All members, players, coaches, spectators, parents, umpires, officials and any other person associated with Staines Hockey Club are required to comply with the Code of Ethics & Behaviour document published and available to view / download on the Club website.

Code of Conduct: Expected minimum standards of behaviour and conduct – All individuals involved in hockey will, at all times:-

Respect the spirit of fair play in hockey. This is more than playing within the rules. It also incorporates the concepts of friendship, respect for others and participating with the right spirit.
Respect the rights, dignity and worth of others.
Conduct themselves in a manner that takes all reasonable measures to protect their own safety and the safety of others.
Promote the reputation of the sport and take all possible steps to prevent it from being brought into disrepute.
Protect themselves and others involved in the game from verbal or physical abuse and threatening or intimidating behaviour.
Never use inappropriate language or gestures.
As a member of Staines Hockey Club, we ask you to contribute to the club's development and success.

In addition:-
Guidance Notes for Pitchside Conduct:
1. It is the responsibility of the club to ensure that good manners and courtesy prevail towards the opposition, umpires and any other officials before, during and after the game.
2. Captains, umpires and Match delegate (if appointed) should:
a) Agree the location of managers, coaches, substitutes and suspended players during their suspensions and from where substitutions will take place.
b) Satisfy themselves as to the quality and safety of the pitch and its facilities and ensure that other pitch side furniture is removed to the safest location.
c) Check the availability and location of an emergency telephone and first aid.
d) Agree with the home team officials the location and allowed proximity of spectators (all spectators must be behind the barrier) – no children allowed pitch side under any circumstances
e) Substitutes should warm up in clothing in a colour other than the participating teams in the agreed area of the pitch side.
f) Coaches and managers must remain in their designated area.
g) Vocal communication by team officials and players on the bench must not, in any way, be directed at the umpires or players of the opposing team.
h) Players not taking part in the game, or those in subsequent or previous matches, must not knock up or cool down on or near the pitch whilst the match is in progress.
i) Post match inquests should be held away from the pitch.
j) Spectators should be advised, if necessary, of matters relating to their conduct and particularly in so far as this affects the game in hand.

Use of ATP Pitch
Use of ATP Pitch
1. Food / Drink
No food, including chewing gum or drink other than water is to be taken onto the ATP surface. This must be consumed outside the perimeter fence of the ATP. Regular breach (more than twice) your bookings will be cancelled with immediate effect.
2. Litter
All litter and rubbish is to be disposed of in the bins provided or taken away.
3. Smoking
The SALSAL ATP and clubhouse facilities are all designated as No Smoking areas. Regular breach (more than twice) your bookings will be cancelled with immediate effect.
4. Footwear
NO FOOTBALL BOOTS are to be worn including blades, screw in studs, moulded studs or cleats. Only trainers or Astroturf boots with a maximum stud length of 5mm are to be worn.
5. Nuisance to Neighbours
The User Group / individual shall be responsible for ensuring that those persons attending the facility do not cause a nuisance to those persons living within the vicinity of the pitch. Participants / spectators should enter and leave the premises as quietly as possible. Hockey participants should refrain from shooting practice during training session in the end closes to the entrance wherever possible.
6. Goals
Where it is necessary to move goals, the attached wheels must be used. All goals MUST be stored away and secured in the designated areas at the end of each session
7. Pitch
SALSAL expect all users to respect the pitch (and other facilities) to help maximise the life of the carpet.
8. Security
User Groups / individuals wishing to contact the SALSAL regarding any security or lost property issues or suspected cases of vandalism may use any of the contact details under “Access“.
Gates to the astro MUST be locked after use unless another group is waiting to use the facility. The code should not be shared.

Disciplinary action will be taken by Staines HC for any player not conforming to the above which may result in warnings, suspensions etc.

Staines Hockey Club, Social Media Policy
Staines Hockey Club (SHC) recognises that social media provides an effective platform for discussion and information sharing amongst adult and junior club members.

Nevertheless, SHC also recognises that the use of social media can pose risks to its club members, reputation and compliance with legal obligations. One inappropriate comment can cause distress to one person and impact hundreds of club members. The purpose of this policy is to protect club members, minimise risk and ensure SHC’s social media is used appropriately.

This policy covers all members of Staines Hockey Club.

The Key Message is:
Think before you post!
Posts on SHC’s social media or media linked to SHC’s social media, be it photos, comments or links should not be inappropriate. Users must not engage in activities or transmit content that is harassing, discriminatory, menacing, threatening, obscene, defamatory, or in any way objectionable or offensive. Users are personally responsible for what they communicate in social media and should remember that what they publish may be available to a wide audience over a lengthy period of time. Users should not post comments which could be construed as sensitive, objectionable or inflammatory. When using social media, users should respect their audience.

Don’t identify young people in images (i.e. captions to pictures, tagging on Facebook). Communication with young or vulnerable people is covered by England Hockey’s Safeguarding & Protection Policy and specific guidance for Clubs. The key do’s and don’ts are shown at the end of this document.

Remember, the term ‘young person’ means those under 18 years old.

Anyone who finds a post inappropriate should email details to the Club Chairperson and Club Secretary (or Club Welfare Officer if related to an U18).

Sanctions
Comments that are deemed to flout the above will be removed by the administrators and the person who posted will be informed. Anyone who persistently posts inappropriate content will be dealt with by SHC’s disciplinary committee, led by the Chairperson.

The Club Committee will be informed of any matters relating to young or vulnerable people and deal with the post as appropriate.

Issues relating to adults and the reputation of the Club will be referred to the Chairperson and Club Committee.

The hockey leagues have made it very clear that any published inappropriate comments about opponents, umpires, officials or other clubs on social media, websites or match reports in the press will be dealt with by them through sanctions such as bans and point deductions.

Controls over Club Specific Social Media
SHC uses a Facebook page @staineshockeyclub and @staineshockeyclubjuniors; Twitter account @StainesHC & @StainesHCColts, Instagram @staineshcjuniors and the Website www.staineshockeyclub.com to represent the Club to the outside world, catering for prospective and current members as well as providing information for other clubs and general browsers seeking knowledge about SHC. For this reason, material published on these mediums is controlled by appointed administrators.

Communication with young people
As mentioned above, communication with young or vulnerable people is covered by England Hockey’s Safeguarding & Protection Policy and specific guidance for Clubs. The full guidance can be found at the link below and on our website:
https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/rules-and-regulations/safeguarding-regulations-in-hockey

The key Do’s and Don’ts when communicating with young people are:

• contact players only when necessary
• if players need to be contacted urgently, e.g. for a change in training arrangement, set up a grapevine system
• copy parents into written communication (i.e. letters or emails) unless you have been given specific parental consent to communicate direct with the young player
• speak with a player and their parents if there is a need to communicate information in relation to playing, training or competition
• clearly state the Club’s policy on communication with players and parents. Contacting young people by phone, text, email or social networking site should never be undertaken without parental consent.
Avoid:
• contacting a young person unnecessarily
• e-mailing young people directly as individuals (but this can be done as part of a disclosed list, once permission has been gained to do so)
• using text or a social networking site as a medium of contact with a young person
• making or receiving calls on a mobile phone during training or at competition (coach). It is inappropriate to compromise the safety of a session
• e-mailing one young person without copying in parents, other players or club members.

Advertising
Any form of advertising of a commercial nature must be approved by the SHC Committee prior to being distributed through any channel that is viewed by SHC Members, including but not exclusive to Facebook, Instagram, staineshockeyclub.com, Twitter.