1. Play for enjoyment and become part of the Mullingar Family.
2. Respect the “Game of Hockey” and play within the rules.
3. Accept the Umpires’ decisions and let your Captain ask questions.
4. Play with control. Do not lose your temper.
5. Always do your best to be committed to your game, your team, and your club.
6. Respect your opponent. Treat all players as you would like to be treated. Do not “Bully” or take advantage of any player.
7. Adult players must be mindful that you will play with and against schoolboys / girls. Your behavior and attitude to our young players should be positive and encouraging at all times. Our young players are an essential part of the club and hockey in general. Mullingar Hockey Club abides by the “Code of Ethics for Children’s Sport”.
8. At the end of the match, thank your opponents and the umpires, whatever the result.
9. Always remember that you owe a duty of care to your team and your opponents. Tackle hard but fairly. Never attempt to injure another player on purpose.
10. Winning and losing are part of sport. Win with humility; lose with dignity.
11. Being part of a team means attending training along with matches. Co-operate with your captain by informing them if you cannot be at training.
12. You are part of a squad of players. Respect the coach’s decision in relation to which 11 players are on the pitch at any one time. Teams evolve as matches evolve.
13. Remember you are representing your team and your club. Do not let us down by your behavior on or off the pitch.

Above all Play Well and Have Fun

Code of Behavior for Coaches and Captains

1. If you are coaching an underage team, or have schoolboys/girls on your squad, remember that you are acting ‘in loco parentis’ and that you have a duty of care to all of your players.

2. Guidelines for working with U18s:
• All phone/electronic communications with underage players must be with the nominated parent/guardian. Such communications are permitted with the child only with the express prior consent of the parent/guardian and, in those circumstances, the parent/guardian must be copied in on all the communications. If you set up a group for your team (on What’s App for example) the child’s parent/guardian must be included in the group
• Selection decisions (especially de-selection) should be communicated with the parent present or through the parent.
• Timing of communication should be carefully considered around other commitments (i.e., school exams) and should not take place after 21:30
• Ensure that young people are not exposed to any forms of explicit or adult audience type material (including references to drinking etc). If your team has a What’s App group parental permission should be sought, and parents included. If this platform is used more as a social way of communicating, then do not include U18s and be sure to communicate with the parent/child in another manner.

3. Attend the “Code of Ethics for Children’s Sport” if possible. It is available to read Here:

4. Create a safe and enjoyable environment in which to train and play.

5. Lead by example - players need a coach/captain they can respect as a role model.

6. Be generous with your praise and never ridicule or shout at players for making mistakes or losing a match.

7. Teach your players to play by the rules.

8. Ensure that you are appropriately qualified by gaining the relevant coaching certification for your particular level.

9. Be reasonable in your demands on the players’ time, energy, and enthusiasm. Establish good communication practices from the outset.

10. Encourage respect for all participants –teammates and opponents, as well as match officials.

11. Ensure the team has a first aid kit and, if playing at home, have a bag of ice in the dugout. Familiarise yourself with the guidelines on concussion here: hockey - concussion_policy

Code of Behavior for Parents

1. In Mullingar, we rarely keep score at underage level in friendly matches. We focus on enjoyment, best effort, and team spirit. We use Irish Hockey’s “Hooked for Life” as a guide:
- Up to 3rd class will play “Fun 4s” – four a side games in a small space with two attacking goals where everyone is guaranteed to be involved.
- 4th/5th will play “Super 6s” – 6 a side on a quarter of a pitch.
- 6th Class / 1st Yr will play “Extreme 8’s” – 8 a side on half a pitch.
More information can be found on the IHA website Here.
2. Remember, young people play hockey for their enjoyment, not only yours.
3. Help young people to work towards skills improvement and good sportsmanship.
4. Set a good example by applauding good play on both sides.
5. Never ridicule, humiliate, or shout at young players for making a mistake or losing a match.
6. Do not place emphasis on winning at all costs.
7. Do not force an unwilling child to participate in the playing of hockey. If the child is to play, he/she will do so in good time through your and our encouragement.
8. We promote good behavior among players – we expect the same of the parents: do not publicly question the umpires’ judgement and never their honesty.
9. Recognise the value and importance of volunteer umpires and coaches.

Please remember, the players are children, the coaches are giving up their time for your child and the umpires cannot see everything. This is Junior Hockey, not the final of the Olympics.

We welcome you to Mullingar Hockey Club and hope you and your child will have a positive and long-lasting connection with the club.