Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Comments about this discussion:
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In other disciplines in the rulebook, there are rules around unsportsmanlike conduct. I think that this is something we need in the Freestyle chapter as well. For example, in hockey and basketball, riders and teams can receive penalties. This also exists in Flatland as well which can result in a warning or elimination of a rider by the Chief Judge.
In many years of being the Chief Judge at Unicon and national competitions, it is most often the parents of Freestyle riders who show the unsportsmanlike conduct. I think it is important to make sure that there is a rule around this.
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I support this.
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I would definitely agree that the rulebook needs to include something on unsportsmanlike conduct - I wonder if it would be useful to include a rule on this even in Chapter 1, which would then apply to all disciplines? In the end, I think there should be such a rule for all disciplines.
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I also wondered about adding this to Chapter 1. However, I am not on that chapter committee. Is someone else willing to bring it up in that committee? Otherwise, we should certainly add it to Freestyle.
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I can address the topic in the Main Committee - but we can discuss independently here in the Freestyle Committee what would make sense for freestyle and what rules we would like to see. I would then take these considerations and ideas to the Main Committee.
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I think something about a code of conduct would be helpful. I found this on the FIG (international gymnastics federation) just as a starting point because it's already written. Page 3 lists "General Principles of Integrity and Respect." This seems like something that could go in Chapter 1 (a version of it).
I do think that there should be some additional language about freestyle specific consequences if someone violates the code of conduct. I would like to hear the opinions of others.
Is there a warning system and then disqualification? Is an athlete penalized for the behavior of their parents? Who has the right to make this decision: the artistic director or chief judge?
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I think such a “Code of Conduct” could also be something that might be developed as a separate document outside of the rulebook. The example of the FIG is certainly not wrong, but it is indeed very general. In Germany, we have something more specific about unsportsmanlike behavior in the call for competition for many events.
I have just translated the section from one of our call for competition into English:
During the competition, all participants must behave in a sportsmanlike manner in the interests of equal opportunities and fairness and observe the conditions of the call for competition or the organizer. The following behavior by athletes, parents, coaches or accompanying persons is considered grossly unsportsmanlike and can be punished with disqualification or expulsion from the sports facility:
- Negatively influencing other athletes by shouting loudly in the sense of an insult
- Loudly criticizing the judges / jury
- Unauthorized entering of the competition area
- Interfering in the competition, e.g. by giving instructions, touching participants, etc.
- Absence from the race / individual disciplines without timely withdrawal
- Unsportsmanlike conduct at the award ceremonies
> Is an athlete penalized for the behavior of their parents?
I would say no - you can throw the parents out of the sports facility, but I don't think it's right to punish the athlete, who is not responsible for the behavior of other people. The question would also be, what if the coach, a good friend etc. of an athlete behaves accordingly? What is the difference between this and the parents?
> Who has the right to make this decision: the artistic director or chief judge?
I would say if it concerns the case of an athlete in competition, then the Chief Judge, because he should decide on everything concerning the competition. If it concerns something outside the direct competition, I think the Director can also decide.
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I think that perhaps the code of conduct could be fit well within the rulebook. There is a small section in 1B.1 on Personal Responsibility that could really be expanded.
1B.1 Personal Responsibility
All attendees should remember that they are guests of the convention hosts, and ambassadors of our sport to all new riders, visitors from far away, and to people in the hosting town. Remember that the Host is renting the convention facilities, and attendees are expected to treat them well. Each rider is responsible for the actions of his or her family and non-riding teammates. Riders may lose placement in races, risk disqualification from events, or be ejected from the convention if they do not work to minimize disruptions from these people. The International Unicycling Federation does not support performance enhancing drugs in sport and strives for clean competition.
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iirc the IOC should have this somewhere listed. As this what we fluently refer to as the "honor, respect, dignity, etc. of sport".
> Is there a warning system and then disqualification? Is an athlete penalized for the behavior of their parents? Who has the right to make this decision: the artistic director or chief judge?
I had exactly all that in mind (so happy to read it). I also had a warning and disqualification in mind (similar to yellow and red card in soccer).
I find it however similarly important to protect riders as well as people in charge from arbitrariness/caprice/despotism (what's the proper english term here?) (de: willkür).
Something like a "penalty catalog", that gives orientation sounds good to me.
> > Is an athlete penalized for the behavior of their parents?
> I would say no - you can throw the parents out of the sports facility, but I don't think it's right to punish the athlete, who is not responsible for the behavior of other people. The question would also be, what if the coach, a good friend etc. of an athlete behaves accordingly? What is the difference between this and the parents?
I'm yes and no to it. Parents are role models to their kids. A warning towards them is fine and if it repeats disqualify them. I was about to say that riders at 18 are responsible for themselves, but that wouldn't stop them from missbehaving.
An organizational one: Who controls if ejected people try to re-enter?
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Gossi, I think the best English word here would be subjectivity.
I also was thinking about a yellow card/red card system. What do others think?