Code of Conduct
The safety of athletes, coaches and staff is prime at Richmond Gymnastics in addition to the professionalism of coach-athlete relationship. The coaches, during the course of training, communicate standards of behavior and expectations to the athlete. RGA follows the directives set out by Gymnastics Canada and Gymnastics BC for the safety, and well-being of athletes, coaches and staff. This adherence allows RGA to keep the interests of the athlete prime in our minds while they train.
EXPECTATIONS OF PARTICIPANTS
Behaviour: Participants should always listen to their coach.
No matter what class you are training in, you are all training in the facility together. Participants, as athletes, are expected to be respectful to their team mates, other participants and coaches. It is everybody’s responsibility to make the training environment a respectful, fun, and an encouraging one. It’s all in the spirit of true sportsmanship.
Participants in all programs are expected to be socially and emotionally capable of conducting themselves appropriately with their peers and coaches. They should be able to actively participate in all scheduled activities of the program. Participants who do not demonstrate these abilities, may be required to withdraw from the program.
Shouting/talking loudly to the point of being distractive, rude and demeaning language, disrespect to coaches and team mates is not acceptable.
Please be respectful and mindful to all visitors in the lobby/waiting area. Enter and exit the facility in an orderly fashion.
Non-instructional running is not allowed. Athletes should walk from place to place. Watch where you walk and be mindful of other participants and classes.
No athlete is allowed on any equipment without permission from the coach. Equipment is for training and skill development.
Punctuality: Please arrive at least 5 minutes before your class starts so that you can get ready in time before your classes commence. For numerous reasons, it is not safe/respectful to join a class late. Please attend every training/class. It is important for safe and continued progression through the program.
EXAMPLES OF UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR:
Disobedience, rude behavior (verbal/physical language), tantrums, lack of active, engaged participation, pushing, poking, not following coach instructions and doing your own thing
Climbing over equipment which is not part of class
Threatening, harassing, bullying, or intimidating behaviors within the gym community, interference with the learning of others (eg: not allowing others to take their turn)
Use of inappropriate, discriminatory or abusive language
Theft or damage to the property/equipment
Arriving more than 10 minutes late to class and/or constantly late for class and not advising the office/coach about late arrival
Cleanliness: Show pride in the facility you train at. The coaches and staff at RGA are working for you to establish or build upon the foundation for active participation in sport for life, to stay healthy and be mentally active. Participants are expected to be respectful of their surroundings i.e. the facility they train at and the equipment they use.
Please clean up after yourself especially after a snack break. Please keep the locker area and change rooms clean.
Attire: Proper attire is to be worn while attending classes: tight fitting lowers and an appropriate, comfortable top is acceptable attire. Examples of unacceptable attire: tops with low, scoop necks; tops that leave the midriff bare (eg: just sports bra with lowers); loose tops and loose pants/lowers, pajamas. Female participants work best when they are dressed in leotards with gym shorts. For competitions, Richmond Gymnastics’ team uniform must be worn at all times.
Participants are expected to train bare feet or with socks as directed by the coach leading your class. Please refrain from dressing your child in stockings.
All participants should have their hair neatly tied back. Long hair in a braid and shorter hair in a braid or ponytail. If hair is left open, after the first warning, the participant will be removed from the class and will not be allowed to attend any more classes until this rule is adhered to. Parents are requested to place additional hair elastics in their child’s gym bag to have extras should the child need any extra.
A participant should not wear any jewelry to class or carry any valuables since there are no lockable cubbies that athletes will have access to. RGA takes no responsibility for any lost or misplaced items.
Healthy habits: Lets inculcate the habit of healthy eating early on in life to build a healthy contributor to society and to the field of sports.
Please make sure that your child carries a water bottle for the class. The bottle will be kept in the cubby area for break time.
If snacks are allowed in your child’s class, please ensure your child brings only healthy, nutritious, non-messy snacks. Gymnastics for All (recreational) class participants do not require to bring snacks unless specifically asked by the gym.
EXPECTATIONS OF PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Choosing to commit to a sport for a few or several hours per week requires commitment and support from parents and guardians. Your engagement and understanding with your child will make the difference in their positive participation in the sport.
Respect towards staff and adherence to the rules of the Association is prime while conducting any business related to your child participating in sport.
Photography and videography:
Due to privacy reasons, parents are not allowed to photograph or video their child while the child is in class.
Parent and Tot class - Parents are requested to refrain from being on their devices for the duration of the class. The idea of this class is to have the parent fully attentive and involved. In the event that the parent is constantly distracted, the coach reserves the right to remove the participant from class.
Coaching: Allow the coach to do the coaching. Trust the process the coaches use to instruct the fundamentals of physical literacy through the sport of gymnastics. We strive to foster your child in a way that they excel in the sport. Allow us do our job the way we know how to do it best.
Please refrain from addressing your child when the class is in session, for any reason whatsoever. If there is an emergency, please contact the office or get the attention of the coach to talk to your child. Its important that the child does not get distracted while training. This is for safety of the child and the class.
Communication with coaches and staff: Please schedule a time to talk to the coach should you have any concerns. Parents are requested to not engage the coach about their child’s training just before a class starts. Please ask the coach if they have time after class to talk to you. If the coach is not available immediately after, please feel free to email/call the office. Your queries will be addresses as promptly as possible.
Parents are not allowed in the gym training area unless allowed by the coach.
Support your child: Encourage your child to be responsible towards training, have fun in a safe manner, and to learn, grow and excel. If your child is having any concerns, please feel free to contact the coach or the office.
RGA communicates with all its members via emails, newsletters, social media posts, website, and notices around the facility. It is the responsibility of parents inform themselves on any updates/changes.
Punctuality: Please ensure to bring your child on time for class, and pick up on time. Arrive upto 5 minutes early before start of class. Factor in the time that the child will take to get ready for class so that the class can commence on time. For numerous reasons, it is not safe/respectful to join a class late. Continual late pick up from class will have additional charges applied to a parent’s account. Please call the office in a timely manner, with a detailed reason, if you are arriving late to pick up your child. Please keep in mind the office timings when you do so.
Visiting the facility: Parents/guardians are currently not allowed to stay in the parent viewing area beyond a limited time. We understand that these are ever evolving conditions, and it is expected that all parents understand and abide by the guidelines and rules of the Association as they are communicated with all members in a timely manner.
Please continue to monitor the health of self and your entire family to ensure that all are in good health before you access the facility for classes. While there is no active screening currently at the entry door, we request that all be responsible in doing their part to keep our facility safe for participation and sport.
Please be on time to pick up your child promptly after their class.
Please be mindful of maintaining a safe social distance, at any time, within the facility.
Lets imbibe the spirit of Richmond Gymnastics Association in every sphere of training and life: Friendship, Excellence and Respect.
Results of Unacceptable behavior, within the facility by participant or member, and during training: Maturity, intellectual, social, and emotional capacity of participants/members are considered while determining consequences of unacceptable behaviour. The frequency and severity of misbehaviour, including but not limited to, following the rules and guidelines set by the Association on a time to time basis, is also taken into consideration, along with the number of occasions the participant/member had to be spoken to about their behavior. The action taken will:
attempt to teach acceptable social, and training behaviour
be fair, consistent, thoughtful, and empathetic to all parties involved
attempt to prevent a recurrence of any such acts/behaviors
determine a suitable action that will be taken before the participant/member can return to the facility
updated August 2023