Parent Code of Conduct

Codes of Conduct give everyone a guide to what is expected of us if we are part of an organization, participating in a sport, or as spectators at an event.  The essential elements of character-building and ethics in sports are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six core principles: respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, trustworthiness and good citizenship. The highest potential of sports is achieved when competition reflects these “six pillars of character” (Arizona Sports Summit Accord).

As parents, we set the most critical example of appropriate conduct.  As a parent member of the FSCM, you are expected to:

1. Encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for all skaters, coaches and officials at every practice session, competition and test session.
2. Place the emotional and physical well being of your child ahead of your personal desire to win.
3. Encourage your child to skate in a safe and healthy environment.
4. Inform your child’s coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of your child or the safety of others.
5. Teach your child that doing one’s best is more important than winning, so that your child will never feel defeated by the results of a competitive event.
6. Never ridicule or yell at your child or other participant or blame your child’s teammates for placement in a competition.
7. Do your best to make skating fun and remember that your child participates in sports for his/her own enjoyment and satisfaction, not yours.
8. Ask your child to treat other skaters, coaches, fans, and officials with respect, regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation or ability.
9. Applaud a good effort in both victory and defeat emphasizing the positive accomplishments and learning from their mistakes.
10. Teach your child to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility, inappropriate behavior or violence.
11. Be a positive role model for your child and other skaters.
12. Demand a figure skating environment for your child that is free of drug or alcohol abuse and agree that you will not use or provide to a third party any drug prescribed by applicable federal, state, or municipal law.
13. Not assist or condone any competing athlete’s use of a drug banned by the International Olympic Committee, International Skating Union, United States Olympic Committee, or U.S. Figure Skating, or, in case of athletes, to use such drugs or refuse to submit to properly conducted drug tests administered by one of these organizations.
14. Not provide alcohol to, or condone the use of alcohol by minors, abuse alcohol in the presence of athlete members, or at U.S. Figure Skating activities or, in the case of athletes, consume alcoholic beverages while a minor.
15. Encourage your child’s coach to continue their education and training through programs offered by U.S. Figure Skating, the Professional Skaters Association, and other accredited organizations.
16. Respect your child’s coach and refrain from coaching your child or other skaters during competitions and practices because it may conflict with the coach’s plan or strategies.
17. Respect the decisions of officials and their authority during competitions and test sessions and teach your child to do likewise.
18. Show appreciation and recognize the importance of volunteers and club officials.
19. Study the rules of the USFS and the FSCM and teach your child accordingly so that you have an understanding and appreciation of the rules of competition and membership.
20. Support all the opponents in your child’s competition and respect the rights of all skaters to participate.