CHISZ CHARTER FOR SPORT

CHISZ Heads wish to declare the following CHARTER FOR SPORT.

Sport, and the competitive nature of it, plays a huge and important role and part in our schools. It provides numerous educational opportunities (regarding values and skills) while it also presents many professional opportunities (at all levels) for our pupils. As we are committed to teaching and embracing fairness, justice and development in all areas of society and of our school community, so we are committed to the same in the world of school sport. We are equally committed to a balance between academic, sporting and cultural activities.

Sport will be played at school to develop the potential and fitness of each child, to promote friendships with pupils from all walks of life, to bring enjoyment, to provide career opportunities, to prepare pupils for the competitive world, to teach valuable lessons on values. School sport is about all pupils doing their best, not simply about being the best.

School Sport is an integral part of school life, so all sporting events (practices, matches) must be seen as a school activity (not as entertainment for the public) – an area through which pupils learn. Pupils must be enabled to learn Skills, Values and Significance. They need to learn to accept decisions, defeats and disappointments.

The fundamental principles that we wish to uphold at all sporting events are Respect (for the rights, dignity and worth of other players, officials, coaches, and spectators), Integrity (not cheating or winning at all costs), Honesty, Dignity (in victory and defeat) and Safety.

Healthy competition is useful and necessary. It enables players to improve their own performance, to measure their progress, to develop determination, to stimulate innovation, creativity, leadership and entrepreneurial skills. However it must not lead to arrogance. Team sports also teach valuable lessons on co-operation and teamwork.

Unhealthy competitiveness can be defined as allowing anything that undermines the dignity of any other player, official, spectator or school or that undermines the values of the school or sport. This would include cheating (over-age; umpiring/refereeing decisions; drugs); taunting or mocking of opposition (by players or crowd); over-celebrating; over-coaching (during matches and through extra practices); ‘War cries’ which are provocative, inciting, humiliating; questioning decisions of the referee/umpire; poaching of players.

In that regard therefore, Heads and Staff, Players and Coaches, Parents and Spectators commit themselves to do the following:

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of other players, officials, coaches, and spectators.
• Enjoy the game but remember, the game is for the child, not for others.
• Enjoy the game by respecting the allocated coach. If you are a qualified coach, feel free to offer your services – if not, please encourage. The coach selects the team, without interference.
• Enjoy the game by respecting the officials running the matches. If you are a qualified referee/umpire, feel free to offer your services – if not, please encourage or become qualified.
• Enjoy the game but not at the expense of others – please sit (or stand) in one place. Others have come to enjoy the game, not to see or hear you.
• Swearing or abusive language is unacceptable
• Betting on school matches is unacceptable
• Conduct yourself in a manner that takes all reasonable measures to protect your own safety and the safety of others.
• Accept success and failure, victory and defeat, with equal dignity, humility and grace. It is only a game.
• Promote the reputation of the sport and take all possible steps to prevent it from being brought into disrepute.

SUPPORT

WHY DO WE SUPPORT TEAMS?

• To encourage the team to play harder, to the end
• To give the team confidence
• To equip the team to play better
• To recognise and appreciate good play and attitude

DOs

• Watch the whole match
• Follow the play
• Praise and applaud good play
• Respect opposition
• Respect officials
• Sing (appropriate/relevant)
• Applaud when an injured player recovers
• Applaud effort as well as skill
• Support the team more than individuals

The support should be spontaneous and natural. The songs should be to motivate and encourage the players. To be a supporter one does not HAVE to sing or shout. Some people can enjoy the match and support without having to shout/sing/scream.

DON’Ts

• Over-celebrate when win/score
• Over-react when lose/let in goal
• Mock opposition or own team
• Taunt or laugh at opposition or own team
• ‘Boo’ opposition play
• Make noise when penalties are being taken
• Question umpire/referee
• Shout at umpire/referee
• Move along the touchline
• Stand in the way of others who are seated
• Sing irrelevant songs

Spectators should never go onto the field of play, before, during (including half-time) or after a match and certainly not when a goal/try etc. is scored.