Avoid discriminating against or refusing educational opportunities, professional assistance, or employment to anyone on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, political belief, economic status, religion or national origin.

Remain abreast of new developments in the field through both educational activities and course experience.  We agree at all levels of membership to continue personal and professional growth, including coaching, consultation, and other active participation (for example, membership in USAV/CAP and the AVCA).

Seek out and engage in collegial relationships, recognizing that isolation can lead to a loss of perspective and judgment.

Manage our personal/professional lives in a healthful fashion and to seek appropriate assistance for our own personal problems or conflicts.

Coach and advise only for those areas or issues that are within the reasonable boundaries of our competence.

Establish and maintain appropriate professional relationship boundaries.

We use our knowledge and professional association(s) for the benefit of the people we serve and not to secure unfair personal advantage.

We clearly represent our level of expertise and experience.

All fees, financial arrangements, and contractual matters are always established in a straightforward, professional manner at the onset of services.

We conduct our professional fiscal affairs with due regard to recognized business and accounting practices.

 We are careful to represent facts truthfully to players, parents, administration, the media and public.

We do not malign colleagues or other professionals.

We coach and work with people from a perspective of dignity and sound educational and scientific foundation.

We will direct comments or criticism at the performance, not the player.

We pledge to display high personal standards, including avoiding the use of alcohol, illegal drugs and tobacco and using no profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language while in the presence of players.

Ensure that the activity being undertaken is suitable for the age, experience, ability and fitness level of the players and educate the players as to their responsibilities in contributing to a safe environment.

Consider the players' future health and well being as foremost when making decisions regarding an injured player's ability to continue competing or training.

Be aware of academic pressure; conduct practices/match schedule in a manner so as to allow academic success.

Implement only ethical recruiting practices.

No coach shall allow, encourage, condone, or require any behavior that threatens a player's high school, USA Volleyball, or NCAA eligibility.

Ensure that facilities and equipment meet safety standards and make sure that they are age/ability appropriate.

Develop team respect for the ability of opponents.

Be present at all practices/competitions.

We do not abandon or neglect players. If we are unable/unwilling for appropriate reason, to provide coaching or continue a professional relationship, every reasonable effort is made to provide positive assistance and/or interaction.

We make only realistic statements regarding the playing/development process and its outcome(s).  Coaches will avoid overplaying talented players and work with and develop every member of the team.

We show sensitive regard for the moral, social and religious standards of players and communities.  We avoid imposing our beliefs on others, although we may express them when appropriate in the coaching/social process.

Program involvement relationships are continued only so long as it is reasonably clear that the player is benefiting from the process.

We recognize the trust placed in, and unique power of, the coach/player relationship.  While acknowledging the complexity of some relationships, we avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of players.  We avoid those dual relationships with players (i.e., business or close personal relationships), which could impair our professional judgment, compromise the integrity of the process and/or use the relationship for our own gain.

We do not engage in harassment, abusive words or actions, or exploitative coercion of players or former players.  Harassment comes in many forms, including physical, verbal and emotional.  To decrease the risk of harassment, adhere to the following:

 Use appropriate discipline.

Take injuries seriously.

Do not engage in practical jokes that cause awkwardness or embarrassment, or endanger a person's safety or negatively affect performance.

Replace negative remarks with instruction.

Motivate with praise, not name-calling.

Address players by their first name or preferred nickname.

Be careful using coaches you see on television as your examples for appropriate behavior.

Under no circumstance use racial, ethnic, or gender related slurs.

Treat all players with equal respect; never condescend or patronize.

Keep winning in perspective.

Use only positive touches (high fives, handshakes, pats on the back, unsuspecting hugs) and respect the privacy of an athlete's body.

In sensitive situations (showering, changing clothes, etc.) make sure there is another adult present.

Avoid going anywhere alone with a player.

Report any suspected cases of abuse.

Be supportive, courteous and positive in language and actions.

Examples to avoid:

	Suggestive comments about physical appearance.
	Leering/staring.
	Use of sexually offensive or degrading pictures or reading material.
	Sexual teasing.
	Jokes with sexual themes.
	Unwanted physical contact.
	Promises or rewards in return for sexual favors.
	Sexual assault.

As members of Piedmont Volleyball Club Coaching Staff we respect the integrity and protect the welfare of all persons with whom we are working and have an obligation to safeguard information about them that has been obtained in the course of the coaching process.

All in-staff, personal evaluations of, and/or records kept, on a player are stored and disposed of in a manner that assures security and confidentiality.  Such information shall be kept "in-house" (assistant coaches) and not shared with others (other players, public/media, colleagues, etc.).

All objective performance statistics and associated information that are shared with the public/media shall be accurate and honest.

 We do not disclose player confidences to anyone, except: as mandated by law; to prevent a clear and immediate danger to someone; in the course of a civil, criminal or disciplinary action; or by previously obtained verbal (witnessed), or written permission.

 We obtain permission from players before sharing videotape recordings of them, or other data, with anyone else.

 We do not use these standards of confidentiality to avoid intervention when it is necessary: e.g., when there is evidence of physical or psychological abuse of minors, or legal issues.

 When current or former players are referred to in a publication, while teaching or in a public presentation that is not laudatory, their identity is thoroughly disguised.

We do not engage in sexual or other harassment of staff, assistants and employees or colleagues.

All forms of sexual behavior, as defined in Principle IV, with our staff, assistants and employees (except in employee situations involving domestic partners) are unethical.

We do not harass or dismiss an employee who has acted in a reasonable, responsible and ethical manner to protect, or intervene on behalf of, a player or other member of our staff or another employee.

We do not misrepresent our professional qualifications, affiliations and functions, or falsely imply sponsorship or certification by any organization:

We do not make public statements that contain any of the following:

	A false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive or unfair statement.
	A misrepresentation of fact or a statement likely to mislead or deceive because in context it makes only a partial disclosure of relevant facts.
	A misleading testimonial from a player or others regarding the quality of services or products.
	A statement intended or likely to create false or unjustified expectations of favorable results.
	A statement implying unusual, unique, or one-of-a-kind abilities or services that do not exist, including misrepresentation through sensationalism, exaggeration or superficiality.
	Advertisements or announcements by us of camps, clinics, seminars or similar services or endeavors give a clear statement of purpose and a clear description of the experiences to be provided.  The education, training and experience of the provider(s) involved are appropriately specified.