Behaviour Management Policy

The aim of Little Athletics is Family, Fun, and Fitness. To achieve this aim, the committee has found it necessary to introduce these behaviour management guidelines so that our athletes know what is expected of them and our volunteer supervising adults can maintain consistency of good behaviour around the field during competition or training.

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR IS:

  • Cheekiness/back chatting
  • Behaviour that disrupts the smooth running of the event or training site
  • Behaviour that endangers the safety of the child or others
  • Behaviour that can cause damage to the equipment

CONSEQUENCE GUIDELINES:

  1. If a child shows inappropriate behaviour during competition or a training session, then the Group Leader/Site Official/coach will warn the child, explain what he/she has done wrong and the consequence of repeating the behaviour, i.e. sit out of the event/training drill.
  2. During competition, if the behaviour is repeated at the same event or subsequent events then the Group Leader sits the child out of the event and the recording sheet is marked “did not compete due to poor behaviour”. If at training, the child will not participate in the drill.
  3. During competition, if the behaviour is repeated a third time then the Site Official should radio the Arena Manager who will escort the child from the site to his/her family. It will be up to the discretion of the Arena Manager as to whether the athlete will be able to compete in any subsequent events that day. If at training, the coach will direct the child to return to his/her family and they will not be permitted to complete the training session.

This is a daily arrangement and is not carried over from one training session to the next, or to the next competition day.

NOTE:

For behaviour of a more serious nature, an incident report is to be completed by any witnesses and the committee will discuss the matter further. Such incidences may include, but are not limited to:

  • Aggressive behaviour such as rough play, pushing, fighting
  • Poor sportsmanship
  • Foul language
  • Deliberate failure to follow instructions by a Site Official, Group Leader or committee member

Penalties may include verbal warnings, written warnings or suspension from training and/or competition depending on the severity of the behaviour and any prior incidents the child may have been involved in. Committee decisions are final and no discussion will be entered into.