2012 IWLCA Code of Ethics and Conduct

 

 

INTERCOLLEGIATE WOMEN’S LACROSSE COACHES ASSOCIATION

CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT

2012-2013

 

Preamble

The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA), the professional organization for college coaches of women’s lacrosse, upholds a code of ethics and conduct for its membership. The purpose of the code of ethics and conduct is to set forth the principles and standards of professional conduct. These standards emphasize the welfare of the players, upholding the integrity of the game of lacrosse, and promoting a cooperative effort among those associated with the sport of lacrosse.

 

Ethics are defined as a code of principles or moral standards of conduct. These principles are guidelines intended to aid coaches individually and collectively in maintaining the highest level of professional conduct. Values upon which the IWLCA is based include, but are not exclusive to: accountability, civility, commitment, enthusiasm, fairness, honesty, integrity, respect, and sporting behavior.

 

Coaches’ ethical behavior is demonstrated through actions and conversations with administrators, athletes, colleagues, communities, media, officials, and parents. Coaches are ambassadors of their programs, their institutions, and the sport of lacrosse. They are role models with vast influence on their players, their peers, and the larger community. Therefore, they must assure that their actions and words uphold ethical conduct and reflect positively on the sport, the institution, and themselves.

 

Article One- Responsibilities to Players

  1. The actions of the coach must always place the safety and welfare of the athlete above all else.
  2. Commitments for participation on a lacrosse team should not impede a player’s opportunity for academic success.
  3. Coaches are responsible for becoming acquainted with the rules, skills, and strategies involved in the sport of lacrosse and assist with the athlete’s education in these areas.
  4. Coaches must adhere to the letter and spirit of the rules of the game of lacrosse. They must not seek unfair advantage by teaching or allowing players to deliberately perform outside of the boundaries of these established rules and standards.
  5. Coaches must encourage and emphasize fair play and good sporting behavior within training sessions and competitions. The players’ actions on the field fall under the responsibilities of the coaching staff and the institution.
  6. Coaches must not promote the use of harmful or illegal substances for the purpose of gaining an athletic advantage. They must take an active role in the education, prevention, and treatment of drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse.

 

Article Two- Recruiting

  1. Coaches must strictly adhere to all institutional, conference, IWLCA and national governing body (NCAA) rules pertaining to recruiting.
  2. Coaches have an obligation to be honest and forthright with prospective student-athletes and their parents and to refrain from making derogatory statements about other colleagues or institutions.
  3. Coaches must understand that it is unethical to make false promises or statements to prospective student-athletes.

 

Article Three- Other Responsibilities

  1. Coaches must treat all persons connected to the game of lacrosse including: the officials, the opponents, the opposing coaches, the media, the public, the spectators, and the student-athletes with the utmost respect and courtesy. Physical or verbal abuse must never occur.
  2. Coaches must promote and support the missions of their institutions, conferences, and governing bodies (NCAA) and behave in such a manner that the principles, standards, integrity and dignity of these bodies are not compromised.

 

Implementation

The code of ethics will be used as a condition of membership in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association. To qualify for membership, an applicant must electronically acknowledge having read the Code and agree to abide by the principles of the Code, or must sign a statement acknowledging having read the Code and subscribing to the principles of the Code.

 

I _____________________________ from _________________________________

         Name of Head Coach                                 Name of Institution

 

acknowledge having read the IWLCA Code of Ethics and Conduct and agree to subscribe to the principles of the Code.

 

_________________________________                  ______________

Signature of Head Coach                                      Date

 

 

Please use this link to electronically acknowledge receipt of this code and to signify your agreement to abide by the code:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22GMHGE6KQW