Governance Update

Hi Bloods and Bolts Players

I’m communicating with you about 2 very important issues.  The first issue is about your obligation to abide by the Club’s code of conduct relating to acceptable behaviour on and off the field and at all Club events.  The second issue relates to your right to enjoy footy and be treated properly so that going to training and playing in matches is fun.

Your obligation relating to acceptable behaviour

When you register to play with the Club, you agree to be bound by the Club’s code of conduct relating to acceptable behaviour at all our training sessions, matches and events.  I want to remind you about the code and what you’ve signed up to. You agree to:

1. Play by the rules – the League rules, the Club rules and the laws of the game

2. Never argue with an umpire or other official – without these people you can’t play footy       

3. Control your temper - verbal abuse of officials and sledging other players doesn’t help you enjoy or win any games

4. Be a team a team player – it’s a team game, treat it that way

5. Treat all players as you would like to be treated – fairly

6. Cooperate with your coach, the umpires and team-mates

7. Play for your own enjoyment and to improve your skills

Don’t use ugly remark based on race, religion, gender or ability – you’ll let down your coach, team-mates and family if you do – and many comments are actually now illegal

Your right to enjoy footy!

Playing footy should be fun.  You should be able to make friends, learn, grow and enjoy everything that a team sport has to offer.  You also have a right to be treated properly so that going to training, playing in matches or attending any other Club events are happy experiences.  If someone is doing something that stops you from enjoying being at footy, you also have the right to speak up and tell someone.

What should I speak up about?

1. Bullying

2. Violence

3. Being picked on or left out because of your skin colour, religion or something else

4. Someone at the Club posting photos or comments about you online

5. Someone at the Club making you feel uncomfortable or unwelcome

6. Parents on the sideline saying hurtful things to you

7. Someone touching you in a way that makes you uncomfortable

8. Anything else that bothers you enough to enjoy footy less

Who should I tell?

You should speak up to someone you feel comfortable telling and who you trust.  This may be your parents, your coach, your team manager or the Club’s child safety officer, who is trained in how to help you with these issues and knows who to go to if it’s a serious issue.  You should also speak up about other things that change your experience playing footy.  If you think that your team or the Club has made a decision that is unfair or you have ideas for how something can be done to make footy more enjoyable for you and your friends, it’s important you say something.  Footy is your game too, and you have the right to tell someone what you think and feel about how it’s run.

I hope you have a fun and successful 2021 footy season.  Go Bloods! Go Bolts!

Amber Mills
Child Safety Officer
M: 0411 313 498
E: childsafetyofficer@smdsc.com.au