The Code of Conduct in Bowls
Bearsted and Thurnham Bowls club fosters a welcoming, supportive and inclusive community where everyone feels valued, safe and respected. We are committed to ensuring our safeguarding practice reflects our moral and statutory responsibility in compliance with Bowls England safeguarding standards which apply to everyone in the sport including club officials, coaches, volunteers, players and spectators. This policy can be found at www.bowlsengland.com/safeguarding-policies
Respect all participants and decisions
Encourage everyone
Sportsmanship
Play for enjoyment
Educate and be knowledgeable
Conduct yourself courteously
Treat everyone fairly
Key Principles of Respectful Behaviour
|
Do |
Don’t |
| Respect all players, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators. | Show dissent towards officials and their decisions. They can however be asked to explain their actions. |
| Abide by the rules/regulations and policies of the sport and any additional competition rules. | Undertake any actions that would disrupt a player preparing to bowl or is contrary to the rules of the game. |
| Demonstrate through your actions and behaviour that you are participating in the right spirit of the sport. | Use foul, abusive, threatening or discriminatory language or gestures. Publicly engage in demeaning descriptions of others, including online. |
| Be aware that banter is only amusing and friendly if there is an equal share of the teasing with no harmful intent. Banter where only one side participates is bullying. | Use upsetting, belittling or offending language, which would make anyone hearing it uncomfortable, whether intended or not. |
| Be gracious and acknowledge competent shots from all players, including the opposing side. | Display behaviour/actions that can be considered undue favouritism towards an individual or team. Celebrate a ‘lucky’ or poor shot which benefits your side. |
| Take reasonable measures to keep yourself and others safe. | Participate under the influence of illegal drugs or excessive alcohol |
| Speak to someone and /or the safeguarding officer if you are concerned that any of thiscode is being broken. | Be a bystander and turn a ‘blind eye’ to your concerns about abuse or poor practice. |