Code of conduct for sexual harassment according to NOC*NSF
The sports associations in the Netherlands take sexual harassment seriously. NOC*NSF has drawn up codes of conduct for sports coaches. These rules have been endorsed by all national sports associations. The rules were created to reduce the risks of undesirable behavior in the relationship between pupil and coach and they serve as a touchstone for the behavior of coaches and athletes in specific situations. Below you will find the eleven codes of conduct that are endorsed by all national sports organisations that are affiliated with NOC*NSF.
- The coach must provide an environment and atmosphere in which the athlete feels safe;
- The coach shall refrain from treating the athlete in a manner that undermines the athlete’s dignity, and from intruding further into the athlete’s private life than is necessary for the jointly set goal;
- The coach shall refrain from any form of abuse of power or sexual harassment towards the athlete;
- Sexual acts and sexual relationships between the coach and the young athlete under the age of sixteen are not permitted under any circumstances and are considered sexual abuse;
- The coach may not touch the athlete in such a way that the athlete and/or the coach can reasonably expect to experience this contact as sexual or erotic in nature, as will generally be the case with the deliberate touching of genitals, buttocks and breasts;
- The supervisor refrains from sexually suggestive verbal intimacies;
- During training(camps), competitions and trips, the coach will act with reserve and respect towards the athlete and the space in which the athlete is located, such as the changing room or hotel room;
- The coach has the duty to protect the athlete from harm and (power) abuse as a result of sexual harassment. Where it is known or arranged who represents the interests of the (young) athlete, the coach is obliged to cooperate with these persons or bodies, so that they can do their job properly;
- The coach will not give the athlete any (im)material compensation with the obvious intention of asking for something in return. The coach will also not accept any financial reward or gifts from the athlete that are disproportionate to the usual or agreed remuneration;
- The coach will actively ensure that these rules are observed by everyone involved with the athlete. If he notices behavior that is not in accordance with these rules, he will address the person concerned;
- In cases where the code of conduct does not (directly) provide for this, it is the responsibility of the supervisor to act in the spirit thereof.
Source: NOC*NSF
