Schools Information

Play by the Rules provides information, free on line training and interactive scenarios to promote inclusive, safe and fair participation in sport and recreation.

First launched in 2001 the website has undergone a major restructure in late 2008.

Schools can use Play by the Rules:

• to complement their sports policies and procedures
• as a way of communicating messages about positive behaviour in sport
• to assist in responding to issues and preventing them escalating into bigger problems
• as a resource for subjects and programs where ethics and legal issues concerning discrimination, harassment and child protection are relevant.

Some ideas include:

• Provide coaches (e.g., casual coaches and volunteers) with guidelines that support them in their role. For example: guidelines on photographing children, transport, appropriate boundaries and working with children.
• Require sporting personnel to complete the free online training courses on discrimination, harassment and child protection so they understand their legal rights and responsibilities.
• Use the free brochures and flyers as a way of communicating messages about sport being fun, fair and safe. For example; the ‘Safe and Fair Behaviour’ flyer and ‘Code of Behaviour’ cards.
• Use the information in ‘Got an Issue’ to promote inclusive sport practices and get practical tips about dealing with issues (e.g., girls playing in boys teams, angry parents, the verbally abusive coach and junior team selection).
• Use the online training or new interactive scenarios as a teaching resource for subjects such as Physical Education, Legal Studies, Citizenship and Civics. The interactive scenarios cover issues such as sexual harassment, sex discrimination, homophobia and sexuality discrimination, religion and disability inclusion and more.