Clubs can build a strong culture of respect, fairness and inclusivity where there is no room for abuse and violence.
Club people + Insights and Knowledge + Right Actions = Success
Club people will drive culture change when they are empowered to do so. You want to belong to a club that’s safe, fair, fun, successful and is all about growth opportunities. With the right insight and knowledge to assist you, you can ensure success.
There are manuals galore about communications theory and how to establish good communications. But wise heads know that there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. It has been said, for example, that your beliefs become your thoughts, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, habits become your values and values become your destiny.
This wisdom applies to sports clubs too. The beliefs and thoughts around the club become the words, the words become the actions and so on. When clubs seek to become a place of respect, safety, fun, fairness and success, all communications, in and around the club, come under the spotlight. Some change and shifts will be required.
Calm, clear communications and deep listening replaces yelling and screaming. Respectful communications replace sexist and racist abuse. Building the kind of communications in and around a club that helps grow a culture of respect is an exciting and rewarding adventure.
Club Respect suggests you put all of the club’s communications practices, words and deeds, under the spotlight.
Every club has a set of values listed around the club or on its website. Unfortunately, there is a great discrepancy between clubs as to how they act their values.
It is not uncommon to discover that the members of some clubs are completely unaware of their club values. In other clubs, they may know of them, but fail to enact them.
The hallmark of clubs with a recognisable culture of respect is their capacity to put their values into action and explicitly demonstrate the actions that align with their values.
People with key roles, model the values in their work around the club. For example, coaches demonstrate the club values through their collaborative interactions with parents and players, and players engage in positive on and off-field behaviours that also reflect club values.
What clubs need is a process to assist them to recognise and enact their values. We’ve developed the Club Respect Positive Behaviour Matrix as a tool that can help you get underway.
Being “fair” is a strong value in Australian society, but like other important values, there can be a gap between the idea and the reality. Being “fair’ doesn’t come about through hope and intent. People have to do things to ensure it works in practice. Clubs are no exception. They don’t always get it right when it comes to being fair to everyone.
We hear, all the time, stories of clubs where there is unequal access:
When a club aspires to build and maintain a culture of respect, it works on the basis that all people matter:
The more a club reflects the diversity and richness of its community and gives everyone a fair go, the better the club will be in developing and maintaining a positive and successful culture – on and off the field.
Some simple and powerful ways to ensure equal access in your club:
Clubs that strive for a culture of deep respect provide equal opportunity for all people to participate in all club activities. We know that club personnel are always changing, so clubs need to continue to check the needs of their community.
Equal access must never go out the door with a president, committee member(s), or other club leaders when they move on.
Physical disability
Club facilities are appropriate for all. Ensure that:
See Frequently Asked Questions: Access to Premises for more detail.
Multiculturalism
The club is welcoming to people of all cultural backgrounds:
Gender
Everyone has the same access to club facilities and resources, regardless of gender:
Age
All people, young and old, have equal access to club resources:
Fair Play
Everyone at your club ‘gets a go’: