The Association Coach Code of Conduct is intended to provide standards of ethical conduct for coaches involved in the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association. All coaches are expected to maintain the highest standards of personal conduct and support the principles of fair play.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

• Coaches will exercise integrity in the practice of coaching and be honest, fair, and respectful of others, accept appropriate responsibility for behaviour and adapt methods to the needs of participants.
• Coaches will respect the fundamental rights, welfare, dignity, values, opinions and worth of all participants.
• They will be aware of cultural and individual differences, including those due to age, sex, gender, place of origin, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political belief or economic status.
• Coaches will maintain a standard of excellence concerning education and information related to coaching and make an ongoing effort to maintain competence in their skills.

ETHICAL STANDARDS

• Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language to players, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents and spectators.
• Coaches will communicate with players, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents, and spectators honestly, fairly, and respectfully.
• Will not engage in or condone behaviour that is harassing, abusive, bullying, harmful or demeaning to participants on and off the ice.
• Coaches will guard against the misuse of influence and understand any action or judgment that may affect participants.
• Coaches are never to become intimately and/or sexually involved with their athletes. This includes requests for sexual favours or the threat of reprisal for rejecting such requests.
• Coaches will not make deceptive, false, fraudulent, or misleading statements.
• Avoid behaviour that brings the Association or the sport of hockey into disrepute, including, but not limited to, excessive use of alcohol, use of non-medical drugs, use of tobacco, tobacco-related products, e-cigarettes while acting in an official capacity at a SAMHA sanctioned event or other events under the jurisdiction of SAMHA.
• Understand that SAMHA has a zero-tolerance policy concerning hazing or any other initiation or unequal treatment of rookie athletes and that coaches are ultimately responsible for the conduct of the athletes under their supervision.
• Coaches will ensure that the activities being undertaken are suitable for the age, experience, ability, fitness level of the athletes and be reasonable in their demands on the player's time, energy and enthusiasm.

RESOLVING ISSUES

• Abide by the rules and policies set forth by SAMHA, League(s), Hockey Alberta, Hockey Canada and the principles of fair play and the spirit of the game.
• Coaches will be familiar with the Code of Conduct, SAMHA, Hockey Alberta policies.
• Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of general principles or ethical standards will not excuse violations of the Code or other policies.
• Administer discipline in an appropriate and controlled manner, mindful of the player's age, with a clear goal of teaching proper behaviour. Discipline must not be used impulsively or out of anger or to embarrass or humiliate players.
• Coaches will inform participants of any perceived violation of the Code of Conduct and commit to reporting the breach to the appropriate designee of the Association (s).

Failure to comply will lead to sanctions including but not limited to; attendance at association events and membership status being revoked.