Tennis Coach Code of Conduct
- Always put your players’ best interests at the centre of everything you do.
- Treat players with respect at all times. Be honest and consistent with them.
- Treat all players fairly regardless of (but not limited to) gender, ethnicity, age, disability, place of origin, athletic potential, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political beliefs and socio-economic status.
- Encourage all players and fellow coaches to have respect for one another.
- Encourage players and other coaches to develop and maintain integrity.
- Prepare players to respond to success and failure in a dignified manner.
- Respect the confidentialities of players/parents/officials as appropriate.
- Clarify in advance with players/parents/employers the number of sessions, fees, method of payment; explain expected outcome and progression from the coaching.
- Be sensitive to your players’ self-esteem when providing constructive feedback to players.
- Encourage and facilitate players’ independence and responsibility for their own behaviour, performance, decisions and actions.
- Involve the players in decisions that will affect them.
- Recognize players’ right to consult with other coaches and advisers. Co-operate fully with other specialists (eg sport scientists, doctors, physiotherapists, etc).
- When asked to coach a player, ensure that any previous coach/player relationship has been ended by the player/others in a professional manner.
- Avoid situations with players that could be construed as compromising and actions that others could perceive inappropriate.
- Actively discourage the use of performance enhancing drugs, and any illegal substance.
- At all times act as a role model by maintaining the highest standards of personal conduct and projecting a favourable image of tennis and of coaching at all times.
- Accept and respect the role of officials in ensuring that competitions are conducted fairly and according to the rules.
- Ensure that qualifications and affiliations to associations are not misrepresented.
- Know and abide by tennis rules, regulations and standards, and encourage players to do likewise.