As a responsible athlete you will:

  • Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every athlete, coach, technical official and others involved in athletics and treat everyone equally.
  • Uphold the same values of sportsmanship off the field as you do when engaged in athletics
  • Cooperate fully with others involved in the sport such as coaches, technical officials, team managers, doctors, physiotherapists, sport scientists and representatives of the governing body in the best interests of the yourself and other athletes
  • Consistently promote positive aspects of the sport such as fair play and never condone rule violations or the use of prohibited or age-inappropriate substances
  • Anticipate and be responsible for your own needs including being organised, having the appropriate equipment and being on time
  • Inform your coach of any other coaching that you are seeking or receiving
  • Always thank the coaches and officials who enable you to participate in athletics

As a responsible Athlete, when participating in or attending any athletics activities, including training/coaching sessions and competition events you will:

  • Act with dignity and display courtesy and good manners towards others
  • Avoid swearing and abusive language and irresponsible behaviour including behaviour that is dangerous to yourself or others, acts of violence, bullying, harassment and physical and sexual abuse
  • Challenge inappropriate behaviour and language by others
  • Never engage in any inappropriate or illegal behaviour
  • Avoid destructive behaviour and leave athletics venues as you find them
  • Not carry or consume alcohol to excess and/or illegal substances.
  • Avoid carrying any items that could be dangerous to yourself or others excluding athletics equipment used in the course of your athletics activity

In addition, athletes, especially young athletes and vulnerable adults, should follow these guidelines on safe participation in athletics

  • Notify a responsible adult if you have to go somewhere (why, where and when you will
  • return)
  • Do not respond if someone seeks private information unrelated to athletics such as personal information, home life information
  • Strictly maintain boundaries between friendship and intimacy with a coach or technical official
  • Never accept lifts in cars or invitations into homes on your own without the prior knowledge and consent of your parent/carer
  • Use safe transport or travel arrangements
  • Report any accidental injury, distress, misunderstanding or misinterpretation to your
  • parents/carers and club Welfare officer as soon as possible.
  • Report any suspected misconduct by coaches or other people involved in athletics to the club welfare officer as soon as possible

Track Etiquette

On the Track:

  • Look out for others on the track. Don’t get in the way of lanes being used for hurdles or relay practice.

  • Look both ways before moving across lanes.

  • If someone shouts ‘TRACK’ either move to the right, or move to the infield and let them pass you.

  • Don’t stop suddenly on the track.

  • Should an athlete running an effort/timed run find their way blocked by someone jogging/walking/standing on the inside lanes, they should shout ‘TRACK’ to get the offender to move out of the way immediately

  • Athletes should not shout ‘TRACK’ to other athletes doing an effort/timed run even if they are slower. The faster athlete should overtake safely before moving back into the inside lane.

  • Lanes 1 and 2 should not be used for warm-up or cool-down running, leave these lanes free for athletes running efforts and timed runs.

  • Athletes should run in an anti-clockwise direction at all times.

Jumps Sessions:

  • Make sure you know what you are doing before you jump.

  • Wait for the coach to tell you to jump.

  • Make sure the runway and landing area is clear.

 

Throws Sessions: 

  • Make sure you know what you are doing before you throw.

  • Wait for the Coach to tell you to throw.

  • Make sure the area is clear before you throw.

  • Always walk, DO NOT RUN, to pick up equipment.

  • NEVER venture into a throwing area or retrieve throwing implements without the express consent of your coach.