6. Respect for Officials
Officials are an essential part of junior ice hockey.
Parents must:
Respect referees, linespersons and other match officials.
Accept that officials will make decisions that parents may disagree with.
Never shout abuse, insults or threats at officials.
Never question or confront an official aggressively.
Never enter restricted areas to challenge an official.
Encourage players to respect officials and accept their decisions.
No result, league position or individual performance justifies abusive behaviour towards an official.
7. Respect for Opponents and Their Families
Parents must treat opposing players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect.
This includes:
No abusive or discriminatory language.
No intimidation or threatening behaviour.
No personal insults.
No aggressive confrontation.
No celebrating another player's injury or misfortune.
No deliberately provocative behaviour.
Competitive rivalry should remain friendly and appropriate for junior sport.
8. Spectator Behaviour
Parents and spectators should:
Cheer positively.
Encourage all players.
Keep comments appropriate for children.
Avoid giving tactical instructions from the stands.
Avoid shouting criticism at players.
Remain calm when decisions do not go their way.
Follow the instructions of rink and club staff.
Respect designated spectator areas and rink rules.
Parents should remember that the players, not the adults, are the participants in the game.
9. Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination
The club has zero tolerance for bullying, harassment or discriminatory behaviour.
This includes behaviour based on characteristics such as:
Race or nationality
Religion or belief
Disability
Sex or gender
Sexual orientation
Appearance
Hockey ability
Family circumstances
Parents must not bully or harass players, coaches, officials, volunteers or other parents.
Concerns about another person's behaviour should be reported through the appropriate club process rather than dealt with through confrontation or social media.
10. Social Media and Online Conduct
Parents are expected to behave responsibly online.
Parents must not:
Publish abusive, threatening or discriminatory comments about players, coaches, officials or other parents.
Use social media to publicly criticise individual junior players.
Post private or confidential club information without permission.
Share photographs or videos of children where doing so is inappropriate or contrary to club requirements.
Use social media to pursue disputes with coaches, officials or other families.
Make allegations about individuals without using the appropriate complaints process.
Encourage online criticism or harassment of club members.
Disagreements should be addressed privately and through the club's established procedures.
11. Safeguarding and Player Welfare
The safety and welfare of children is the club's highest priority.
Parents should:
Support the club's safeguarding procedures.
Report safeguarding concerns promptly to the appropriate club safeguarding person.
Respect boundaries established between adults and young players.
Avoid placing coaches or volunteers in inappropriate situations.
Never discourage a child from reporting something that makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
All safeguarding concerns will be treated seriously and handled in accordance with the club's safeguarding procedures.
12. Changing Rooms and Restricted Areas
Parents must follow the club and rink rules regarding access to changing rooms and restricted areas.
Unless specifically authorised, parents should not enter player changing areas where this is contrary to club, rink or safeguarding procedures.
Parents must respect players' privacy and dignity at all times.
13. Photography and Video
Parents must comply with the club's photography policy
14. Complaints and Concerns
The club recognises that parents may occasionally have legitimate concerns.
Concerns should be raised:
Calmly and respectfully.
With the appropriate coach or club representative.
Away from children and spectators.
Through the club's formal complaints procedure where necessary.
Parents should not attempt to resolve disputes through confrontation, group messaging or social media.
The club will aim to investigate legitimate concerns fairly and confidentially, subject to safeguarding and legal requirements.
15. Behaviour During Tournaments and Away Travel
When representing the club away from home, parents are expected to maintain the same standards of behaviour.
This includes appropriate conduct at:
Away rinks
Tournaments
Hotels
Restaurants
Team transport
Social events
Public areas
Parents should remember that their behaviour reflects on the club and can affect the reputation and experience of the entire team.
16. Alcohol and Substance Misuse
Parents must not attend club activities while their behaviour is impaired by alcohol or other substances.
Alcohol must not be consumed in areas where it is prohibited by the venue, competition organiser or club.
Any behaviour arising from alcohol or substance misuse that places children, staff, volunteers or other people at risk will be treated seriously.
17. Conflict of Interest and Player Selection
Parents must accept that:
Team selection is a coaching responsibility.
Ice time may not always be equal in every competitive situation.
Players may play different roles within a team.
Development needs may differ between players.
Selection decisions should not be challenged publicly or in front of children.
Parents should not place pressure on coaches to provide their child with additional ice time, a particular position or selection.
18. Supporting Your Child
Parents are encouraged to ask their child:
Did you enjoy yourself?
What did you learn?
What are you proud of?
Did you work hard?
Did you support your teammates?
The emphasis should be on enjoyment, development, effort, resilience and teamwork.
Parents should avoid making the child's hockey experience dependent upon winning, scoring goals or being selected for a particular team.
19. Breaches of the Code
The club will deal with breaches fairly and proportionately.
Depending on the seriousness and frequency of the behaviour, action may include:
Informal discussion and reminder of expectations.
Formal warning.
Meeting with the parent/guardian and club representatives.
Written undertaking regarding future conduct.
Restriction from attending certain club activities.
Temporary suspension from club activities or facilities.
Removal of spectator or membership privileges.
Further disciplinary action in accordance with club rules.
Serious incidents, including threats, violence, discrimination, harassment or behaviour presenting a safeguarding concern, may result in immediate action while the matter is investigated.
The club reserves the right to take appropriate action where behaviour significantly affects the safety, welfare or enjoyment of young players.
20. Positive Parent Behaviour
The club welcomes parents who:
Cheer positively.
Encourage every player.
Thank coaches and volunteers.
Respect officials.
Support teammates and opposing players.
Help create a welcoming club environment.
Volunteer where appropriate.
Remember that children learn from the behaviour they see around them.
21. Parent Commitment
By allowing their child to participate in Coventry Blaze Junior Academy, parents and guardians agree to support this Code of Conduct and to work with the club to provide a positive environment for all young players.