What are sport ethics or standards? Commonly described as six pillars of fair play, Standards are integral elements of all sports activities, sports policy and management, and apply to all levels of ability and commitment, including recreational as well as competitive sports. These are: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
Trustworthiness
- Always pursue victory with honour.
- Demonstrate and demand integrity.
- Observe and enforce the spirit and letter of the rules.
- Do not engage in or tolerate dishonesty, cheating, or dishonourable conduct.
Respect
- Treat the traditions of the sports and other participants with respect.
- Do not engage in or tolerate disrespectful conduct, including verbal abuse of opponents and officials, taunting and inappropriate celebrations.
- Win with grace and lose with dignity.
Responsibility
- Be a positive role model on and off the field.
- Safeguard your health. Know what you’re putting in your body. Just because a substance is legal or natural doesn’t mean it’s permitted or safe in health context.
- Take responsibility and educate yourself about issues of anti-doping. It’s up to you to comply with anti-doping policies.
Fairness
- Adhere to high standards of fair play.
- Ensure that teams and athletes play by the rules and treat others fairly.
- Anything that gives an unfair advantage violates the spirit as well as the integrity of the sport.
Caring
- Demonstrate concern for others. Never engage in careless behaviour that could injure yourself or others.
- Help the team by encouraging your teammates.
- Never tolerate unhealthy or dangerous conduct by your teammates. Encourage your teammates to make healthy choices and be prepared to report any dangerous behaviour.
Citizenship
- Play by the rules. Sports is defined by the rules. These rules may be yours or your team’s or your teacher’s.
- Follow the spirit of the rules. Resist the temptation of gaining an advantage by bending the rules. Take pride in your performance while abiding by the rules. You have worked too hard to throw it away by cheating.
- As a member of a community, whether in a team, in a classroom, or with a family, think how your choices impact other community members.
