COACHES’ CODE OF CONDUCT
DIBHA coaches play an important role in creating a safe, positive, respectful, and inclusive environment where players can develop their ball hockey skills, character, sportsmanship, and connection to the Muslim community. The purpose of coaching at DIBHA is not limited to winning games. Coaches are expected to lead by example and uphold the standards of the Durham Islamic Ball Hockey Association.
1. Faith, Character & Akhlaaq: Model Islamic values and good character, including respect, humility, honesty, patience, forgiveness, gratitude, self-control, and sportsmanship. Competition must never become an excuse for poor character.
2. Player Development & Participation: Prioritize player development, learning, confidence, teamwork, and meaningful participation. Treat players fairly and avoid favouritism, humiliation, or making a player's value dependent solely on skill or scoring.
3. Positive Team Environment: Create a constructive environment where players can learn, make mistakes, ask questions, and improve. Encourage effort and improvement, provide constructive feedback, and avoid publicly embarrassing or negatively comparing players.
4. Respect for Players: Never use abusive, humiliating, threatening, degrading, discriminatory, or insulting language. Never swear at or demean players or any member of the DIBHA community.
5. Player Safety: Put player safety and well-being ahead of winning. Ensure required equipment is used, address unsafe conditions promptly, take injuries seriously, and never pressure an injured player to continue.
6. Appropriate Boundaries: Maintain appropriate boundaries with all participants. Never use physical punishment, intimidation, or inappropriate physical conduct as a coaching method.
7. Respect for Officials: Respect the decisions and role of referees and officials. Do not argue aggressively, yell at officials, or encourage players to challenge them. Significant concerns should be brought to DIBHA organizers through the appropriate process.
8. Sportsmanship: Teach players to respect opponents, avoid taunting and unnecessary aggression, accept victories with humility, accept losses with dignity, support teammates, and maintain self-control.
9. Game-Day Conduct: Arrive prepared and on time, ensure players understand expectations and have the required equipment, remain composed during games, provide constructive instruction, and reinforce positive behaviour regardless of the result.
10. Attendance & Reliability: Model punctuality and reliability. Notify DIBHA organizers as early as possible when unable to attend a scheduled commitment, with 24 hours’ notice where possible.
11. Dress & Modesty: Respect and reinforce DIBHA's published Islamic dress and modesty expectations in a respectful manner without humiliating or embarrassing players.
12. Swearing, Smoking & Vaping: Do not swear, smoke, or vape during DIBHA events, and reinforce this expectation within the team.
13. Discipline & Corrective Action: Use discipline as an opportunity for correction and learning rather than humiliation or punishment. Remain calm, explain inappropriate behaviour, reinforce expectations, and refer serious or repeated matters to DIBHA organizers.
14. Fighting & Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Never encourage retaliation or escalation. Teach players to walk away from unnecessary conflict and allow officials to manage incidents.
15. Parents & Spectators: Communicate respectfully with parents and spectators. Do not engage in public arguments. Concerns should be handled calmly and referred to DIBHA organizers when necessary.
16. Communication: Keep communication respectful, clear, timely, and consistent with DIBHA values. Communicate schedules, equipment requirements, attendance expectations, and approved league information accurately.
17. Facility & Equipment Responsibilities: Help ensure players and families respect facilities, keep areas clean, follow facility rules, and use team equipment responsibly. Report damaged or missing equipment to DIBHA organizers.
18. Team Decisions & Playing Time: Make coaching decisions consistent with DIBHA's community-based philosophy. Consider development, effort, attendance, team needs, safety, and applicable division rules. Do not make promises regarding matters controlled by DIBHA organizers.
19. Conflict Resolution: Remain calm, listen before responding, focus on the issue rather than the person, avoid public discussion of sensitive matters, and do not involve players in adult disputes.
20. DIBHA Authority: Follow DIBHA rules, policies, schedules, and decisions. DIBHA organizers retain authority over league operations, discipline, eligibility, scheduling, and other league-wide matters.
21. Representing DIBHA: Recognize that coaches represent DIBHA at games, practices, league events, facilities, team communications, and public interactions. Conduct yourself in a manner that reflects positively on DIBHA and the Muslim community.
Commitment to DIBHA
By serving as a DIBHA coach, I agree to uphold the mission, values, rules, and standards of the Durham Islamic Ball Hockey Association. I understand that I am expected to model strong Akhlaaq, promote player development and safety, respect players and officials, support sportsmanship and community, and follow the direction of DIBHA organizers.
Important Note: This Code of Conduct should be read together with the current DIBHA rules and policies. Where there is a conflict, the most recent official DIBHA rule or decision from DIBHA organizers takes precedence.
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2026
