The BADMINTON England Code of Ethics describes the framework of ethical standards that coaches should work within. The BADMINTON England Code of Conduct provides more specific information and guidance in the implementation of the principles described in the Code of Ethics.
1. Code of Ethics
2. Code of Conduct
1. Code of Ethics
The purpose of BADMINTON England's Code of Ethics is to establish standards for badminton coaches and to inform and protect members of the public using their services.
Ethical standards comprise such values as integrity, responsibility, competence and confidentiality. Members of BADMINTON England's Coaching Register in assenting to this Code, accept their responsibilities to performers, colleagues, BADMINTON England and to society.
Standards are described in the following areas:
• Issues of Responsibility
• Issues of Competence
This Code of Ethics is a framework within which to work. It provides a series of ethical guidelines for badminton coaches.
1.1 Issues of Responsibility
Badminton Coaching is a deliberately undertaken responsibility and badminton coaches are required to observe and upkeep the principles described in BADMINTON England's Code of Ethics.
1.1.1 Humanity
Coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every human being and their ultimate right to self-determination. Coaches must treat everyone fairly and equally, within the context of their activity, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion or political persuasion.
1.1.2 Relationships
The good badminton coach will be concerned primarily with the well-being, health and future of the individual performer and only secondarily with the optimisation of performance.
A key element in a coaching relationship is the development of independence. Performers must be encouraged to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance in training, in competition, and in their life in general.
Badminton coaches are responsible for setting and monitoring the boundaries between a working relationship and friendship with their players. This is particularly important when the coach and player are of opposite sex and/or when the player is a young person. The coach must realise that certain situations or friendly actions could be misinterpreted, not only by the player but by outsiders and could lead to allegations of sexual misconduct or impropriety.
The relationship between badminton coach and player relies heavily on mutual trust and respect. In detail this means that the performer should be made aware of the coach's qualifications and experience and must be given the opportunity to consent to or decline coaching from that person.
1.1.3 Commitment
Badminton coaches should clarify in advance with players and/or employers the number of sessions, fees (if any) and method of payment. They should also explore with players and/or employers the expectation of the outcome of coaching.
Badminton coaches have a responsibility to declare to their players and/or employers any other current coaching commitments.
Badminton coaches should also find out if any prospective client is currently receiving guidance from another teacher/coach. If so, that teacher/coach should be contacted to discuss the situation if this is practically possible.
Badminton coaches who become aware of a conflict between their obligation to their players and their obligation to their Governing Body or other organisation employing them must make explicitly clear the nature of the conflict, and the loyalties and responsibilities involved, to all parties concerned.
1.1.4 Co-operation
Badminton coaches should communicate and co-operate with other sports and allied professions in the best interests of their players. An example of such contact would be the seeking of educational and career advice/counselling for young players whose training impinges upon the performance of their studies.
Badminton coaches should communicate and co-operate with registered medical and ancillary practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment and management of their players medical and psychological conditions.
1.1.5 Advertising
Advertising by badminton coaches in respect of qualifications and/or services must be accurate.
Badminton coaches must not display any affiliation with an organisation in a manner that falsely implies sponsorship or accreditation by that organisation.
1.1.6 Integrity
Badminton coaches must refrain from unfair criticism of fellow coaches
Badminton coaches must not encourage players to violate the rules of the sport and should actively seek to discourage such action. Furthermore, coaches should encourage players to obey the spirit of the rules.
Badminton coaches must not compromise their players by advocating measures which could be deemed to constitute seeking to gain an unfair advantage. Coaches must never advocate the use of proscribed drugs or other banned performance enhancing substances.
Badminton coaches must treat opponents and officials with due respect, both in victory and defeat and should encourage their players to act in a similar manner.
Badminton coaches should undertake to discourage inappropriate behaviour from their players.
1.1.7 Confidentiality
Badminton coaches inevitably gather a great deal of personal information about players in the course of a working relationship. Coach and player must reach agreement as to what is to be regarded as confidential information i.e. not divulged to a third party without the express approval of the player.
1.1.8 Abuse of Privilege
The badminton coach is privileged, on occasion, to have contact with players and to travel and reside with players in the course of coaching and competitive practice. A Coach must not attempt to exert undue influence over the player in order to obtain personal benefit or reward.
1.1.9 Personal Standards
The badminton coach must consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of their sport and of coaching.
Personal appearance is a matter of individual taste but the badminton coach should be dressed appropriately for the activity to be undertaken and should present him/herself in a way that reflects well upon the sport and BADMINTON England.
The badminton coach should never smoke when coaching.
Coaches should not drink alcohol so soon before coaching that the smell will still be on their breath when working with players.
1.1.10 Safety
Badminton coaches have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the players with whom they work as far as possible within the limits of their control.
All reasonable steps should be taken to establish a safe working environment.
The work done and the manner in which it is done should be in keeping with regular and approved practice within badminton.
The activity being undertaken should be suitable for the age, experience and ability of the players.
The players should have been systematically prepared for the activity being undertaken and made aware of their personal responsibilities in terms of safety.
The badminton coach should abide by BADMINTON England's safety guidelines.
1.2 Issues of Competence
1.2.1 Areas of Practice
Badminton coaches shall confine themselves to practice in those areas of sport in which they have been trained/educated, and which are recognised by BADMINTON England to be valid. Valid areas of expertise are those directly concerned with badminton coaching. Training includes the accumulation of knowledge and skills through both formal coach education courses and by experience at a level of competence acceptable for independent coaching practice.
Badminton coaches should be able to recognise and accept when to refer players to other agencies.
1.2.2 Development and Self-Awareness
Badminton coaches are encouraged to regularly seek ways of increasing their professional development and self-awareness.
Badminton coaches have a responsibility to themselves and their players to maintain their own effectiveness, resilience and abilities, and to know when their personal resources are so depleted as to make it necessary for them to seek help and/or withdraw from coaching, whether temporarily or permanently.
2. CODE OF CONDUCT
2.1 Introduction
This Code of Conduct is intended to provide more specific information and guidance in the implementation of the principles embodies in the Code of Ethics.
Badminton coaches should welcome evaluation of their work by colleagues and be able to account to players, employers, BADMINTON England and colleagues for their actions.
Badminton coaches shall adhere at all times to standards of personal and professional behaviour which reflect credit on BADMINTON England and the whole process and practice of badminton coaching.
It is impossible to specify in precise terms all those actions which could be deemed to be prejudicial to the practice of badminton coaching and the best interests of BADMINTON England. The following provide an indication of the types of incident that are likely to be considered as breaches of this section of the Code:
2.2 Public Criticism of Colleagues
Coaches should refrain from unfair criticism of fellow coaches of the BADMINTON England.
2.3 Misrepresentation
Coaches must ensure that they do not in any way misrepresent their qualifications, affiliations, or professional competence. Misrepresentation will be regarded as a serious breach of this Code.
2.4 Commitment
When coaches enter into a commitment with an employer, with a team, or with an individual player, the nature of that commitment should be specifically agreed.
2.5 Confidentiality
Coaches should not divulge confidential information relating to a player, as specified in 1.1.7 of the Code of Ethics, to any third party unless with the express approval of the performer concerned.
2.6 Criminal Conviction
Any conviction of a badminton coach by a court of law is capable of reflecting adversely on the profession and BADMINTON England.
Members should report any conviction to BADMINTON England at the earliest opportunity.
2.7 Personal Misconduct
Personal misconduct may still give rise to disciplinary action by BADMINTON England if such conduct is deemed to be 'Misconduct' or 'Gross Misconduct', even if such misconduct does not give rise to disciplinary proceedings by an employer or lead to conviction in a court of law.
Misconduct - Bad timekeeping; unreasonable or unexplained absence; lack of application; wilful damage to property or equipment.
Gross Misconduct - Theft; Falsification of reports or accounts; breach of confidentiality; violence; misuse of alcohol or drugs; dishonesty; indecency.
2.8 Complaints Procedure
Any individual or organisation wishing to make a complaint against a badminton coach within the context of these Codes of Ethics and Conduct should in the first instance contact:
The Chief Executive
BADMINTON England
National Badminton Centre
Bradwell Road
Loughton Lodge
Milton Keynes
MK8 9LA
Tel: 01908268400 Fax: 01908268412
Email: coaching@badmintonengland.co.uk
Detailed procedural guidelines will be issued thereafter to all parties concerned in the complaint.
Badminton Association of England 2003.
