The School Sport Unit Code of Conduct embodies the values and priorities that underpin the NSW Department of Education’s “Our Plan for NSW Public Education” – Transforming lives through learning.

Students
Winning is great, but learning, teamwork, and wellbeing matter most. Try your best, show respect to others, and enjoy your opportunities to learn and grow through sport.
• Show respect: Treat teammates, opponents, coaches, officials and spectators with fairness and respect.
• Be kind and fair: Celebrate victory with humility and accept defeat with grace.
• Give your best: Always strive to be the best version of yourself by giving your best efforts and playing by the rules.
• Value connections with others: Recognise everyone’s contribution and value all abilities, cultures, and backgrounds.
• Be responsible online: Use social media positively and respectfully.

Together, we build belonging, strengthen wellbeing, and demonstrate the values of NSW public education: integrity, excellence, respect, responsibility, cooperation, participation, care, fairness, and democracy.

Parents/carers and community members
Parents, carers, and spectators are reminded that school sport is an educational activity – in some instances the students also act as match officials. While winning is enjoyable, what matters most is learning, teamwork, and individual wellbeing.
• Model positive behaviour: From the sideline or the grandstand, remember this is a school event and your comments and body language as a spectator must always remain positive and appropriate.
• Model positivity towards match officials: Refrain from commenting on match official performances and decisions.
• Encourage your child: Focus on learning, effort, personal growth and enjoying experiences, rather than solely on individual performance or winning.
• Communicate positively: Be courteous, constructive, and respectful to coaches, staff, spectators, and students.
• Celebrate appropriately: Acknowledge effort, improvement, and teamwork as equally important as the result.
• Support a healthy environment: Refrain from smoking, vaping and consuming alcohol or other drugs while at school sport events.

Together, we can create an educational sporting environment where every child learns and thrives, develops respect for others, and enjoys the journey as much as the competition.

Staff
Foster an educational sporting environment where learning, wellbeing, and teamwork are celebrated, and where students are encouraged to grow through effort and respect rather than results.
• Lead with professionalism: conduct yourself with a commitment to fairness, inclusion, and respect by upholding rules and modelling calm, respectful communication with students, families, and colleagues.
• Advance equity: Ensure all students uphold the rules and expected behaviours at all times, creating safe, supportive, and meaningful opportunities for everyone to compete and succeed.
• Foster wellbeing and belonging: Build inclusive environments that ensure safety and value diversity of culture, gender, ability, and background.
• Prioritise safety and accountability: Adhere to all Department of Education policy requirements.

Together we strengthen student wellbeing and development, deliver outstanding teaching and leadership, and uphold the values that define NSW public education.