Athlete Code of Conduct

In accordance with Volleyball NZ regulations all athletes competing with East Volleyball Club (EVC) or participating in EVC courses should adhere to the following rules and regulations regarding behaviour and conduct during training, tournaments, activities events and tours. This includes all stakeholders. 

EVC is committed to encouraging athletes to conduct themselves such that they enhance the community they live within and are supported by. This Code has been prepared to provide a framework for athletes within which to act responsibly and with honesty and dignity in the pursuit of athletic development. 

Club commitment

1. Players are expected to attend all practices and tournaments unless there's a pre-approved absence.

2. Maintaining good sportsmanship and representing the club positively is important. 

3. There's a commitment to teamwork and putting the team's success above individual performance.

4. Individual playing time at matches will be determined by attendance at practices.

5. All players must pay their club fees on time as instructed by coaches and via our invoices. Any exception must be requested, discussed and approved with the club board.

6. All players are expected to fulfil game duty throughout all our tournaments. Any exception must be agreed with the coach on duty on the day.

7. Each player must hold at least a local referee qualification within a year of joining the club.

Respect 

All athletes are obliged to treat coaches and other players in a respectful and dignified way. 

1. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of fellow athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators. 

2. Respect the talent, potential and development of fellow athletes and competitors. 

3. Care for and respect the equipment provided to you as part of your program and any event. 

4. Be fair, considerate and honest in all dealings with others. 

5. Be professional in, and accept responsibility for, your actions. 

6. Be frank and honest with your coach/manager concerning illness and injury and your ability to train fully within the program or tournament requirements. 

7. Conduct yourself in a professional manner relating to language, temper and punctuality. 

8. Abide by the rules and respect the decision of the official, making any appeals through the formal process and respecting the final decision. 

9. Be honest in your attitude and preparation for training. Work equally as hard for yourself as for your team. 

10. Refrain from any form of harassment, bullying or abuse of others. 

11. Refrain from any behaviour that may bring the sport, Volleyball New Zealand, yourself or EVC into disrepute – on and off the court. 

12. Be a positive role model at all times. 

13. Refrain from use of drugs, alcohol or other banned substances.

14. Refrain from Publishing / posting of social media material or other posting that will bring EVC, a team or an individual into disrepute. 

15. Athletes should not behave in a way that could be deemed offensive to others. 

Misconduct 

Every athlete representing EVC has a responsibility to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion at trainings, events and tournaments,

Actions deemed as a breach of conduct are as follows: 

• Violence, threatening, abusive, obscene, sexist or provocative behavior, conduct or language. 

• Encroachment within the playing area.

• Use of drugs, alcohol or other banned substances.

• Publishing / posting of material that will bring EVC, a team or an individual into disrepute.

• Ruining the safe and enjoyable environment for everyone involved in the activity.

• Low training attendance and failing to pay club fees.

Anti-social Behavior 

Any grievance or complaint regarding athlete behavior may include disciplinary outcomes of: 

• Individual suspension/expulsion from EVC competition, course. 

• Team suspension/expulsion from EVC competition. 

Anti-Doping 

All sporting participants have the right to compete in Clean Sport. Volleyball NZ and EVC supports the mission of Drugfree Sport NZ and WADA in achieving Clean Sport. 

EVC adopts the Drugfree Sport New Zealand and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) position that cheating, including doping, in sport is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport, undermining the otherwise positive impact of sport on society. 

To this end, EVC commits to support Clean Sport in the following ways: 

• All athletes are expected to play and train and compete in line with the spirit of sport, including the anti-doping rules. 

• All coaches and athlete support personnel are expected to perform their role in line with the spirit of sport, including the anti-doping rules. 

• EVC is committed to supporting the prevention of doping behaviour in NZ in collaboration with other sporting bodies. 

• Employed and associated staff will not condone, assist or in any way support the use of prohibited substances and methods (unless permitted by a Therapeutic Use Exemption) in any aspects of their work. 

• All employed and associated staff will be expected to contact Drugfree Sport NZ should they become aware of an athlete or NSO member using or considering the usage of a prohibited substance or prohibited method. This contact should be done in confidence on the dedicated 0800DRUGFREE (378437) line. 

• EVC will uphold any sanctions placed upon an athlete by Drugfree Sport NZ or other associated body in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code. Breaches of this, or any rules/policies referred to in Volleyball NZ own code of practice/conduct will be acted upon accordingly. 

Further details about Drugfree Sport NZ and WADA can be found at; http://drugfreesport.org.nz/ & https://www.wada-ama.org/ 

Athletes may be removed or suspended from a team or squad for breach of the above code at the discretion of EVC and under the procedures of the EVC complaints policy.