Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct

Purpose

This code of conduct aims to:

• provide guidance on the behaviour expected of all people when participating in MTTA activities.

• support an inclusive environment where all people are treated with dignity, respect, and courtesy.

Application

This code applies to anyone involved in MTTA. This includes as an employee or volunteer, including as an athlete, committee member, administrator, coach, supervisor, manager, caregiver, parent, or whānau.

Values

MTTA knows everyone involved in table tennis is here because of a shared passion for table tennis and care for the people involved. MTTA aims to provide a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable environment for everyone involved in its activities. People are expected to show respect, integrity, and courtesy in their interactions with others.

Children and young people must be cared for, treated with respect and their welfare placed at the centre of everything we do in table tennis. Everyone involved in table tennis joins with good intentions and we are all expected to do our part responsibly and to comply with our policies and rules. Specifically, MTTA holds the following values at the heart of everything we do:

Respect – We listen to understand

Inclusion – We welcome everyone, as people matter the most

Integrity – Our actions will be ethical

Innovation – We are bold and embrace new ideas and technology

Collaboration – We actively engage to be strong and have fun together in table tennis

Reporting A Breach

Individuals who wish to report an alleged breach of this code of conduct should follow the MTTA Complaints Procedure.

Expected Behaviours

Everyone

Everyone involved with MTTA must obey the law at all times, and are expected to behave in accordance with MTTA values:

Respect

• Display courtesy, respect, honesty, and professionalism to everyone involved in the activities of Table Tennis, including, but not limited to family/whānau, other competitors, coaches, officials/referees, media, spectators and team managers.

• Refrain from arguing with or abusing officials/ referees, coaches, and team managers.

• Respect the rights, dignity, and value of others.

• Avoid intimidating behaviour on the court side, against the opposition, when supporting fellow team members.

• Be humble in both success and defeat.

Inclusion

• Be committed to providing a quality service/activity and a safe sporting environment.

• Not behave in a way that is discriminatory, bullying, harassing, racist, sexist, violent, abusive or otherwise inappropriate towards others, in person or in any other communication platform.

• Be considerate and treat everyone fairly and equally.

Integrity

• Follow this code, MTTA policies and procedures, and any applicable rules issued by Table Tennis NZ, ITTF Oceania Table Tennis and International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

• Act in good faith towards MTTA.

• Behave professionally, responsibly, and ethically, at all times.

• Remain free of the influence of drugs, performance enhancing substances and alcohol while involved in table tennis activities.

• Follow the principles of fair play and encourage others to do the same.

• Be a positive role model.

• Communicate with others in a way that is polite, honest, and considerate.

• Operate within the rules of table tennis.

• Conduct themselves in an ethical way.

Collaboration

• Always ensure safe and healthy practices.

• Show commitment to MTTA Purpose and Values.

• Report breaches of this code, MTTA policies and procedures, and any applicable rules issued by Table Tennis NZ, ITTF Oceania Table Tennis and International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in a timely and appropriate way.

• Be cooperative with officials, referees, coaches, team managers, teammates, and other competitors.

• Encourage early, low-level resolution of disagreements between the parties, before considering any further escalation.

• Be appreciative and courteous of officials, referees, coaches, supervisors, volunteers and team managers and respect their decisions.

Family/Whānau

Family/whānau of participants are expected to:

• Remember participant enjoyment of table tennis is most important

• Encourage participants, not force them

• Focus on participant effort and performance, not the end result

• Never punish participants for making a mistake or not winning

• Encourage participants to play by the rules of the sport.

Coaches and Supervisors

Coaches and activity supervisors are expected to:

• Support players to reach their full potential, keeping in mind their individual talents, developmental stages and table tennis goals

• Provide all participants with equal attention and opportunities

• Advocate a sporting environment free of drugs, alcohol and performance enhancing substances, guided by the Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission

• Remain professional and refrain from initiating a close intimate relationship with a participant, and discourage any attempts by participants to do so

• Avoid unaccompanied and unobserved one-on-one activity (when in a supervisory capacity or where a power imbalance will exist) with people under the age of 18 years

• Implement Table Tennis NZ guidelines for child protection and working with children

• Ensure that any physical contact with a person should be appropriate to the situation and necessary for the person’s skill development

• Accurately represent all qualifications, experience, competence and affiliations they have

• Provide a quality service to participants, including:

  • • maintaining qualifications as appropriate

    • seeking continuous improvement and development opportunities for themselves

    • providing structured training that is appropriate to participants’ needs and goals and

    • seeking advice and assistance where required.

• Provide a safe sporting environment, as far as possible by:

  • • making sure all equipment and facilities meet health and safety standards

    • making sure all equipment, rules, training and environments are appropriate, taking into account participants’ ages, maturity (physical and emotional), experience and ability

    • encouraging participants to seek medical advice when sick or injured

    • being considerate and proactive toward sick and injured participants

    • be alert to the abuse of participants, verbally, physically, and emotionally.

•  Acknowledge that MTTA may take disciplinary action if a coach breaches the code of behaviour. MTTA are required to implement a complaint handling procedure in accordance with the principles of natural justice, in the event of an allegation against a coach.

Team Managers/Supervisors

Team managers/supervisors are expected to:

• Be responsible and accountable for the overall management and wellbeing of the team/group

• Create a collaborative and inclusive team/group environment

• Respect and treat all players fairly and equally

• Be alert to the abuse of participants, verbally, physically and emotionally

• Have a good understanding of Table Tennis NZ policies and other relevant International Table Tennis Federation and WTT (rules or guidelines, ensuring the team/group acts in accordance with them

• Remain professional and refrain from initiating a close, intimate relationship with a participant, and discourage any attempts by participants to do so.

Referees/Officials

Referees/officials are expected to:

• Have a thorough understanding of table tennis rules

• Officiate matches fairly and impartially, placing participant safety at the heart of their approach

• Condemn unsporting behaviour and encourage respect for competitors

• Support and encourage other referees/officials and encourage respect for them

• Provide a quality service to participants, including:

  • • maintaining your qualifications as appropriate

    • seeking continuous improvement and development opportunities for themselves

    • seeking advice and assistance where required.

• Be a positive role model

• Communicate with others in a way that is polite, honest, considerate and not intimidating.