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FAIR PLAY REMINDER: BYCs

A message from the BF Lead Safeguarding Officer to clubs, coaches and parents in the lead-up to the BYCs, about their responsibilities to create an environment where children can be safe, have fun and feel welcome.

The upcoming British Youth Championships (BYCs) is a fantastic event, bringing together children from across the country to compete against each other. For some, this will be their first experience, and some will be aiming for medals.

Some might be supported by their coaches, and others will be supported by teammates and parents.

It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that the experience is fun for all children, recognising that this is still a competition and therefore many more children will end their experience losing a fight rather than winning a fight (there is only one eventual winner!).

What happens after the child’s final fight is also just as important to how they experience the day as to what happens before and during the fights. There are useful links to videos here, which are intended to help parents reflect on what positive parenting in sport should look like.

Everyone accompanying a fencer to the competition is expected to familiarise themselves with the BF Fair Play Code, which the officials and volunteers will be enforcing at the competition.

As a summary reminder, everyone is expected to:

  • Stay safe – barriers and taped-off areas are there to help with managing athletes, coaches and supporters and to keep everyone safe. Respect the purpose for which they are being used and follow instructions with regards to access.
  • Respect the rules – coaching must not take place during or between hits. Tactical coaching is only allowed before the match or during the minute break. Tactical coaching at other times during the match (even as the fencer is walking back to the en garde line between points) is against the FIE rules and most importantly, takes away valuable learning opportunities for the fencers. This is the coach’s responsibility, just as much as it is the referee’s.
  • Respect the referee – respect the referee’s decision and keep your thoughts inside your head.
  • Respect the opposition – cheer between hits and not while fencing is taking place. Acknowledge the effort and performance of both sides. Be gracious in victory and defeat.
  • Respect our sport – abide by the rules and respect the referees, officials, other coaches, and opposition fencers.
  • Be a role model – in behaviour and language.

There are additional rules for the U14s:

  1. No aggressive shouting (either positive or negative in content – often fencers only hear the sounds, not the words!) from coaches/parents/supporters, either to their own fencers or directed against competitors.
  2. Coaches and parents have a duty to role model good behaviour at all times. It is not appropriate to demonstrate a ‘win at all cost’ mentality and whether a fight is won or lost or mistakes are made (fencers or referees!), fencers should always have your positive support, and referees should always be treated with respect.
  3. Adults (coaches and parents) are responsible for how they make BOTH fencers in a match feel before, during, and after the match. That includes considering whether it is appropriate to take advantage of situations where the opposition is not supported by anyone.