Participants, Officials & Spectators Behaviour

At junior touch football matches we want all of our participants to have positive experiences, so we've created the Participants, Officials and Spectators Behaviour Policy to outline what is and isn't acceptable from our participants, officials and spectators.

Adopted 00/00/0000

Our commitment

Townsville Junior Touch Football (TJT) is committed to providing a safe environment for participation. Aggressive, threatening or other inappropriate behaviour by participants, officials, their families, their friends, and other sporting personnel while attending a game or event will not be tolerated.

These behaviours are outlined in our Codes of Conduct and specifically include:

using bad language
harassing or ridiculing players, coaches, officials or other spectators
making racist, religious, sexist or other inappropriate comments to players, coaches, officials or other spectators
any threatening behaviour or physical altercation between spectators and players, coaches, officials or other spectators
putting undue pressure on children, berating them or putting down their performance
drinking at a game or training or being drunk at a club event.

What we will do

Provide members, their parents and other sporting personnel with our Codes of Conduct and make clear what is expected and the consequences of non-compliance.
Where possible, bind non-members by prominently displaying conditions of entry to grounds and facilities and by requiring parents to abide by our rules and by-laws (e.g. by making parents associate members, signing our Codes of Conduct).
Reinforce messages of fair and respectful behaviour by displaying signs and posters around our facilities and providing information on our website, in our newsletter and through other communication.
Encourage our coaches and officials to complete training to develop their skills and confidence.
Ban bringing alcohol to training, a game or no-alcohol event.
Consult with our local police and seek their support and advice on how to handle issues involving inappropriate behaviour by spectators prior to, at or after a game.
Encourage the reporting of incidents and investigate inappropriate behaviours as outlined in this policy and take disciplinary or whatever other actions as are deemed necessary (e.g. appoint a ground official to monitor behaviour).
Encourage our players, coaches, officials and spectators to call a club official and/or the police if they are concerned about escalating behaviour and their safety or the safety of others.

What we ask you to do

Help create a positive atmosphere for players, officials and other spectators by showing respect for players, officials and other spectators.
Abide by our Codes of Conduct and refrain from using bad language, harassing or ridiculing others or behaving in a threatening or violent manner.
If you are aware of inappropriate spectator behaviour and you feel confident to do so, speak with the person and ask them to stop. If there is a ground official or committee member present, ask for their assistance.
Report any inappropriate behaviour to the TJT Director or someone in a position of authority.
Call the police or a club official if you are concerned for your safety or the safety of others.

Non-compliance

Players, spectators or officials that are found to have behaved inappropriately may face disciplinary action as outlined in our Disciplinary Regulations, Member Protection Policy and Zero Tolerance Policy.

This action may include removal from the match and/or venue, behaviour monitoring, suspensions and other sanctions.