NFHS Coaches Code of Ethics |
| The coach shall be aware that he or she has a
tremendous influence, for either good or ill, on the education of the student-athlete and,
thus, shall never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest
ideals of character. The coach shall uphold the honor and dignity of the profession. In all personal contact with student-athletes, officials, athletic directors, school administrators, the state high school athletic association, the media, and the public, the coach shall strive to set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct. The coach shall take an active role in the prevention of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse. The coach shall avoid the use of alcohol and tobacco products when in contact with players. The coach shall promote the entire interscholastic program of the school and direct his or her program in harmony with the total school program. The coach shall master the contest rules and shall teach them to his or her team members. The coach shall not seek an advantage by circumvention of the spirit or letter of the rules. The coach shall exert his or her influence to enhance sportsmanship by spectators, both directly and by working closely with cheerleaders, pep club sponsors, booster clubs, and administrators. The coach shall respect and support contest officials. The coach shall not indulge in conduct which would incite players or spectators against the officials. Public criticism of officials or players is unethical. Before and after contests, coaches for the competing teams should meet and exchange cordial greetings to set the correct tone for the event. A coach shall not exert pressure on faculty members to give student-athletes special consideration. A coach shall not scout opponents by any means other than those adopted by the league and/or state high school athletic association.
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| Moral Values | Actions in Life | Actions in Sport |
| Be Respectful | Be respectful of other people Be respectful of others' property Be respectful of the environment Be respectful of yourself |
Be respectful of the game and to its rules and
traditions Be respectful of your opponents Be respectful of the officials Be respectful in victory and defeat |
| Be Responsible | Fulfill your obligations Be dependable Be in control of yourself Be persistent |
Prepare yourself to do your best Be punctual for practices and games Be self-disciplined Be cooperative with your teammates |
| Be Caring | Be compassionate and have empathy Be forgiving Be generous and kind Avoid being selfish or mean |
Help your teammates play better Support teammates in trouble Be generous with praise: stingy with criticism Play for the team, not yourself |
| Be Honest | Be truthful and forthright Act with integrity Be trustworthy Be courageous to do the right thing |
Play be the spirit of the rules Be loyal to the team Play drug free Admit to your own mistakes |
| Be Fair | Follow the Golden Rule Be tolerant of others Be willing to share Avoid taking advantage of others |
Treat other players as you wish to be treated Be fair to all players, including those who are different Give other players an opportunity Play to win within the rules |
| Be a Good Citizen | Obey the laws and rules Be educated and stay informed Contribute to the community Protect others |
Be a good role model |Strive for excellence Give back to the sport Encourage teammates to be good citizens |