Codes of Conduct.
The standard everyone is held to
This is the OCRA Code of Conduct. It applies to everyone taking part in OCRA activities: athletes, coaches, Technical Officials, volunteers, Team Ireland members, club officers, event personnel, committee members, parents and guardians, and spectators.
The first four sections apply to everyone. The sections after them set out what comes additionally with a particular role.
Respect
Treat everyone in the sport with dignity — other athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, organisers, parents, spectators and OCRA representatives alike.
Fair play
Compete honestly. Cheating, deliberate rule violations, manipulating results or seeking an unfair sporting advantage are incompatible with taking part in OCRA competition.
Abuse, harassment and discrimination
Abuse, harassment, bullying and discriminatory behaviour have no place in OCRA activities. Depending on circumstances, concerns are handled under the complaints, safeguarding or disciplinary procedures.
Safety
Follow reasonable safety instructions and avoid behaviour that puts you or anyone else at unnecessary risk. Coaches, officials, volunteers and event personnel carry additional responsibility appropriate to their role.
Athletes
Compete fairly and within the rules. Follow the instructions of Technical Officials. Treat competitors, volunteers and organisers with respect. Avoid abusive or threatening behaviour. Comply with anti-doping requirements. Represent your club or country in a way you would be content to have described back to you.
Coaches
Coaches hold a position of trust, and the standard is correspondingly higher: put athlete welfare first, maintain professional boundaries, coach safely, do not abuse the authority the role gives you, respect officials, promote fair play, follow safeguarding requirements, support clean sport, and keep personal interests out of decisions about an athlete.
Technical Officials
Act impartially and apply the rules consistently. Avoid favouritism. Declare relevant conflicts of interest before the competition. Communicate professionally, record decisions accurately, and treat athletes and fellow officials with respect.
The integrity of a competition rests on athletes believing the same standard was applied to everyone.
Volunteers and event personnel
Follow the briefing and the instructions of event organisers. Treat athletes, officials and other volunteers with respect. Work within your role and escalate what falls outside it. Follow safeguarding requirements where the role involves young people. Report incidents rather than resolving them informally.
Team Ireland
Selected athletes carry the same standards as every other competitor, plus what comes with representing the country: follow team management instructions, comply with anti-doping obligations including the championship organiser's own, and use national team clothing as required.
Club officers and committee members
Act in the interests of the sport rather than personal advantage. Declare conflicts of interest before taking part in a decision. Handle members' information and club funds responsibly. Uphold safeguarding arrangements within club activities.
Parents, guardians and spectators
Support participants positively and respect athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers. Aggressive, threatening or abusive behaviour towards athletes or officials is not acceptable and can result in removal from an event.
Breaches
Serious or repeated breaches are dealt with through the Complaints & Disciplinary process.
Where a breach involves the welfare of a child, the safeguarding route applies instead, and it takes priority.