Officials are an essential part of sport. They make sure everyone plays by the rules, that the game is safe and that the spirit of the game/event is observed and enjoyed by all. They have no stake in the outcome of the game/event.
"Protecting the health and safety of all sports participants is paramount to the future of Australian sport"The sports industry is taking action to address inappropriate behaviour such as abuse and harassment, and to promote the positive values of honesty, integrity and respect.
"Sporting organisations should not lose sight of their key objective: to create a fun and safe environment in which all participants may enjoy a positive sporting experience.
"Sport is a microcosm of wider society, and it can serve as a vehicle for education, health improvement, leadership and fair play. However, unacceptable behaviour, such as harassment, abuse, vilification, discrimination and bullying, poses a threat to the future of Australian sport."
Source: Promoting the Spirit of the Game, Sports Connect, Vol.1 No.2, March 2004, pp 8-9.
Sport at all levels should promote the spirit of the game by ensuring they have in place strategies that instil positive values, such as fair play, tackle ‘ugly’ parent and spectator behaviour, address and manage areas of risk around the club and promote the effective handling of complaints.
Other sections of The Club House address related issues including Member Protection, Risk Management, Junior Sport and Officiating.
The Australian Sports Commission’s Codes of Behaviour is an excellent resource that clubs can use to ensure that all the stakeholders of your club understand what is expected of them. Your club can adapt these codes and circulate them to players, parents, coaches, teachers, administrators, officials, media and spectators.
A number of sports are taking the initiative and promoting the spirit of the game.
Related Information
Sample meeting agenda.
Latest coaching and officiating news
So you want to start a club? Here is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.
The Department of Sport and Recreation seeks to promote, encourage and support strategies to minimise harm from alcohol and other drug use in the interests of the health and safety of those participating in sporting and recreational activities.
Physical or “active” recreation is a physical activity that a person voluntarily undertakes in their leisure time for the
purpose of mental and/or physical satisfaction.
Is your sport and recreation club inclusive?
Latest news on sport and recreation opportunities for people with disabilities.
Training and courses facilitated by the department for officials.
A quick reference guide
Every child has the right to participate in sport and recreation activities without risk to their physical and emotional well-being.
Planning is the key to the future for all clubs, no matter the activity or size.
An operational or business plan is derived from the strategic plan.
A national education and training system for officials at all levels and an industry recognised qualification.
Physical activity is important for the health and wellbeing of women.
Being physically active is important for the health and wellbeing of Australians.
The Department of Sport and Recreation supports the active involvement of well-trained, skilled and informed people delivering coaching services at community level through to supporting elite athletes. Good quality coaching will ensure that participants' experience in sport and recreation is positive, safe and fun.
Job description template
Everything you need to know on how to be a great President.
The High Performance/Regional Coaching and Officiating and Professional Development/Leadership Scholarships are part of the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) overall commitment to developing and supporting coaches, officials, administrators and practitioner/support personnel and part of the Coaching and Officiating Excellence Program.
SPARC website.
The DSR Widget is a small application that displays and rotates through a list of news items from a list of sports related news feeds.
Managing sporting or recreational events requires a lot of planning. Some require a permit.
People with disabilities are entitled to access opportunities to benefit from the social, physical and
health benefits of participation in community sport and recreation.
Job description template
Everything you ever wanted to know on how to be a great Secretary.
Coaches are an integral part of sport. They are motivators, skill developers, guides, mentors and community role
models.
The Coach in Residence program is a long standing and very successful initiative that continues to contribute to the development of sport in Western Australia.
The latest funding deadlines and announcements for the sport and recreation industry.
Physical inactivity is detrimental to the health and wellbeing of Australians.
The State Government condemns the use of banned performance-enhancing substances and other doping and drug-taking in sport and recreation.
How to be a smart and efficient club Treasurer.
This document provides information on the aim of the strategic plan and gives a timeframe as to how long the plan is valid, for example two to five years.
The objective of the Green Shirt Program is to reduce the incidence of abuse and harassment directed towards inexperienced officials and, as a result, improve retention rates at the grass roots level of sport.
The Lab is an online library of research on sport and recreation issues.
Deliverers of sporting and recreational activities have the responsibility to provide a safe environment.
The sport and recreation industry is represented by industry bodies.
To enable representative athletes to compete in national championships Western Australian parents and State sporting associations currently need to raise up to twice the amount of funds as their eastern states counterparts. This situation is contrary to Federation principles.
Successfully chair meetings from the club AGM to the simplest monthly meetings.
RSS is a file format that is used to let people know when a certain website or part of a website has been updated with new content.
The Department of Sport and Recreation have loads of information sheets and booklets available for coaches and officials on their website, along with links to the Australian Sports Commission website and other relevant sites.
Dr Karen Martin, School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia May 2010
Gillian Street and Ray James: Mentally Healthy WA
Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control, Curtin University
The Volunteers (Protection from Liability) Act 2002 was proclaimed on 1 January 2003.
Implementing an alcohol policy in your sporting club will take time. Planning and some necessary strategies need to be undertaken before producing a written policy.
Cycling is a popular physical activity which is suitable for people of all ages. It can be undertaken as a form of exercise or for transport.
Great fundraising ideas for clubs.
News and information for regional Western Australia.
The State Government will be guided by a series of principles to ensure Western Australia's long-term interests are protected when considering its options for funding support to a National
Sport Organisation (NSO).
Ten steps to running a successful meeting.
The Sports Officials Awards were established in 1999 to recognise and reward an official from each sport for their outstanding contribution to sport in Western Australia.
Western Australia has a proud sporting tradition with an outstanding array of high performance achievements.
A guide on how to recognise your volunteers
Western Australians are encouraged to incorporate physical activity into their daily activities or chores as all activity
is beneficial to health.
Great fundraising ideas for clubs.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) considers quality governance as vital to the future development of sport and recreation organisations. Good governance is a sound investment in quality sport and recreation service provision for the benefit of the Western Australian community.
Help for the overworked committee member.
South West Academy of Sport articles in the South Western Times
The Officiating Reference Panel advises the Department of Sport and Recreation on strategies and policies to develop and support the role of sporting officials in Western Australia.
Recruiting volunteers better – a quick reference guide.
A regular check of our Sport and Recreation Update is a great way to keep up-to-date with what's happening in sport and recreation in your region and across WA.
The Department of Sport and Recreation advocates for sport and recreation settings which are harassment-free and encourage greater participation by Western Australians.
Understanding Indigenous participation in sport and physical activity may help to identify ways to encourage Indigenous Australians to become more active.
The Australian Sports Commission offers a wide variety of training programs and resources to assist officials to develop in their role. Many of these are facilitated by the Department of Sport and Recreation. For further information on the National Official Accreditation Scheme and the Australian Sports Commission please check their website.
How to work together to solve your club's problems.
Sport and recreation has a bigger role in our everyday lives than we think.
Sample meeting agenda.
The Chronicle is a regular newsletter of the Indigenous Sport Program.
The quality of education for coaches and officials relies on trained presenters, assessors and mentors to deliver, assess and develop coaches and officials.
If it is not appropriate for a national championship to be hosted in WA (e.g. due to lack of a suitable facility) then the NSO should ensure that a program variation format delivering similar benefits is in place.
DSR believes that all NSOs should adopt an approach to hosting national championships that enhance the nationwide development of their sport.
A checklist to determine your club's current practices across a range of health issues.
Participation in sport and physical activity is fundamental to the health and development of our children and youth.
Simple tips to creating a marketing plan to promote your club.
News and information for healthy active workplaces
News and information on the development of a set of minimum standards for conducting leader dependent outdoor recreation activity in Western Australia.
Participation in physical activity is important for the health and wellbeing of all Australians. It also provides a range
of social, environmental and economic benefits for individuals and communities.
Throughout the year DSR conducts several workshop, breakfasts and other professional development opportunities for the Sport and Recreation industry.
DSR is committed to inclusive practices that encourage participation in physical activity of all people, regardless of their age, gender, cultural background, sexual orientation, disability, income and geographical location.
A policy to ensure club's health practices.
How to get, look after and keep a sponsor.
The rights and responsibilities of volunteers.
Job Description template.
This regular e-newsletter will keep you up to date with current research, information and events relating to active recreation in Western Australia.
The Local Sporting Champions program is an Australian Government initiative designed to provide financial assistance for juniors towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing, coaching or officiating at an official national sporting organisation (NSO) endorsed state or national competition.
It is important to understand why some people choose to be physically active and why others do not.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) recognises the value of sport and recreation to the Indigenous community and is committed to increasing participation in physical activity and building community capacity.
Your club constitution and how to become incorporated.
Sample meeting minutes.
Sport and physical activities that are not conducted by a club, community club, recreation or fitness centre are known
as non-organised.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) holds integrity in sport as the basis of sport's reputation for fair and ethical behaviour. DSR acknowledges that leadership from industry is critical to the maintenance of community confidence in the integrity in sport.
Sign up to receive email newsletters.
A club guide to risk management.
How to effectively manage volunteers so that you keep the ones you've currently got while attracting new ones to your club.
Guidelines for clubs.
Organised sport and physical activity refers to sport and physical activities that are conducted in full or part by a club, community group, recreation or fitness centre.
In the context of junior sport and to protect young people from harm, the Department of Sport and Recreation does not support alcohol sponsorship. DSR strongly urges sport and recreation clubs and associations to seek sponsorships from companies other than those producing and promoting alcoholic beverages.
A guide and simple steps towards member protection strategies.
Information on the exercise, recreation and sporting activities of Australians.
Clubhouse resources
A complete list of clubhouse resources.
