Code of Conduct

In order to ensure all adults are aware of our expectations regarding their conduct at our sports events, upon arrival, staff will be expected to read the statement below and sign to confirm understanding and agreement.

Code of Conduct

For Accompanying Adults (staff and volunteers/parents) at MSSP Events

Thank you so much for supporting your school at our event today. Without your help, students could miss out on these great opportunities to represent their school in sport and physical activities.

In order to ensure all adults are aware of our expectations regarding their conduct at our sports events, we would like you to read the statement below and sign to confirm your understanding and agreement.

Statement

I am an accompanying adult for my school and I will wear the yellow sash at all times to help everyone identify me at the event.

I have been fully vetted as per the KCSIE Safer Recruitment protocols as a volunteer or member of staff for my school. This includes training around Child Protection procedures and expectations.

I understand that my role today is to support the children from my school taking part in the activities.

I will follow all CP and Safeguarding protocols as directed by MSSP and the Venue.

My school’s accompanying adults are responsible for any first aid required for our children.

I will endeavour to create a positive and enjoyable learning environment, where mistakes and constructive feedback are celebrated as an important part of learning, where performances are the children’s to own (not the adults or supporters) and where overcoaching during match play is not helpful.

I am aware that helpful adult guidance would include:

• preparing the team with correct attire and equipment (remove all jewellery)
• practising where possible before the event and learning any specific sport rules
• organising and communicating the plan, any rotations and team formations or strategies
• questioning the children for self-exploration and understanding when they are not in the middle of the performance/match (during breaks in play)
• providing opportunities for children to have their voice heard and support each other
• positive and encouraging communication, where feedback is constructive and most often comes from the children themselves – this is more helpful than negative criticism and unrealistic expectations
• role modelling calmness, respect and emotional regulation, accepting the official’s decisions and moving on

Officials

I appreciate that officials are human and are allowed to make mistakes or have a different view of what happened to my own view, this is a learning journey for both performers and officials.

Where I feel an official may be struggling with understanding or applying the rules, I will speak to the MSSP team to garner more support for the official’s development.

I will not do any of the following things to jeopardise the experience and safety of the children here today (some of these are quite specific to previous incidents and relate in particular to our events):

• Allow any children to leave the site without an accompanying adult (e.g. to go to the toilet or leave early)
• Take photos of any children without consent from the parent/school
• Post online any images of children without consent of the parent/school
• Allow my students to have their own mobile phones out (seen or heard) at the event at any time (if applicable)
• Approach children that are not from my own school group
• Overcoach from the side lines – this can confuse children, take away their self-belief and confidence to make their own decisions, cause tension in their movements and techniques
• Scream or shout commands at the children – verbal or emotional abuse
• Challenge the umpires decisions – all decisions must be accepted even if they are clearly wrong to you
• Tell children that the umpiring or cheating from the opposition lost them the game/point etc
• Act in any way deemed as aggressive or abusive towards anyone in the facility
• Question and challenge the gender of any players – this can be upsetting for the children if I’m incorrect with my assumptions
• Put myself in a 1-2-1 situation with any students especially in a secluded area

I will ensure that I do:

• Maintain a fun and positive environment at all times. Ensuring my body language also portrays this (for example not eye rolling at mistakes etc)
• Allow the children to have a voice and make decisions
• Allow the children to be competitive and assertive in their performances but with empathy, fairness and respect for their team mates, the opposition and officials at all times
• Ensure all children get the chance to take part with a fair rotation of players
• Follow the rules provided by MSSP and ensure the children have had time to learn and practise these rules, to enhance the experience on the day
• Appreciate that different schools will have different experiences and that some rules may be adapted to enhance the enjoyment and chances of success for others.
• Help them to develop resilience, determination and to learn through mistakes and losses – sport is great at developing these personal skills when the environment is safe and encouraging
• Help them to identify the progress they make as individuals and a team throughout the event, regardless of the scores
• Support the MSSP team to ensure the public do not encroach the school/event areas. Only people with a yellow sash should be visible in and around the school and playing areas. Please feel confident to challenge anyone who is not wearing a sash and ask them to politely leave the area. Please also lock any gates behind you and do not allow the public to pass through.
• Report any concerning behaviour to the MSSP team.

I understand that failure to comply to these expectations may lead to instant dismissal from the event and from accompanying my school at any future events. This may be recorded as a safeguarding incident and the Head Teacher/DSL at my school will be informed. If adults repeatedly fail to comply from my school, it could also jeopardise my school being invited to future events.