The Northern Saints Football Club Code of Conduct applies to all players, coaches, officials, volunteers, partners, members and supporters.
The Northern Saints Football Club Code of Conduct applies to all of our players, coaches, officials, volunteers, partners, members and supporters. By registering with the Northern Saints Football Club you immediately agree to abide by these principles.
The Northern Saints Football Club is dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable environment in which each of our members can grow and develop, offering its members and families an opportunity to belong and participate in a community organisation. In keeping with these guidelines, we expect all members of the football club's community to be respectful, kind and caring towards one another.
The Northern Saints recognise that we all have a role to play within the club and community — as a member of the extended Fawkner-North Coburg Sports Association and Moreland Council. We must be mindful of the role we play within the club and the impact it can have on the greater community.
In addition to the Northern Saints code of conduct, all players and supporters must abide by the EDFL code of conduct. Failure to adhere to the code of conduct may result in the withdrawal or suspension of your registration to play with the Northern Saints Football Club.
View the EDFL Code of Conduct →It is critical within a community-based football club that values drive our behaviours and conduct. All members of the Northern Saints Football Club are expected to abide by and support the following values:
Recognising the contribution that all people make to our football club, treating them with dignity and consideration, as well as caring for the surrounds which we utilise and play in. We encourage that all members of the extended Northern Saints community are treated in a manner in which we would like to be treated ourselves.
The club is committed to the development and promotion of equal opportunity for all. This applies to external recruitment, internal appointments and opportunity for training and promotion — regardless of sex, creed, colour, race, age, disability, religious beliefs or ethnic or national origin.
The club will not accept a culture of bullying — defined as behaviour which causes hurt and/or distress, is repeated, and involves the use of power in an unfair way. It can take many forms such as humiliation, intimidation and victimisation. It can be verbal, physical, social or psychological in nature, and may be directed toward an individual or a group.
The club will promote a culture where each individual has the right to feel safe and secure and the right to feel respected and supported by others within the community.
A zero tolerance approach will be taken to sexism, bullying, homophobia, racism and any form of discrimination at Northern Saints Football Club.
The Northern Saints are committed to the following preventative measures in relation to discrimination and bullying:
Intervention in relation to bullying incidents may include counselling, mediation, formal apologies, and referral to anger management programs. The Northern Saints Football Club also reserves the right to suspend or terminate an offender's membership or contact with the club. Depending on the severity of the incident, offenders will be told they are not welcome at the Northern Saints Football Club.
The Northern Saints Football Club will provide support for victims of these acts. The priority of the club will be to ensure the victim is ok, the appropriate steps to deal with the situation are taken and the required guidance and support is provided. Victims' voices will be heard and access to counselling services will be provided.
All members of the Northern Saints community are expected to support the club in its undertakings and encourage the club to take any necessary disciplinary action for breaches of the Code of Conduct. All members are encouraged to inform a committee member should bullying or discrimination occur, the report of which will then be passed on to the management team.
By registering to train and play football with the Northern Saints Football Club, I understand that the Association has appropriate insurance cover and I agree that I will only pursue claims for damages or injuries against the said insurance policies, and not its officers, servants or agents.
By registering I declare that:
I understand that the club is able to terminate my registration if it is deemed that I have behaved in a way that is contrary to the Northern Saints Code of Conduct, club values, or is deemed to represent the club in a negative light. Decisions on registrations will be made by the Board of the Northern Saints Football Club. Decisions are final and I accept that the club is within its rights to terminate registration at any time.
We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all our members so they can participate in sport in a relaxed and secure atmosphere.
Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at the Northern Saints Football Club. If bullying does occur, all club members should be able to feel free to tell club leaders and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a TELLING club. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the Club Welfare Officer.
Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim. Bullying can be:
Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect and as an equal. The club has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.
A person — especially a child — may not always ask for support when being bullied. They may feel afraid, ashamed or embarrassed, and that the person they tell will think they are weak. Victims of bullying may think that they deserve to be bullied or are 'dobbing' by telling someone what is happening to them.
There are many signs that someone is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and should investigate if someone is:
These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated.
When dealing with an incident of bullying the club will follow the procedure outlined below:
In serious cases, suspension or even exclusion will be considered. After the incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will continue to be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.
You may also wish to access any of the following websites designed to give advice and guidance to parents and children who are faced with dealing with bullying:
To protect and enhance indoor air quality and to contribute to the health and well-being of all players, families, supporters and visitors, the Northern Saints Football Club shall be entirely smoke-free and vape-free.
The Northern Saints Football Club understands and accepts that it has a duty of care to provide a safe and healthy environment, free of illegal drugs. This policy reflects a commitment by the club to the health, safety and welfare of all its members.
Download Drug Policy (PDF)Anybody seeking to become part of the club should contact us or attend training at Charles Mutton Reserve.
