Play by the rules

This month we are profiling the "Got an Issue" Section, of the Play by the rules website. The following information is drawn from the Play by the rules site.

Being involved in a sporting club is never uneventful and conflict is inevitable in the competitive environment of sport. From time to time issues arise, for example - over decisions about membership and selection and about the behaviour of members and personnel.

Many of these problems can be ‘nipped in the bud’ if they are responded to when they first arise. However it is known that the longer an issue is left unattended the harder it is to resolve and the more likely it will develop into a formal complaint.

Issues need to be addressed and everyone – administrators, coaches, officials, players and parents – has a role to play in doing so. Ideally, the response will help create an inclusive, safe, fair and respectful environment, particularly for children.

This section provides information on commonly occurring issues in sport including what the law says about the matter, and provides practical ideas by your role (e.g., coach) about ‘what to do now’ and ‘what to do next’. To highlight the type of information available through the links, the Sexual Harassment link below has been expanded to display some of the information clicking on the link will reveal.

Select your issue, and click on the link below for advice:

Age Restrictions in sport
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/team-selection/age-restrictions

Angry parents
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/abuse/angry-parents

Bullying
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/abuse/bullying

Cultural differences
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/inclusive-sport/cultural-differences

Girls playing in boys teams
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/team-selection/girls-playing-in-boys-teams

Homophobia and sexuality discrimination
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/unfair-treatment/homophobia

Intimate relationships
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/appropriate-boundaries/intimate-relationships

Infectious diseases
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/unfair-treatment/infectious-diseases

Physical contact with children
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/appropriate-boundaries/physical-contact-with-children

Pregnancy and participation
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/unfair-treatment/pregnancy-and-participation

Religious inclusion
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/inclusive-sport/religious-inclusion

Sex discrimination
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/unfair-treatment/restricted-access-

Team selection - juniors
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/team-selection/juniors

Team selection - adults
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/team-selection/adults

Racial discrimination and vilification
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/harassment/racial-harassment

Sexual harassment
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/harassment/sexual-harassment

Sexual Harassment is unwelcome or unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that makes someone else feel intimidated, offended or humiliated, and it is reasonable in the circumstanaces to feel that way.

Sexual harassment can occur between:

Men and Women
Men and Men
Women and Women

Sexual harassement can be a big problem in sport. Many sports involve close sometimes intimate contact with coaches, officals and or fellow players, so the potential for sexual harassment can be high.

If you revieve a report of sexual harassment, as a Coach or official it is imperative that you take the complaint seriously and forward it to an appropriately trained Member Protection Informtion Officer within your State.

Coaches Responsibilities

As a coach you are responsible for ensuring the well being of the team. This includes role modelling appropriate behaviours, supporting participants, identifying inappropriate behaviours and referring to existing systems to deal with issues that may arise. You should seek advice from your club President or your sports Member Protection Information Officer if you are aware of any sexual harassment occurring within the sport.

If you observe sexual harassment occuring within your team (eg inappropriate jokes or touching)

Don't ignore the behaviour. Talk to the player and check whether the behaviour you've observed concerns them.
Ask them if they find the behaviour unsettling, and what they want done. Give the person the contact details of your club administrator or your sports Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) so they can consider their options.
Offer to provide support if the person feels confident raising the issue directly with the individual responsible. Most people just want the behaviour to stop.
Talk to the individual responsible for the harassment about your sport's Member Protection Policy, Code of Behaviour and implications for breaches of these policies.
Provide a warning, keep notes and monitor the situation. Inform the club administrator of your actions.
Make sure there is no victimisation or ostracising behaviour toward either the person who has been harassed or the harasser.
Remind all team members about your sports Member Protection Policy and Code of Behaviour.
Monitor the situation. If someone complains about sexual harassment by a team member
Take the complaint seriously. Understand that it is very difficult for a person to come forward with a complaint about sexual harassment.
Provide the person with the contact details of your club administrator or Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) so that they can be informed about their options.
Ask the person what sort of support they would like from you. In many cases they may just want to discuss their concerns.
Make sure both the person complaining and the person being complained about are protected from victimisation.
If they want you to talk to the person they are complaining about be fair and open-minded; listen to their side of the story; explore ways of resolving the matter.
If you can't reach a satisfactory outcome (e.g., the person refuses to admit that their actions could be seen as harassment), refer the matter to your club committee for more formal action.
Make sure both the person complaining and the person being complained about are protected from victimisation.

If you are alleged to be sexually harassing another person

Reflect on your behaviour. Can you identify anything you have said or done that would cause someone to assume you were sexually harassing them? Might you have inadvertently created the wrong impression? If so, take the first opportunity to apologise.

If you can't identify any inappropriate behaviours:

expect to be treated fairly and given support
tell your side of the story
cooperate with any inquiry
do not harass or threaten the person who has made the complaint
recognise that you may be moved to other duties where you will not be in contact with the complainant.

If you require additional information please contact your State Member Protection Information Officer or contact Kelly Warren at the TBA National office via kelly@tenpin.org.au

Verbally abusive coach
http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/abuse/verbally-abusive-coach

If you have any issue about which you require further information contact Tenpin Bowling Australia Limited via kelly@tenpin.org.au or phone:
07 32624455.

Or if you would like to access further information from the play by the rules site, please click on the link below:

www.playbytherules.net.au