Coach’s Mandate:

• To consistently display high personal standards

• To exhibit the essential character traits of honesty, integrity and fairness, in practice and competition, to bring credit to the sport of volleyball and the Rapids organization

• To be a positive role model and encourage sportsmanship by demonstrating respect and courtesy for all athletes, coaches and officials in victory and defeat

• to understand that coaching is a continuous conversation that empowers athletes to take measurable steps towards a clear goal

A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.  John Wooden

Best Coaching Practices

• develop an appropriate working relationship with each player based on mutual trust and respect

• communicate clearly with players exactly what is expected of them in practice, during a game and as a teammate

• Direct comments or feedback on the performance rather than the

• Encourage and guide players to accept responsibility for their behaviour and performance

• recognize that challenge, competition, and fun are all key elements of a team culture and that from enjoyment comes the will to

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.  John Wooden

Modelling Team Values

A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of themselves and their contribution to praise the skills of others.  Norman Shidle

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of each athlete – treat every athlete fairly.

• Attend all practices – it’s your priority

• Arrive on time – be dependable

• Be prepared – preparation leads to confidence, and confidence precedes success

• Create an environment where failure is seen as an essential part of the learning process,

• continually define and communicate success for your group of

I know I am getting better at golf because I’m hitting fewer spectators. Gerald R Ford

Coaching Integrity

• Do not engage in actions that unfairly disadvantage one athlete over

• Be aware of and take measures to educate and mediate any personal harassment (bullying) that is (see appendix)

• Maintain an inclusive environment in which all individuals are treated with respect regardless of body type, athletic ability, gender, ethnic or racial origin, sexual orientation, religious belief, or economic status

• Under no circumstances provide or promote the use of drugs, performance-enhancing substances, alcoholic beverages/or tobacco

• To abstain from the use of alcohol or tobacco products before or during practice and competition

• Take reasonable steps to manage the responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages in parent/team social situations.

• Refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language in the conduct of your

• Dress professionally, neatly and inoffensively.

• Place the well-being and safety of each player above all other considerations.

• Consider the athlete’s future health and well-being as foremost when making decisions regarding an injured athlete’s ability to continue training or

• Refrain from any behaviour that constitutes harassment (see appendix)

• At no time become intimately and/ or sexually involved with your athletes or fellow (see appendix)

The supreme quality in leadership is unquestionably integrity; without it, no success is possible. Dwight D Eisenhower

Supporting Each Other

• To support all Rapids teams by refraining from public criticism of fellow coaches

• To show support by cheering for the Rapids teams during the tournament competition

• To foster a healthy spirit of competition between the Rapids teams while maintaining respect for each team’s level of experience

• To show respect by refraining from ‘coaching’ athletes from other teams unless asked by the coach who is responsible for that team, and

• At all times, extending respect and courtesy to the caretaking staff at the facilities where we practice and compete

Teamwork: A few harmless flakes working together can unleash an avalanche of destruction. Justin Sewell

If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.   Henry Ford

To me, teamwork is the beauty of our sport, where five individuals act as one. You become selfless. Mike Krzyzewski

 None of us is as smart as all of us.  Ken Blanchard

 Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.   Michael Jordan

Appendix

Types of behaviour that constitute harassment include, but are not limited to:

• Written or verbal abuse, threats or outbursts

• The display of visual material which is offensive or which one ought to know is offensive in the circumstances

• Unwelcome remarks, jokes, comments, innuendos or taunts

• Leering or other suggestive or obscene gestures

• Condescending or patronizing behaviour which is intended to undermine self-esteem, diminish performance or adversely affect working conditions

• Practical jokes which cause awkwardness or embarrassment, endanger a person’s safety, or negatively affect performance

• Any form of hazing where hazing is defined as “Any potentially humiliating, degrading, abusive, or dangerous activity expected of a teammate, which does not contribute to the athlete’s positive development

• practical jokes which cause awkwardness or embarrassment, endanger a person’s safety, or negatively affect performance

Types of behaviour that constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:

• Unwanted physical contact, including, but not limited to, touching, petting, pinching, or kissing

• Unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, requests, or invitations

• Physical or sexual assault

• Behaviours such as those described above that are not directed towards a specific individual or group but have the same effect of creating a negative or hostile environment.

• Types of behaviour that constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to: Sexist jokes, display of sexually offensive material, and sexually degrading words used to describe a person.

Types of Behaviour that constitute personal harassment, but are not limited to:

• Personal harassment is defined as improper conduct (comment, conduct, or gestures), which is directed toward an individual, and which is offensive or harmful to that individual, and which the person making the comment, conduct, or gestures knows or ought to know is unwelcome or

• This conduct includes verbal, psychological and physical forms of behaviour that are demeaning, belittling, or cause personal humiliation or embarrassment, and may be on a one-time or continuous basis.

• Spreading nasty rumours about people, keeping certain people out of a group, forming an exclusive group, teasing people in a mean way, getting certain people to “gang up” on others

• Cyber Bullying – using the internet or text messaging to intimidate, put down, spread rumours, or make fun of someone.