Fencing Code Of Ethics

Personally, coaches in particular get a great deal of satisfaction and fulfillment from seeing their efforts in time and training fencers produce good results. They enjoy helping them learn, progress and achieve higher goals.

As fencing programs grow and become more competitive, by necessity, they rise to the level of a business operation. How that business is conducted becomes very important. Many questions must be asked of oneself, “Is it business first, or does the fencer come first?” “Is the bottom line of winning and success, more important than how that is achieved?” “Do personal relationships and loyalties between coaches, fencers and their families take second place to achieving success?“

This is where personal Ethics come into play. There is a huge distinction between 'Legal' and 'Ethical'.

‘Legal” is a matter of law. “Ethics” are a code of conduct based on personal values and beliefs. Therefore, someone may do something which is ‘legal’ yet ‘unethical‘. Not surprisingly, these opposing values have caused and will always cause a measure of conflict.

Consider on previous occasions when there were unjust and unfair laws on the books. Before being overturned, they were ‘legal’ and permitted people to exploit others to their ‘legal’ advantage. ‘Legal’ but highly unethical. Also, consider current laws that you may know of, which are valid but contain many inadequacies or loopholes allowing persons to manipulate and circumvent legalities to exploit others.

A small number of people will attempt to justify such competitive business practices as being proper since they are doing nothing ‘illegal’, however if ethical standards are being violated, the ends do not justify the means. Such practices lead down a slippery slope to soiled reputations, disunity, distrust, broken relationships, not to mention emotionally and financially injured people.

Below is a simple list containing a few of the Ethical standards many coaches, clubs, and fencers adhere to in Fencing. They are not intended to be an all-encompassing solution for every situation, however when the legal system fails us, Ethics stand in the gap.  

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Fencing Code of Ethics

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My Pledge:

I will hold myself accountable to the Ethical Fencing Standards below and will ask others to respect and honor the same. While I do not claim to have perfected these standards, I will always do my best to practice and defend them.

-I will not initiate contact with another clubs’ fencers and families in an effort to solicit or otherwise entice them to leave the club they belong to and participate in my clubs. This practice is unethical.

-I will not ask or encourage any of my fencers or family members to contact another clubs’ fencers and families in an effort to solicit or otherwise entice them to leave the club they belong to and participate in my clubs. This practice is unethical.

-I will honor and encourage everyone to respect all mutual agreements made between people whether formal or informal by clubs, coaches and fencers.

-I will ask and promote honest and respectful communications between fencers, families, coaches and club owners.

-I will place personal and family ethical values first in fencing business relationships and decisions.

-I will practice and promote honesty, loyalty, trust, respect and responsibility.

Sincerely,

 the UnderSigned_______________

Prepared by Bruce Sikes, Fencing Coach, Club Owner, Fencer