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Development Sessions – Code of Conduct

Introduction

At Academy Badminton Club, we believe that sport should be a positive, empowering and inclusive experience for everyone. Our Development Sessions are more than just opportunities to play badminton – they are spaces where community, respect and belonging are central to everything we do. This Code of Conduct underpins our shared commitment to creating a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for participants, coaches and coordinators alike. By clearly setting out expectations, we help ensure that everyone can take part with confidence, dignity and enjoyment.

This Code of Conduct has been developed based on Badminton England’s 2021 Code of Ethics and Behaviour document. Where considered appropriate by Academy Badminton Club Committee members involved in the Development Sessions, additional expectations have been included to create a safe, respectful, accessible and welcoming environment for participants, coaches and coordinators of the Development Sessions. Where relevant, this has been particularly guided by the Greater Manchester Moving and LGBT Foundation guide, ‘Trans and Non-Binary Inclusion in sports, movement and exercise: a guide for sports and leisure organisations’.

The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to ensure that the Development Sessions are safe, inclusive, respectful, and enjoyable for everyone involved. All participants, coaches, coordinators, and volunteers are expected to adhere to these standards at all times.

Throughout this document we will refer to the following:

  • Development Sessions – this refers to the Women and Non-Binary People Development Sessions, run by a subset of Academy Badminton Club and funded through the Badminton England Club Development Grant.
  • Academy Badminton Club – the Club who received the funding, and whose committee and members are mainly responsible for the planning and running of the Development Sessions.
  • Coach – Development Sessions will include a Level 2 qualified Badminton England Coach.
  • Coordinator – sessions will be run by a coordinator, according to the No Strings Badminton structure. They will be responsible for planning and running the sessions.
  • No Strings Badminton – No Strings Badminton is a national Badminton England participation programme, offering low-cost, fun ‘pay-and-play’ sessions.
  • Participant – anyone who has signed up, and paid, to attend the Development Sessions.

Expected Minimum Standards of Behaviour and Conduct

All individuals involved in badminton will, at all times:

  • Treat everyone fairly and equally regardless of their age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, background, or circumstances.
    • The Development Sessions are a women-centred space, inclusive of trans women and trans feminine non-binary people. No participant is required to disclose personal or medical information in order to take part.
    • Development Sessions are a safe space for all. Unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated, and offending parties will be asked to leave. This includes, but is not limited to, homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism and fatphobia. Decisions made by coaches or coordinators in relation to safety or conduct are final for the duration of the session.
  • Respect the spirit of fair play in badminton. This is more than playing within the rules. It also incorporates the concepts of friendship, respect for others and always 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.
  • Abide by Badminton England policies:
  • Safeguarding and Protecting Young People in Badminton Policy
  • Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy
  • Equality Policy
  • Sports Betting and Integrity Policy
  • Abide by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) Anti Doping Policy.
  • Take personal responsibility to ensure that they are suitably insured for their activities.

Academy Badminton Club reserves the right to take immediate action where this Code of Conduct is breached. This may include asking an individual to leave a session without refund. Serious or repeated breaches may be escalated to the Club Welfare Officer and/or Badminton England in line with relevant disciplinary procedures.

Examples of Inappropriate Behaviour

  • Using any language/gestures that may cause offence to anyone on the grounds of their age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, background, or circumstances.
  • Use of inappropriate, foul or discriminatory language or gestures at any time.
  • Ridiculing or shouting at a player/team for making a mistake or not winning.
  • Exposing players or volunteers to extreme heat or cold or unacceptable risk of injury.
  • Smoking while working/participating in a badminton environment.
  • Consuming alcohol or illegal substances in a badminton environment or taking part in any badminton activity under their influence.
  • Condoning any behaviour that contravenes the Codes of Conduct and Badminton England policies/prohibited practice.
  • Making any statements about Badminton England without necessary permission.
  • Using involvement in badminton to promote any beliefs/behaviours/practices which are not consistent with those of Badminton England.
  • Engaging in criminal or illegal activity – anyone found to be acting unlawfully will be referred to the Police.
  • Falsely advertising services, misrepresenting qualifications, exerting undue influence over performers to obtain personal benefit or reward or operating outside agreed parameters.
  • Engaging in any form of sexually related contact with a young player. This is strictly forbidden as is sexual innuendo, flirting or inappropriate gestures and terms, including that communicated electronically or via social media.
  • Giving young people alcohol or cigarettes or drugs.
  • Condoning rule violations, rough play or the use of prohibited substances.
  • Using social or other electronic media to publicly criticise any other player, parent or official involved in the game of badminton or otherwise bring the sport into disrepute through inappropriate communications.
  • Questioning publicly the referee, coach, official or players’ decisions within a game, match or training situation.
  • Undertaking any action that may threaten the health and safety of anyone involved in badminton activity.
  • Entering the court of play without permission.

This list should not be considered to be comprehensive or exclude other actions that may be considered not to meet expected minimum standards. Any breach of the code must be reported and all complaints and regulations will be managed through the Badminton England Disciplinary Regulations.

Code of Conduct for Facilitators and Coaches

Who is this for?

The Code of Conduct for Coaches applies to all coaches and coordinators in badminton at every level of the game. Coaches and coordinators are important ambassadors for badminton and must be positive role models for both those they work with and everyone else involved in the sport.

Respect

As a Badminton England qualified coach/coordinator I will:

  • Treat everyone fairly and equally regardless of their age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, background, or circumstances.
  • Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person within the badminton community and encourage others to do the same.
  • Challenge and/or report discriminatory behaviour as everyone has the right to be protected from abuse and discrimination.
  • Treat opponents and officials with due respect both in victory and defeat and should encourage my players to act in a similar manner.
  • Operate within the rules and spirit of badminton and teach my players to do the same
  • Respect all officials’ decisions and ensure players do the same.
  • Encourage all players, coaches, volunteers, parents/carers and officials to have respect for one another.

Players

  • Put my players’ best interests at the centre of everything I do.
  • Ensure I always maximise the player experience and remember that players participate for pleasure and that winning and losing is part of the game.
  • Ensure that equipment, facilities, and activities meet safety standards and are appropriate to the age, ability and experience of the players taking part.
  • Ensure there is appropriate and correct supervision of players on and off the court.
  • Congratulate all participants on their performance regardless of the game’s outcome.
  • Work in partnership with parents and players to ensure they are involved in decisions to obtain the best outcome for the player.
  • Ensure relationships with players are based on mutual trust and respect, recognising players’ rights to consult or work with other coaches or specialists and understand when to advise my players to seek other coaches or specialists for their development when I can no longer support them best.

Behaviour

  • Act as a role model at all times and display high standards of behaviour and appearance.
  • Be honest and consistent with my players and provide positive feedback at all times.
    • The goal of the Development Sessions is to encourage new and improving players to pick up, and gain skills in, Badminton. As such, coaching will be focused on improving abilities and building confidence, over competition.

Safe and Inclusive Environment

  • Obtain appropriate qualifications, keep up to date with the latest coaching practices and developments and maintain coaching membership of Badminton England.
    • At the Development Sessions, any coaching staff are required to have an in-date Level 2 Coaching qualification through Badminton England.
    • All coordinators are required to have completed No Strings and Safeguarding training modules, as mandated by the Badminton England No Strings Terms and Conditions.
  • Be aware of and abide by the Badminton England policies, procedures and guidelines for Safeguarding Young People, Safeguarding Adults at Risk, Equality and Anti-Doping.
  • Report any concerns I may have in relation to a young person, following the Badminton England reporting procedures.
  • Attend recommended training in welfare and safeguarding as appropriate.
    • Academy Badminton Club, who run the Development Sessions, have a named Welfare Officer who has attended the appropriate Badminton England training sessions. Details can be found on the Academy Badminton Club website.
  • Liaise appropriately with parents and carers, officials, coaches, Badminton England and other relevant people or organisations to ensure that good practice is maintained.
  • Understand and abide by the rules of confidentiality, ensuring confidential and personal information is respected and held and used in accordance with the relevant Data Protection Policy and General Data Protection Regulations.

Code of Conduct for Participants

The Players Code of Conduct applies to all individuals participating in badminton as a player at every level. By signing up to the Development Sessions, participants agree to adhere to this Code of Conduct and understand that failure to do so may result in removal from sessions.

Respect

As a player I will:

  • Treat everyone fairly and equally regardless of their age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, background or circumstances.
  • Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person within the badminton community and encourage others to do the same.
  • Challenge and/or report discriminatory behaviour as everyone has the right to be protected from abuse and discrimination.
    • Reports can be made to any of the Development Session coaches, coordinators or committee. They can also be made to the Academy Badminton Club Welfare Officer, or to the Badminton England Welfare Team if required.
  • Encourage all players, coaches, volunteers, parents/ carers and officials to have respect for one another.
  • Play within the laws of the game and respect all officials and their decisions.
  • Accept the referee’s decision without question or complaint (let your captain or coach ask the necessary questions).
  • Take personal responsibility to ensure that I am suitably insured for my activities.
  • Wear appropriate clothing for playing badminton during training and competition.
    • We recommend form fitting clothing that you will be comfortable getting sweaty in, and supportive, closed footwear such as trainers.
  • Applaud good performance and efforts from all individuals and teams.
  • Congratulate all participants on their performance regardless of the game’s outcome.
  • Keep to agreed times for training and competitions and inform the appropriate person if I need to withdraw or cannot avoid being late.
    • The Development Sessions cannot refund payment for late cancellation of sessions, as the sessions are run at cost.

Safe and Inclusive Environment

As a player I will:

  • Be aware of and abide by the Badminton England policies, procedures and guidelines for Safeguarding Young People, Safeguarding Adults at Risk, Equality and Anti-Doping
  • Report any concerns I may have in relation to a young person, following the Badminton England reporting procedures

Behaviour

As a player I will:

  • Act as a role model at all times and display high standards of behaviour and appearance
  • Promote the positive aspects of badminton (e.g. fair play).
  • Always act responsibly and set an example to others

Complaints and Concerns

No matter the size of your concern, there is always someone for you to talk to. Our complaints and concerns procedure is as follows:
On-the-night fixes – minor issues are sorted by the Coordinator on duty that night. If it escalates – repeated or serious breach may result in removal from the session, or referral to Academy Badminton Club’s Discipline and Appeals process, which can be found here.
If you’d rather talk to someone independent of the Development Sessions and Academy Badminton Club, regardless of your concern or complaint, you can talk directly to Badminton England through their Safeguarding Team. Details can be found at their website.

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