Ipswich Hockey Code of Conduct

Ipswich Hockey seeks to provide a safe, fair and inclusive environment for everyone involved in our organisation and sport. To achieve this, we require certain standards of conduct by athletes, coaches, officials, parents/guardians of child participants and spectators.   

Our codes of conduct are underpinned by the following: 
• To act within the rules and spirit of our sport;  
• To display respect and courtesy towards everyone involved in our sport and prevent discrimination and harassment; 
• To prioritise the safety and well-being of children and young people involved in our sport; 
• To encourage and support opportunities for participation in all aspects of our sport.

All participants must:.  
• Act and operate within the rules and spirit of Hockey. 
• Behave in a respectful, fair, and sporting manner at all times. 
• Treat players, officials, coaches, and spectators with respect, dignity, and fairness. 
• Be ethical, honest, and accountable in all dealings with others. 
• Maintain appropriate professional relationships with all participants. 
• Follow all rules and regulations of IHA, Hockey Australia (HA), and Hockey Queensland (HQ). 
• Accept and respect the decisions of officials without dissent, verbal abuse, or online criticism. 
• Abstain from gambling on hockey matches or engaging in match-fixing as per the policy. 
• Comply with all IHA and HA policies, including those related to social media, member protection, alcohol, drugs, and vaping. 
• Avoid conduct that could discredit the sport, IHA, HA, sponsors, or partners. 
• Refrain from the use of offensive language, obscene gestures, or any form of harassment or vilification. 
• Take appropriate action in the face of aggression or misconduct. 
• Protect the integrity of hockey by reporting any concerns to the appropriate authority. 
• Safeguard confidential information obtained through hockey activities. 
• Prioritise health and safety in all actions and decisions. 
• Not engage in any conduct prohibited under the HA National Integrity Framework (NIF), including:

• Abuse, bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, unlawful discrimination, victimisation, or vilification.
• Child abuse, grooming, misconduct with a child, or failure to comply with child protection obligations.
• Competition manipulation, betting on hockey, or improper disclosure of inside information.
• Use, possession, or trafficking of illegal drugs.
• Non-compliance with medication, injections, and supplement regulations.

Coaches, Managers, Selectors and Team Support Staff must:  
• Act as role models, displaying integrity, professionalism, and fairness. 
• Provide constructive feedback focused on player development and well-being. 
• Ensure training programs are inclusive, age-appropriate, and promote safety. 
• Maintain confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest, disclosing any potential issues to IHA. 
• Promote a team culture of respect, responsibility, and inclusivity. 
• Adhere to child protection requirements and maintain a valid Queensland Blue Card. 
• Comply with HA and IHA policies regarding social media, alcohol, drugs, and vaping. 
• Follow medical advice regarding injured players and allow safe return to competition.

Social Media Policy

Ipswich Hockey is committed to the health, safety, and general wellbeing of all its members and participants. To achieve these goals, Ipswich Hockey has adopted the Hockey Australia Member Protection Policy, including the social media policy outlined below:

• HA/IHA acknowledges the value of Social Media platforms in promoting and celebrating the achievements in hockey.
• When using the Internet for professional or personal pursuits, all members must respect the HA/IHA brand, the sport of hockey in Australia, and follow this Policy to ensure HA’s/IHA’s intellectual property and its relationships with sponsors and stakeholders are not compromised, or that the organisation is not brought into disrepute.

Social Media Platforms include but are not limited to:

• Social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace)

• Video and photo sharing websites (e.g., Instagram, Flickr, Snapchat, YouTube)

• Micro-blogging sites (e.g., Twitter)

• Weblogs (including personal blogs or those hosted by traditional media publications)

• Forums and discussion boards

• Online encyclopedias (e.g., Wikipedia)

• Any other website that allows simple publishing tools for users or organizations

• All individuals bound by this policy must conduct themselves appropriately on social networking sites when sharing information related to our sport. Social media postings, blogs, status updates, tweets, and text messages:

  • Must not contain material that is or has the potential to be offensive, aggressive, defamatory, threatening, discriminatory, obscene, profane, harassing, embarrassing, intimidating, sexually explicit, bullying, hateful, racist, sexist, or otherwise inappropriate.
  • Must not be misleading, false, or injure the reputation of another person.
  • Must not contain material that breaches laws, court orders, undertakings, or contracts.
  • Should respect and maintain the privacy of others and promote the sport in a positive way.

• HA/IHA recommends caution in using Social Media to avoid inappropriate use, whether unintentional or due to failure to fully understand the ramifications. Please consider refraining from:

  • Including personal information about yourself or others in posts or text messages.
  • Publishing something that makes you uncomfortable—use your best judgment and never post when emotional, upset, or intoxicated.
  • Posting someone else’s picture without their permission.
  • Commenting on rumours—do not deny or affirm them or speculate.

Ipswich Hockey Representative Team Policy

General Guidelines for all parties:  
• Adhere to the relevant Code of Conduct  
• Comply with all other IHA Policies, where relevant, including those related to social media and alcohol consumption
• Foster a safe, respectful and supportive environment in person and online  
• Adhere to all Hockey Australia policies and guidelines 
• Adhere to all Hockey Queensland policies and guidelines
• Be aware of and following any competition-specific rules
• Be accountable for any damages incurred while representing IHA and cover related costs 
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person regardless of their gender, age, ability, cultural background, sexuality or religion

Selector Guidelines are specifically outlined on page 18 of the IHA Rep Policy

All Selectors must complete the following courses and upload their certificates/badges with this nomination:

1. Sports Integrity - 1. Anti-Doping Fundamentals, 2. Annual Update, 3. Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport, 4. Decision Making in Sport
2. Hockey Australia (accessed via Hockey QLD ) - Safe Hockey - Expected Behaviours 

Please contact operations@ipswichhockey.com with any questions regarding accessing the above courses and/or uploading completed course certificates/badges.

You confirm that you have read, understood and will abide by the current IHA Rep Policy, Social Media Policy, and IHA Code of Conduct Policy

Updated policies can be accessed via the website www.ipswichhockey.com