Code of Ethics

NAIA COACHES CODE

• I believe in the power of athletics as a program for the training of youth for a strong and efficient democracy.

• I believe in athletics for the building of good character and personality.

• I believe in athletics as a significant part of a sound educational program.

• I believe in athletics as a constructive force in the lives of millions of sports followers throughout our nation. Therefore, I will hold sportsmanship and fair play high above all other values to be gained through sports participation.

• I consider the privilege of guiding youth through participation in sports as a sacred trust and not merely a means of livelihood.

• I will always keep the best interests of each student-athlete as my aim. I shall never be guilty of enhancing my professional progress by the use of a student's skill for my benefit.

• I will ever keep before the students under my direction the high ideals, honesty, sincerity, and integrity which have made our nation great. I will not encourage, or ever tolerate, any form of trickery or evasion of rules in order to gain an advantage over an opponent.

• I will do all in my power to instill in those under my direction a tolerance for all races and creeds, and I will stand out against intolerance wherever it may occur.

• I will strive to instill in every youth great purposes and aims in living and will use the desire to play not as an end, but as a training ground for the student’s highest development.

• I will strive to teach each student to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat, to be above bragging or using alibis, and shall help develop inner strength and poise.

• I will use only fair and honest means in my desire for personal achievement and shall count the goodwill of my peers far above any achievement unfairly gained.

• I will not sacrifice the values to be gained through a wholesome enjoyment of challenging sports activity for institutional pride or commercial ends.

• I will use only fair and honest means of securing talent for athletic teams and never stoop to trickery or insincere promises in influencing students in the selection of their educational experience.

• I will use every means at my command to protect the moral, mental and physical health of the students under my guidance and will never be party to the use of athletics for the financial or political gain of any office or group.

• I will encourage each student to avail himself/herself of the best experience to be gained in a well-rounded education and to progress normally toward graduation. I will never encourage participation in athletics as an end in itself.

• I will help each student under my guidance toward the development of honest habits of work and pride in work well done and I shall not practice or allow evasion in any obligation surrounding the athletics program.

• I will shoulder my total responsibility as a leader through athletics and will not allow that responsibility to be transferred to any person or group outside the educational institution. I will not violate this sacred trust for financial support or political prestige.