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Athlete Code of Conduct

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All athletes in the University of Toronto Track and Field Club (“UTTC”), including athletes in the Junior Development Program, Senior Development, and the Masters Club, have the right to:

• Be treated with dignity and respect by coaches, teammates, other athletes, spectators and staff from the University;
• Expect that their coaches, managers, medical and program staff understand and are sensitive to the challenges facing all athletes in terms of sexual orientation, religious beliefs, racial issues, socio-economic status, gender identity, athletic and academic potential;
• Be proud of who they are and be physically safe;
• Be as open about their identity as they choose to be;
• Have their athletic performance evaluated without regard to their sexual orientation, religious beliefs, race, socio-economic status or gender identity;
• Participate in all team social functions with the partner of their choice when partners are invited; and,
• Strive for athletic and personal excellence with the support of their coaches and program staff.

Expectations of Conduct

As a member of UTTC, each athlete is expected to adhere to behaviour that demonstrates the pursuit of ethical sport, fair play, honesty, integrity, and respect for others at all times and that positively represents UTTC. A UTTC athlete is expected to abide by all UTTC policies, team rules, and policies and procedures of Athletics Ontario, Athletics Canada, and other relevant sport governing bodies (e.g. in jurisdictions outside of Canada where the athlete may be training or competing).

Expectations include:

• Pursuing academic success while a student-athlete;
• Fulfilling all team and athletic commitments throughout the year as prescribed by their coach, which includes (unless otherwise agreed with their coach) meeting at the practice site and/or competition site on time and prepared to train/compete;
• Being generous in winning and graceful in losing;
• Competing within the rules and the spirit of the competition;
• Exhibiting conduct at all times which complements and enhances UTTC and their team’s reputation;
• Not engaging in any activity that may be considered unethical or might bring the reputation of the athlete, the team, or UTTC into disrepute;
• Respecting and accepting with dignity the decisions of officials;
• Refraining from the use of profane, insulting or offensive language;
• Refraining from posting or contributing material to any social media platforms that negatively reflects upon any UTTC athlete, their team or UTTC ;
• Treating everyone with respect regardless of gender identity, race, place of origin, athletic potential, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, socio-economic status;
• Exhibiting conduct that is free of harassment, sexual harassment or discrimination (as outlined in UTTC’s Safe Sport Policy);
• Conducting all team welcoming/orientations and social activities so as to reflect integrity, dignity, safety, and individual rights including the right to participate voluntarily and not engaging in any behaviour that may be considered “hazing”;
• Being involved in any fund-raising events that are being conducted by the club;
• Wearing approved UTTC branded attire when representing UTTC in competition, during award presentations & photos, and any other sanctioned UTTC event;
• Following the rules regarding alcohol set out below;
• Refraining from all illegal, recreational, or banned drugs and following the rules regarding drugs set out below; and
• Following any travel or away-game-specific codes of conduct provided by the coaches.

Violations of the UTTC Code of Conduct will result in appropriate sport-related discipline as determined by the Head Coach of the University of Toronto Track and Field Team. It may result in suspension of the athlete from the team for a period of time or termination of membership in UTTC, without reimbursement of any fees.

Orientation, Team Building and Hazing

Coaches, staff and volunteers affiliated with UTTC are committed to ensuring athlete orientations and transition experiences are welcoming. Part of this commitment is an effort to introduce positive team building activities. UTTC supports only those team building activities that are constructive, educational and contribute to the intellectual and personal development of athletes. It unequivocally opposes hazing and any situation created intentionally to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule.

Hazing is any act, whether physical, mental, emotional or psychological, which subjects another person voluntarily or involuntarily to anything that may abuse, mistreat, degrade, humiliate, harass or intimidate them, or which may in any fashion compromise their inherent dignity as a person. UTTC encourages positive team building activities that are team experiences and promote team unity and growth through exercises that support the dignity of all members of the team.

Alcohol

In order to develop a positive culture regarding alcohol, UTTC athletes need to be leaders with regards to educating themselves and others about the use of alcohol. In the quest for excellence both on and off the playing field, UTTC athletes need to make smart choices and realize the long-term athletic, career and health benefits of choosing not to drink alcohol or to drink responsibly after the legal age of 19 in Ontario. Individuals under the age of 19 are prohibited in Ontario from drinking alcohol. Furthermore,

illegally possessing, distributing, selling or being under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is inconsistent with the core values of the UTTC community.

The following activities are unacceptable for UTTC athletes:

• Consumption of alcohol by athletes under the age of 19;
• Consumption of alcohol at UTTC-recognized athletic events from 24 hours before competition start time to completion of competition;
• Consumption of alcohol in any University of Toronto athletic facility;
• Consumption of alcohol in any vehicles chartered or rented for transportation to UTTC-recognized athletic events;
• Use of alcohol that interferes with athletic performance, personal relationships or finances;
• Irresponsible use of alcohol and/or being intoxicated in a public place; and,
• Drinking at team building/orientation events.

It is understood that there are social norms and special circumstances that would be allowable for coaches to use discretion. These special circumstances must be discussed prior to the event.

Drugs

The following activities are unacceptable for UTTC athletes:

• Use of any banned or restricted substance or methods in contravention of the rules of the National and/or International Sport Federations; the International Olympic Committee and the Federation du sport universitaire;
• Encouragement of the use of such substances and/or methods by individuals in positions of leadership (coaches, athletic staff, medical practitioners, sport scientists, administrators) or by the athletes themselves;
• Provision of, or administration of banned or restricted substances and/or methods to athletes; and,
• Use of cannabis during the competitive season from the start of training camp to the end of the sport championship.

There may be random testing of athletes by officials of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport during the competitive and off-season year.

Social Media

Users of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and other social media sites must ensure that any content that they make public via such online networks or digital platforms does not violate the ethics and intent behind the UTTC Code of Conduct and the expectations of behaviour listed here.

Examples of inappropriate and offensive behaviours include:

• Photos, videos, comments or posts showing the personal use of alcohol, tobacco or cannabis in contravention of the rules regarding alcohol set out above.
• Photos, videos, comments or posts that are of a sexual nature. This includes links to websites of a pornographic nature and other inappropriate material.
• Photos, videos, comments or posts that condone drug-related activity. This includes images that portray the personal use of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
• Content online that is unsportsmanlike, derogatory, demeaning or threatening toward any other individual or entity (examples: derogatory comments regarding another institution; taunting comments aimed at an athlete, coach or team at another institution and derogatory comments against gender identity, race, place of origin, athletic potential, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, socio-economic status).
• Content online encouraging unacceptable, violent or illegal activities (examples: hazing, sexual harassment/assault, illegal gambling, discrimination, fighting, vandalism, academic dishonesty, underage drinking, or illegal drug use).
• Content online containing information that is sensitive or personal in nature or is proprietary to the UTTC and that is not public information (examples: tentative or future team schedules, athlete injuries and eligibility status, travel plans/itineraries or information).

For your own safety, please keep the following recommendations in mind as you participate in social media websites:

• Set your security settings so that only your friends can view your profile and do not post personal identifying information such as phone numbers, class schedules, home address or other personal information as it could lead to unwanted attention, stalking, identity theft, etc.
• Be aware of who you add as a friend – many people are looking to take advantage of athletes or to seek connection with them.

Related Policies

UTTTC athletes are also subject to the UTTC Safe Sport Policy and should familiarize themselves with it https://athleticsontario.ca/safe-sport-information/  and with the UTTC Code of Conduct

UTTC is a member of Athletics Canada and Athletics Ontario, and the policies of those organizations may be applicable in certain circumstances. Nothing in this policy prevents a UTTC athlete from proceeding under those policies in applicable circumstances.

Abuse Free Sport: http://abuse-free-sport.ca/en/ | 1-888-83SPORT

Kids Help Phone: www.kidshelpphone.ca | 1-800-668-6868

Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada: http://www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca

Coaching Association of Canada: http://coach.ca/responsible-coaching-movement-s17179

Coaches Association of Ontario: https://www.coachesontario.ca/safesport/

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