Positive Behaviour
Aquinas Football Club
Policy for the Promotion of Positive Behaviour
Mission Statement
The aim of Aquinas football Club is to provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment where members feel valued and are encouraged and supported to develop their knowledge and skills of football and to be the best that they can be.
Introduction
Aquinas Football Club seeks to establish a positive ethos, which is conducive to developing knowledge and skills of football and one in which the individual member is respected and supported and where good behaviour is encouraged and recognised. Good behaviour is a pre-requisite to effective skills development and coaching.
In Aquinas, we place great emphasis on positive behaviour and seek to promote it at every opportunity. Consequently, members’ behaviour is a very important matter and the most effective way of managing behaviour problems is to prevent them from arising in the first place and to minimise their occurrence. Accordingly, it is important to provide support for the member whose behaviour interferes with their own training and development or that of their peers.
While the emphasis is on the promotion of good behaviour, we recognise the need to identify early those members who have problems and to provide effective early intervention. When members’ problems are addressed at an early stage, often, subsequent behaviour problems can be prevented.
Special Circumstances
In a situation where the above strategies have proved ineffective or are inappropriate, such as an emergency or the threat of or actual physical violence perpetrated by one member against another, the use of reasonable force may be necessary to restrain a member.
Reasonable force is defined as the minimum restraining force necessary to prevent danger to an individual.
In the event that preventative strategies and planned approaches have failed to produce acceptable behaviour, a manager may suspend a member in line with the protocol on behaviour.
The strategies set out in this policy apply at all times when members are gathered together on Aquinas business.
Complaints
Complaints regarding the treatment of a member should be addressed in the first instance to the member’s manager, unless a parent feels that this would not be appropriate depending on the circumstances.
If it is not felt to be appropriate to raise complaints with the member’s manager, parents can contact the any official of the Club or the club’s designated Child Protection Officer.
Injury/Significant Incident
If a member or club official is injured or if a significant incident has occurred an Untoward Incident Form should be completed. The manager should retain the original and a copy should be sent to the member’s parent and the club Secretary. The management committee will consider how the matter should be taken forward.
Breaking The Rules
When a club rule is broken the following strategies may be introduced, in conjunction with positive approaches, to encourage more appropriate behaviour.
-Remind the member of the rule that has been broken.
-Remind the member of the possible consequences of his behaviour.
-Express disappointment.
-Express disapproval.
-Remind the member of the rewards for positive behaviour.
-Withdraw attention as appropriate to the action
-Report the matter to the parent and club Secretary, depending on the severity of the circumstances.
If the above should prove ineffective and less than positive behaviour continues suspension may have to be considered, in line with the Behaviour Protocol.
Rights and Responsibilities
All stakeholders in the club, members, parents, managers, coaches and officials have rights, but along with these come responsibilities. These are listed below.
Members
Rights Responsibilities
To be treated with respect and dignity. To treat others with respect and dignity
To be trained in a safe, happy and stimulating environment.To be sensitive to the needs of others.
To be valued as an individual. To observe club and team rules.
To receive the highest possible standard of training. To try hard.
To be listened to.To listen to others.
To have problems and concerns recognised and addressed.To behave appropriately.
To have positive behaviour acknowledged.
Parents
Rights Responsibilities
To be treated with respect and dignity by members and club officials.To treat members and club officials with respect.
To be valued as partners in the activities of the club. To act as good role models.
To have their child receive the highest possible standard of training.To promote good manners and positive behaviour at home.
To be listened to about concerns they might have about the training and behaviour of their child or the behaviour of club officials.To inform the team manager of any factors that might influence their child’s behaviour.
To be kept informed about their child’s efforts, achievements and behaviour.To support the club by celebrating efforts’ achievements and good behaviour and by implementing, as necessary, agreed behaviour support strategies.
To be kept informed of strategies to promote positive behaviour and those used to discourage or manage inappropriate behaviour.
Club Officials*
RightsResponsibilities to membersResponsibilities to parentsResponsibilities to managers and coaches
To be treated with respect and dignity.To treat members with respect and dignityTo treat parents with respect and dignityTo treat managers and coaches with respect and dignity
To be kept informed of day to day issues in the club.To provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment for training.To provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment for their child.To provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment for the provision of training.
To monitor the provision of training within the club.To value each member individually.To value the role and partnership of parents.To value the input of each manager and coach.
To express opinions and concerns regarding the provision of training within the club.To monitor and develop the provision of training to the highest possible standard.To encourage parents to meet their responsibilities regarding their child’s involvement with the club, through, e.g. attendance at matches, punctuality for training, encouragement to stick at it etc.To encourage and support managers and coaches in their work.
To take action, as necessary, to ensure the safety of all members, managers and coaches.To acknowledge and celebrate members’ achievements.O keep parents informed of the progress and achievement of teams and the club.To provide guidance for the development of the club.
To ensure that those in a position of care for children have appropriate training.To provide information, procedures and policies regarding the care of their child.To encourage managers and coaches to meet their responsibilities in respect of training the members of the club.
To provide training as necessary.
To provide information on external support services.
To provide information, procedures and policies regarding the care of children.
* defined for the purposes of this policy as the Management Committee.
Managers and Coaches
RightsResponsibilities to membersResponsibilities to parentsResponsibilities to Club Officials
To be treated with respect and dignity by members, parents and colleagues.To treat members with respect and dignityTo treat parents with respect and dignityTo act as good role models.
To be valued as individuals and as members of a team, sharing the same aims and objectives. To provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment.To value parents as partners in your role with their children.To be an active team member within the club.
To be consulted and informed on matters associated with the club.To be well prepared.To provide the highest possible standard of training for their children.To share knowledge and expertise.
To operate in a safe and supportive environmentTo train thoroughly.To listen to parents.To contribute to a safe, happy and stimulating environment.
To express opinions and concerns.To nurture confidence and self worth.To inform parents about their child’s efforts, achievements and behaviour, as appropriate.To use knowledge and skills acquired through training to implement current approaches to the promotion of positive behaviour.
To receive training in current approaches to the promotion of positive behaviour.To value each member.To inform parents of the strategies used to promote positive behaviour and discourage or manage inappropriate behaviour.To follow the Behaviour Protocol for addressing inappropriate behaviour.
To have information on and access to external support services.To be sensitive to each member’s needs.To arrange meetings with parents as required.
To value and celebrate effort and achievement.
To listen to members.
To recognise and address a member’s problems and concerns.
To acknowledge and celebrate positive behaviour.
