Codes of conduct, or codes of behavior are generally found in every organization. These codes provide the necessary employee or participant behaviorial expectations. Analysis of these codes provides students an awareness of existing codes, a practice in analyzing various codes, and constructing criticism of an organization’s code of conduct.
Instructions
Select two sport organizations and analyze their codes of conduct. Provide a full 3-page typed summary of the main sections of both employee or participant codes.
Include 1) items of emphasis; 2) areas that appear to be unclear; 3) compare and contrasts the two codes; 4) recommendations for improvements according to your analysis;and 5) what you have learned from analyzing the organizational codes of conduct.
Include a reference list citing the selected codes, and any other sources used. Use APA referencing style guide. Cite your sources within text and on the full reference list.
Course material information could help
Codes of Ethics/Conduct: Examples
Purpose of Codes
· Sets expectations that guide appropriate employee or participant behavior or conduct
· Helps an organization in decision-making
· Helps protect organization from liability (negligence)
· Maintain professionalism (Conn & Geddes, 1998)
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
· “The world's leading authority on strength and conditioning. We provide reliable, research-based, strength and conditioning information to our members and the general public.”
NSCA
· Strength and conditioning professionals should not practice nor condone discrimination.
· Strength and conditioning professionals should not condone, engage in, or defend illegal behavior or unsportsmanlike conduct or practices.
· Strength and conditioning professionals should refrain from using techniques and practices in which repeated acts of negligence would result in injury to an individual.
· Strength and conditioning professionals should use care to be truthful and not misleading when stating their education, training, experience, and involvement of NSCA and shall not misrepresent or misuse their affiliation with the NSCA for unwarranted favors-monetary or otherwise.
2) National Association of Sports Officials (NASO)
· The National Association of Sports Officials believes the duty of sports officials is to act as impartial judges of sport competitions. We believe this duty carries with it an obligation to perform with accuracy, fairness and objectivity through an overriding sense of integrity.
Criteria for Code of Ethics
· First, to provide our members a meaningful set of guidelines for their professional conduct and to provide them with agreed-upon standards of practice;
· Second, to provide to other sports officials these same guidelines and standards of practice for their consideration;
· Third, to provide to others (i.e. players, coaches, administrators, fans, media) criteria by which to judge our actions as "professionals."
3) National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
· COACH'S RESPONSIBILITY TO THE INSTITUTION: The coach should work with the admissions office of the institution and should be permitted to recommend qualified athletes for admission, but should in no way permit the records or transcripts of prospective student-athletes to pass through his/her office, nor ever attempt to bring pressure upon the admissions officer or committee to admit an applicant merely because he/she possesses exceptional athletic ability.
· OFFICIALS: Game officials should be selected with care to assure that they are competent and experienced. Once selected, they should have the full support of administration, coaches and athletes in fulfilling their job. Under no conditions should coaches, players or spectators be permitted to make critical remarks to or about an official during a contest. Booing and other discourteous conduct at athletic contests should be strongly discouraged.
· PUBLIC RELATIONS: Maintaining a positive relationship with the media and the general public is essential. Every individual representing an NAIA institution has a definite responsibility to furnish accurate and reliable news of public concern to members of the media at all times. Through a positive relationship with the media and general public, the institution is able to inform the public of its aims and further its relationship with the surrounding community
· SCOUTING: Scouting of competitors should be confined to regularly scheduled games. Intruding upon practice sessions is to be strictly prohibited. The trading of game films in lieu of personal scouting is encouraged whenever practicable, provided complete, high-quality films are furnished at a mutually agreeable time in advance of the given contest.
· STUDENT RECRUITING: All student recruiting for athletic purposes shall be in harmony with recommended and acceptable practices of the institution and shall 89kbbe controlled by the regularly constituted institutional committee on student loans and scholarships. Where conferences exist, all conference rules regarding recruiting must be observed without favor.
5) National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
· …has been written to make the membership aware of the principles of ethical behavior that should be followed in the practice of athletic training.
· The primary goal of the Code is the assurance of high quality health care. The Code presents aspirational standards of behavior that all members should strive to achieve.
· Members shall respect the rights, welfare and dignity of all individuals.
· Members shall comply with the laws and regulations governing the practice of athletic training.
· Members shall accept responsibility for the exercise of sound judgment.
· Members shall maintain and promote high standards in the provision of services.
· Members shall not engage in any form of conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest or that adversely reflects on the profession.
National Association of Collegiate Athletics (NCAA)
· For ICA to promote the character development of participants, to enhance the integrity of higher education and to promote civility in society, student-athletes, coaches, and all others associated with these athletics programs and events should adhere to such fundamental values as
· Respect, fairness, civility, honesty, and responsibility. These values should be manifest not only in athletics participation but also the broad spectrum of activities affecting the athletics program. It is the responsibility of each institution to:
· a) Establish policies for sportsmanship and ethical conduct in ICA consistent with the educational mission and goals of the institution
· b) Educate, on a continuing basis, all constituencies about the policies in 2.4.a (above policy).
National Federation of High Schools (NFHS)
International Olympic Committee
· In 1999, the International Olympic Committee's (IOC's) Executive Board created an independent Ethics Commission comprising eight members. The Ethics Commission votes on its budget and adopts its decisions in the form of proposals to the IOC Executive Board.
· 1) It draws up and constantly updates a framework of ethical principles, including especially a Code of Ethics based on the values and principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter. These principles must be respected by the IOC and its members, by the cities wishing to host the Olympic Games, by the Organizing Committees of the Olympic Games (OCOGs), by the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) as well as by the "participants" in the Olympic Games;
· 2) It plays a monitoring role; as such, it ensures that ethical principles are respected; it conducts investigations into breaches of ethics submitted to it, and, when needed, makes recommendations to the Executive Board;
· 3) It has a mission of prevention and advising the Olympic parties on the application of the ethical principles and rules.
· It must be pointed out that the Ethics Commission takes only conclusions and recommendations, which it submits to the IOC Executive Board. This report is delivered to the IOC Executive Board, through the IOC President, and remains confidential until the IOC Executive Board has reached a decision.
“Punishing Personal Fouls”
· Many violations are have clear cut consequences (e.g. facemask penalty=15 yds.; 5 fouls and a player is disqualified; and a cross-check results in time in the penalty box)
Purposes of Codes of Ethics
(Conn & Gerdes, 1998)
· Sets expectations that guide appropriate employee or participant behavior
· Assists organizations in decision-making
· Helps protect organization from liability (employee negligence)
· Maintain professionalism
Variable Consequences
· Assault
· Theft
· DUI
· Academic dishonesty
Life in a Fishbowl
· College administrators and coaches face public scrutiny when a player violates campus policy or public law.
Under what circumstances should college athletes lose their eligibility to play?
Increasing on college/university campuses for student-athletes
Set expectations for both behavior and punishments for specific infractions
Tends to give athletics directors rather than coaches the final say
NCAA has established rules for:
· Recruiting
· Training
· Employment
· Scheduling
· Academics
The NCAA leaves player conduct issues to the discretion of individual universities
· Most conferences have established sportsmanship codes, but those typically espouse vague ideals, functioning more like mission statements and less like sets of rules of behavior.
· Some athletics officials deem the codes are too rigid
· Proponents say many athletes welcome clear guidelines that apply consistently to all teams
· Coaches, players, administrators, and fans know what to expect if a player, in any sport is caught violating the law or any campus policy.
· Less room for argument about the fairness of punishments
· Can deter lawsuits by players who feel wrongly punished
· Develops consistency within the athletics department
· May bring a new image (e.g. integrity/fairness) to the institution
· In 2003, coaches no longer make disciplinary decisions
· A player is immediately suspended from play (practice & game) who is arrested for or charged with a felony or any violation of law involving drugs, gambling, or violence
· Former Associate AD Steve Malchow said, “We wanted to take any disciplinary action away from the coach…if it ended up being the star player and we had a key game coming up, that kind of clouds your judgment.”
· The initial suspension stands until the ad hoc (special) committee investigates and sets a penalty
· Fall 2004, Iowa introduced a conduct code for athletes
· Student accused star player of sexual assault- police later charged him in 3rd degree
· AD imposed a suspension
· Player, lawyer, and some athletic dept staff members protested AD’s decision
· Former Head Coach, Steve Alford publicly stated his belief that player was innocent
· Player re-joined team following season after pleading guilty to a lesser charge
· Subsequent criminal investigation prompted athletics dept to permanently remove player