MFC has a code of conduct that covers behaviour of players, coaches, parents and match officials (referees). Please note that parents are responsible for their own conduct and that of their child up to the age of 18.
The code also applies to communications with club officials, as well as behaviour at matches and training. Breaches of the code should be dealt with as follows:
- Report the breach to the VP of the division.
- The leadership team will consider the report and, depending on the nature of the breach, will either note it in its minutes or draft a formal warning letter.
- A repeated breach after a warning letter has been issued will result in a formal meeting with MFC officials and possible suspension or expulsion from the club.
In addition, racial vilification is unlawful and can have further consequences.
Sports Injury Insurance
Registration fees for both winter and our Summer 5-a-Side competitions include a premium for the standard Football NSW insurance policy.
We recommend that players review the full policy and consider private health insurance and possibly a top-up of the standard policy.
Information about the policy includes who is covered, what is covered, and how to make a claim.
View Football NSW Insurance Information
Our Secretary is the relevant Club contact to authorise the claim from the Club's perspective.
Claims should be submitted promptly and preferably within 120 days of when the injury occurred.
MiniRoo and Youth Illness and Injury
From time to time, junior players have illnesses or injuries that may interfere with their ability to train or play football, or place other players at risk. MFC has the following policy to deal with these issues:
- Apply commonsense. The first priority of parents, coaches and match officials is to ensure the safety of junior players.
- At all times, the parents or guardians of all U18 players have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the player is able to train or play football safely.
- A coach may decide to stop a player training or playing if they believe this to be in the best interest of the player. For example, if a player is injured during a game, the coach may substitute the player.
- Players may not train or play in arm casts as these may injure other players.
- Players should not train or play if they have injuries that are bleeding. The coach should use the first aid kit provided by MFC to cover and stop bleeding.
- For infectious diseases, do not allow players to play or train while the disease is transmissible, out of respect for others. Seek medical advice if required.
If in doubt, discuss the specifics of the situation with the coach and age coordinator.
It is important to comply with all relevant public health orders and restrictions issued by the NSW Government.
The Club's Refund Policy guides members, players and other stakeholders as to the basis for any refund, or part thereof, of relevant registration fees paid and the process to be followed in seeking a refund.
What You Need To Know When Coaching Kids
Mosman FC adheres to the Football NSW Working With Children Policy.
Football NSW Working With Children Policy
Each year coaches and managers become role models and play an important part in the lives of thousands of children who look up to them for guidance and encouragement in the sport they love.
Coaches are at the forefront of football, so it is critical that these people, who play such an important part in the success of our sport, know how to behave when coaching children and young people. This information is provided to assist coaches and other officials so that they are aware of what types of behaviour are appropriate when coaching children and young people and what types of behaviour are identified as child abuse.
Appropriate Behaviour
Support, communication, understanding, listening, teamwork, honour, pride, promotion of sportsmanship, respect, accepting victory, accepting defeat, clapping, cheering, applauding, acknowledgement of team contribution to success, pat on the back (“well done”), shaking hands, respecting the privacy of the individual, requesting the intervention of parents or the club if a child is disruptive, violent or a possible danger to other children, respecting all children in the team and treating them as equals no matter their ability, disability, colour, race or religious beliefs.
Inappropriate Behaviour
Verbal abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, discrimination, harassment, bullying, behaviour which threatens or frightens a child, swearing directly at a child, hitting, smacking, shaking, throwing, pushing to cause physical harm, physical assault of an adult in the presence of a child, inappropriate touching, fondling, hugging, name-calling, constant criticism, sarcasm, subjecting a child to any form of unnecessary extreme temperature, encouragement or promotion of the use of alcohol or illegal substances including banned sports substances and any form of abusive or sexually explicit activity as outlined in the definitions of child abuse.
Definitions of Child Abuse
What is child abuse?
Child abuse is any form of verbal, emotional, physical or sexual mistreatment or lack of care that leads to psychological or physical harm or injury.
Verbal / Emotional Abuse
The persistent emotional ill treatment of a child which is likely to cause severe and lasting adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve communicating to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only in terms of meeting the needs of another person. It may feature expectations of children that are not appropriate to their age or development. It may involve causing children to feel frightened or in danger by being constantly shouted at, threatened or taunted which may make the child very nervous and withdrawn. The ill treatment of children, whatever form it takes, will always feature a degree of emotional abuse.
Emotional abuse in sport may include subjecting children to constant criticism, name-calling, sarcasm or bullying and putting children or young people under consistent pressure to perform to unrealistic and often unachievable high standards.
Physical Abuse
This is when adults physically assault, hurt or cause injury to children by hitting, smacking, pushing with intent to harm, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, biting, scalding, suffocating or drowning. This includes deliberately causing ill health in a child they are looking after. Examples in sport may include forcing a child into training or competition that exceeds the capacity of their immature and growing body, or giving a child drugs to enhance performance or delay puberty.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is when adults use children to meet their own sexual needs. Showing children pornography, talking to children in a sexual manner and behaving in a sexually explicit manner are also forms of sexual abuse.
Examples in sport include coaching techniques which involve physical contact with children and could potentially create situations where sexual abuse may go unnoticed. The power of the coach over young performers, if misused, can also lead to abusive situations developing. Coaches should be cautious if their position involves showing children direction by way of touch.
Always ensure that your grip is not too firm and that your hand placement is away from personal areas.
Bullying
Bullying is an issue affecting children in sport which in some cases is a form of child abuse, even though those responsible are often other children. It is important to recognise the impact that bullying and discrimination has on their young lives.
Sports organisations at all levels have a duty of care to safeguard all children, including disabled children and children from cultural backgrounds, from this type of harm.
Bullying can be psychological, verbal or physical. It involves an imbalance of power in which the powerful attack the powerless, and occurs over time rather than as a single act.
Examples of bullying behaviour by children or adults include:
- Name-calling or verbal abuse
- Deliberate embarrassment or humiliation
- Being made to feel different or unaccepted
- Being physically assaulted or threatened
- Being ignored or being lied about
Neglect
Neglect occurs when adults fail to meet a child’s basic needs, to an extent that is likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development. For example, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or failing to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.
Examples in sport include not ensuring children are safe, exposing them to undue cold, heat or electrical storms, or exposing them to unnecessary risk of injury.
Mosman FC adheres to the Football NSW Hot Weather Policy.
Mosman FC adheres to the Football NSW Lightning Policy.
The Mosman FC Expense Policy outlines the guidelines for reimbursement of Mosman FC volunteer expenses and financial delegations.
All trial games must be sanctioned. Failure to do this exposes players and the Club to uninsured risks and potential reputational damage. Games will only be sanctioned if the appropriate forms have been completed and submitted within the required notice.
Notification of approval must have been received before the intended game proceeds.
The forms required will differ depending on the opposition, for example whether a MWFA or non-MWFA team is involved, and where the game is intended to be played.
Mosman FC adheres to the MWFA Photography and Video Policy.
