SPORTSMANSHIP 

APAC places a high priority upon the development of excellent sportsmanship and respectful conduct  among those involved with its events. Because of that emphasis, APAC has developed the following  statement to be used at all competitive events.  

I. APAC Statement of Sportsmanship 

The purpose of the Asia Pacific Activities Conference is to provide a venue for athletes from the  member schools to compete in an environment that is safe, challenging, professional and  educational. Each athlete is given the opportunity to demonstrate her/his best athletic ability  while maintaining a spirit of respect and co-operation with fellow athletes from various  international backgrounds. 

Each event involves students and adults in their roles as athletes, coaches, sports officials and  spectators. All those involved in the event are expected to uphold the same spirit of respect and  co-operation. This spirit is demonstrated by fair play among athletes, positive encouragement  from coaches, impartial judgments from officials and respectful enthusiasm from spectators. The  behavior of the adults is crucial to the successful educational aspect of the tournament. 

The adults act as models for our athletes. Therefore profanity, deliberately making noises that  distract and interfere with the performance of a competing athlete, the condemnation of coaches  or officials, or any behavior that is disrespectful or degrading to the APAC standard of  sportsmanship, jeopardizes the purposes of the APAC organization and, most of all, jeopardizes  the quality of the experience for the athletes. 

As the event ensues, we ask that all of our parents, coaches, officials and athletes keep this  vision of our purpose in mind. 

It is recommended that this statement, or a version of it, be read at the opening ceremony of all  APAC events. It may be re-read when needed. It should be read in the presence of the athletes,  coaches, officials and especially, spectators. Our hope is that in calling to mind the purpose and  spirit of APAC, that this statement will affect a dignified atmosphere and appropriate behavior - especially on the part of the adults to whom our children look for guidance and models of  behavior.

APAC CODE 

The APAC program has established a code of conduct for students participating in APAC activities.  The purpose of this code of conduct is to encourage students to refrain from committing acts that  would threaten the integrity of the organization, or their own well-being. (APRIL 2015) Activities that are hazardous to the health and safety of a student and those around him or her cannot be condoned.  Policies have been developed to help students make responsible and appropriate choices. The  following are some of the general policies. 

I. Rules Infraction 

When a student commits a serious infraction while at an APAC activity, related to alcohol, tobacco,  vaping, recreational drug usage, cheating, deceit, flagrant curfew violations, theft, destruction of  property and violations of the “off limits” areas (as well as aiding and abetting any of the above), the  following consequences will take effect: (APRIL 2015) 

A. The student may no longer participate in that APAC activity. 

B. The student will be sent home at the parents’ expense if it is feasible to do so. 

C. The student’s school will apply appropriate disciplinary action, separate and apart  from APAC sanctions. (APRIL 2015) 

D. In the event of an infraction, school sanctions in response will include a travel  restriction. The restriction applied need not necessarily apply to an APAC  event(s). (APRIL 2019) 

E. APAC would expect sanctions to include a travel restriction to be enforced. (APRIL 2019) 

F. If at any time a student is suspended from further competition or involvement in an  event, then the only results affected will be those happening after a decision is made  on the infraction. Results prior to that decision will stand. 

Note: 

With reference to alcohol, tobacco, vaping, and drugs, this section includes use or  possession or supplying or selling. 

Should several players from a team be affected, then all games must be continued with  as per the schedule, provided there are sufficient players to legally continue play. 

Should a homestay family not wish to continue providing housing, then the host school  Activities Director together with the visiting school Activities Director or   Administrator of the student concerned will help facilitate a housing alternative. 

Ensure communication with homestay families/coach/and event director/and students  takes place vis-à-vis meal and transportation plans and needs. 

II. Student Behavior 

A. Curfew Times: 

1. 10:00pm: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night. 

2. Saturday night curfew to be set by the host school at the closing ceremonies. The  recommended target time is 10:00pm. 

Note: if the final APAC activity ends after or less than one hour before the   established curfew time on any night, the curfew will then be one hour after   the end of that activity. 

B. Telephone Curfew Calls: 

Telephone checks for all participants, including host school participants, must be made by  each school on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights of the APAC  tournament/festival to enforce the curfew. Students and host families should be aware that  second curfew calls might be made on any night of the event. Coaches must speak to each  individual student. 

C. There are to be no hazing/initiating activities at any APAC event. (OCTOBER 2019) Hazing is any humiliating or dangerous activity expected of a student to belong to a group,  regardless of their willingness to participate. 

D. All participants at an APAC event should dress appropriate and respectfully for the  community and the event. (APRIL 2019) 

E. Enforcement: 

All APAC coaches, directors, and chaperons, including those of the host school, will  enforce the rules and regulations. 

(APRIL 2015) 

If there is a suspected rules infraction, it should be reported immediately to the Host  Tournament/Festival Director who will, in turn, notify the Administrator of the school  concerned as soon as is practically possible. 

The Tournament/Festival Director, will confer, investigate, and make a decision on  whether the infraction actually occurred and will impose specific penalties as listed in the  APAC Handbook. The Tournament/Festival Director may delegate this responsibility to  the Administrator-In-Charge. All action and decisions shall be communicated immediately  to the Trip Administrator/Activities Director of the school involved. (APRIL 2015) 

NOTE: If the coaches are found condoning the violation of the rules by team members or  their improper behavior, they are to be reported to their respective Activities Director or School Head. 

F. Final Activity: 

All participating students, coaches and chaperons are required to attend all opening  assemblies and to attend and remain until the end of the final activity on Saturday night. 

G. Agreement: 

These rules must be presented to all teams before travelling. Each student plus at least one  parent (or legal guardian) must sign a copy of these rules to signify that they have been  read, understood and agreed to. 

III. Coaches Behavior 

All coaches are expected to behave in an educationally appropriate manner. Any blatant  violation of this code may result in a formal disciplinary report to the School Head of the coach  in violation.

CODES OF BEHAVIOR 

The codes of behavior listed in this section are to be communicated to all APAC constituents. The  Players, Parents and Spectators Codes are expected to be in plain sight at all APAC competitive  events. These codes were reproduced with permission from the Australian Sports Commission.  

I. Players Code of Conduct 

➢ Play by the rules. 

➢ Never argue with an official. If you disagree, have your captain or coach approach the  official during a break or after the competition. 

➢ Control your temper. Verbally abusing officials, belittling other players, and deliberately  distracting or provoking an opponent are not acceptable or permitted behaviors in any  sport. 

➢ Work equally hard for yourself and/or your team. Your team’s performance will benefit  and so will you. 

➢ Be a good sport. Applaud all good plays whether they are made by your team or the  opposition. 

➢ Treat all participants in your sport as you like to be treated. Do not bully or take unfair  advantage of another competitor. 

➢ Cooperate with your coach, teammates and opponents. Without them, there would be no  competition. 

➢ Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit, not just to please your parents and  coaches. 

➢ Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their gender, ability,  cultural background or religion. 

II. Parents Code of Conduct 

➢ Remember that children participate in sport for their enjoyment, not yours. ➢ Encourage children to participate, do not force them. 

➢ Focus on your child’s efforts and performance rather than whether they win or lose. 

➢ Encourage children to play according to the rules and to settle disagreements without  resorting to hostility or violence. 

➢ Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a competition. 

➢ Remember that children learn best by example. Appreciate good performance and skillful  plays by all participants. 

➢ Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from sporting activities. 

➢ Respect officials’ decisions and teach children to do likewise. 

➢ Show appreciation for volunteer coaches, officials and administrators. Without them, your  child could not participate. 

➢ Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender,  ability, cultural background or religion.

III. Coaches Code of Conduct 

➢ Remember that young people participate for pleasure, and winning is only part of the fun. 

➢ Never ridicule or yell at a young player for making a mistake or not coming first. 

➢ Be reasonable in your demands on players’ time, energy and enthusiasm. 

➢ Operate within the rules and spirit of your sport and teach your players to do the same. 

➢ Ensure that the time players spend with you is a positive experience. All young people are  deserving of equal attention and opportunities. 

➢ Avoid overplaying the talented players; the ‘just average’ need and deserve equal time. 

➢ Ensure that equipment and facilities meet safety standards and are appropriate to the age  and ability of all players. 

➢ Display control, respect and professionalism to all involved with the sport. This includes  opponents, coaches, officials, administrators, the media, parents and spectators. Encourage  players to do the same. 

➢ Show concern and caution towards sick and injured players. Follow the advice of a  physician when determining whether an injured player is ready to recommence training or  competition. 

➢ Obtain appropriate qualifications and keep up to date with the latest coaching practices  and the principles of growth and development of young people. 

➢ Any physical contact with a young person should be appropriate to the situation and  necessary for the player’s skill development. 

➢ Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender,  ability, cultural background or religion. 

IV. Spectators Code of Conduct 

➢ Remember that young people participate in sport for their enjoyment and benefit, not  yours. 

➢ Applaud good performances and efforts from all individuals and teams. Congratulate all  participants on their performance, regardless of the game’s outcome. 

➢ Respect the decisions of officials and teach young people to do the same. 

➢ Never ridicule or scold a young player for making a mistake. Positive comments are  motivational. 

➢ Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by spectators, coaches, officials or  players. 

➢ Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them, there would be no game. 

➢ Encourage players to follow the rules and the officials’ decisions. 

➢ Do not use foul language, belittle or harass players, coaches or officials. 

➢ Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender,  ability, cultural background or religion.

V. Officials Code of Conduct 

➢ Compliment and encourage all participants. 

➢ Be consistent, objective and courteous when making decisions. 

➢ Condemn unsporting behavior and promote respect for all opponents. ➢ Emphasize the spirit of the game rather than the errors. 

➢ Be a good sport yourself. Actions speak louder than words. 

➢ Keep up to date with the latest trends in officiating and the principles of growth and  development of young people. 

➢ Remember, you set an example. Your behavior and comments should be positive and  supportive. 

➢ Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else. 

➢ Give all young people a ‘fair go’ regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or  religion. 

VI. Administrators Code of Conduct 

➢ Involve young people in planning, leadership, evaluation and decision-making related to  the activity. 

➢ Give all young people equal opportunities to participate. 

➢ Create pathways for young people to participate in sport, not just as a player but also as a  coach, referee, administrator, etc. 

➢ Ensure that rules, equipment, length of games and training schedules are modified to suit  the age, ability and maturity level of young players. 

➢ Provide quality supervision and instruction for junior players. 

➢ Remember that young people participate for their enjoyment and benefit. Do not over  emphasize awards. 

➢ Help coaches and officials highlight appropriate behavior and skill development and improve the standards of coaching and officiating. 

➢ Ensure that everyone involved in junior sport emphasizes fair play, rather than winning at  all costs. 

➢ Give a code of behavior sheet to spectators, officials, parents, coaches, players and the  media, and encourage them to follow it. 

➢ Remember, you set an example. Your behavior and comments should be positive and  supportive. 

➢ Make it clear that abusing young people in any way is unacceptable and will result in  disciplinary action. 

➢ Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender,  ability, cultural background or religion. 

➢ Modify rules and regulations to match the skill levels and needs of young people. 

➢ Compliment and encourage all participants. 

➢ Be consistent, objective and courteous when making decisions. 

➢ Condemn unsporting behavior and promote respect for all opponents. ➢ Emphasize the spirit of the game rather than the errors. 

➢ Encourage and promote rule changes that will make participation more enjoyable. 

➢ Be a good sport yourself. Actions speak louder than words. 

➢ Keep up to date with the latest trends in officiating and the principles of growth and  development of young people. 

➢ Remember, you set an example. Your behavior and comments should be positive and  supportive. 

➢ Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else. 

➢ Give all young people a ‘fair go’ regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or  religion.