Policy

School Sport Victoria Participant Behaviour Policy and Guidance

Published 15 April, 2026

This policy provides an overview of what convenors, coordinators, SSV staff and match officials (ie judges and referees) are required to do to maximise the positive behaviour of students, team officials and spectators (including parents, other family members and other spectators) at School Sport Victoria competitions and activities.

Details

School Sport Victoria (SSV) is responsible for the organisation and administration of school sport competitions for members schools at the Primary and Secondary level. SSV currently conducts Championships in a number of sports at Primary and Secondary levels.

The Department of Education has a duty of care for all students. Through a number of policies, SSV endeavours to ensure inclusive and safe participation amongst all students. Policies also endeavour to ensure the mental and physical health of students participating in SSV events.

SSV has a responsibility to conduct its activities in line with the Victorian Child Safe Standards, including:

Standard 1 - Organisations establish a culturally safe environment.
Standard 2 - Child Safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisation leadership, governance, and culture.
Standard 9 - Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
Standard 11 - Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

Related Policies

Guidance:

This policy is broken up into 3 sections:

A) Awarding of School Sport Victoria "Spirit of Sport" Bannerettes
B) Positive Behaviour Rule
C) Order off Rule

A. Awarding of School Sport Victoria "Spirit of Sport" Bannerettes

A "Spirit of Sport" bannerette shall be awarded to the school that best exemplifies positive values at each SSV State Championships.

Captains of each of the teams competing are encouraged to recommend a school to receive the award on the day of competition.

The event convenor on the day will determine the winner of the award. The convenor is required to consult with any attending SSV Coordinators or SSV staff if they are in attendance when determining the award winner.

The event convenor may determine not to make an award.

Wherever possible the award will be presented at the end of the round robin matches, unless the preferred school is competing in finals. If the preferred school is competing in finals the award will be presented at the end of competition provided they maintain the standard of behaviour from the round robin sections of the competition.

The following criteria is to be used. The convenor may use any or all criteria when coming to a decision:

Spirit of Sport:

Displaying a positive attitude and a genuine love for the sport.
Celebrating the achievements of others.
Promoting a positive and inclusive sporting environment.

Respect:

The team showing respect to opponents, teammates, officials (referees, umpires), coaches, and spectators.
Accepting victories and defeats gracefully.
Avoiding any form of verbal or physical abuse.

Integrity:

Playing fairly and honestly according to the rules.
Rejecting any attempts at cheating or gaining an unfair advantage.
Admitting mistakes and taking responsibility for actions.

Leadership:

Demonstrating positive leadership qualities, such as motivating others and setting a good example
Supporting and encouraging teammates and opposition, on and off the field.
Showing empathy and compassion towards others

B. Positive Behaviour Rule

The SSV Codes of Conduct aim to ensure that the school sport experience conducted by SSV is an enjoyable, positive, and educative experience free from fear and intimidation, and sets out the expected behaviour of adults and children and young people who are involved with SSV.

An offence must be awarded against a team if, in the match official's (ie referee or umpire) reasonable opinion, any coach, player, team manager, spectator or any other person fails to adhere to the SSV Codes of Conduct. This includes disrespectfully calling out by any person, disputing calls, arguing with any person or for any other reason. This rule includes spectators calling out or speaking in any disrespectful way. This rule must be strictly enforced by the match official with zero tolerance for any and all poor behaviour by any person at the event. This rule can be applied by the referee, the event convenor or SSV staff member as they see it.

Positive Behaviour - means any individual failing to exhibit positive behaviours in line with the SSV Codes of Conduct, as determined by the match official.
Violation means - In the opinion of the match official, whether intentionally or accidentally, there is a failure by a player, coach, team official, spectator, parent or any other person that is involved in or supports a team, to exhibit Positive Behaviour.
Sport Specific on Field Penalty (SSOFP) means - where any appointed match official(s), including referees/umpires, the convenor or School Sport Victoria official, deems an PBR violation has occurred, the Sport Specific On Field Penalty (SSOFP) applies.

This policy requires that where there is a Violation of this Positive Behaviour Rule (PBR) the Sport Specific on Field Penalty (SSOFP) applies.

Sport Implementation

Where this rule is implemented and in the reasonable opinion of the match official/convenor/SSV staff member a Violation has occurred the match official shall:

Wait for an appropriate break in play where the opposing team is not disadvantaged by the implementation of the sport specific rule
Signal a stoppage in play (according to the rules and method of the sport) and in a calm manner the match official/convener/SSV staff member shall notify the offending team (i.e. player, coach and/or official) of the offence.
The match official/convener/SSV staff member should succinctly explain how the Violation has occurred.
The match official/convener/SSV staff member can, at their absolute discretion, stop and cancel any fixture at any time.

The following rule applies to each sport as determined by School Sport Victoria. In 2025 and beyond this rule is to apply to:

Football (soccer)

A1) A corner must be awarded to the opposing team where:

i) in the referee's opinion any coach, player, team manager, teacher, spectator, or other person connected with that team fails to adhere to the SSV Codes of Conduct or for any matter relating to dissent.
ii) a yellow or red card is issued by the referee for dissent

Dissent includes any poor behaviour, disrespectfully calling out, or disputing a referee's decision.
A2) Further information where a corner is not awarded

i) In instances where a penalty or free kick is awarded against a team as per item A1) and in the referee's opinion that the penalty or free kick is of equal or greater advantage to the opposing team, than that of a corner, the referee shall award the penalty or free kick as per the laws of football - no corner shall be awarded.
ii) In instances where the advantage rule is played no corner shall be awarded

A3) Strict enforcement

Basketball

This rule must be strictly enforced by the referee with zero tolerance for any and all poor behaviour. This rule can be applied by the referee, the event convener or SSV staff member.

B1) A Technical Foul must be awarded against a team where:

i) in the referees opinion any coach, player, team manager, teacher, spectator, or other person connected with that team fails to adhere to the SSV Codes of Conduct or for any matter relating to dissent.

Dissent includes any poor behaviour, disrespectfully calling out, or disputing a referee's decision.

Australian Football

This rule must be strictly enforced by the referee with zero tolerance for any and all poor behaviour by any person at the event. This rule can be applied by the referee, the event convener or SSV staff member.

C1) A player is advanced a third:

i) in the umpire's opinion any coach, player, team manager, teacher, spectator, or other person connected with that team fails to adhere to the SSV Codes of Conduct or for any matter relating to dissent.

Dissent includes any poor behaviour, disrespectfully calling out, or disputing a referee's decision.

Netball

D1) A player is advanced a third:

i) in the umpire's opinion any coach, player, team manager, teacher, spectator, or other person connected with that team fails to adhere to the SSV Codes of Conduct or for any matter relating to dissent.

Dissent includes any poor behaviour, disrespectfully calling out, or disputing a referee's decision.

Other selected sports will be trialled during 2026

C. Order off rule

Whilst this policy refers to specific conduct on the field of play and their consequences, it should be read in conjunction with the SSV Codes of Conduct.

Team Sports - District, Division, Region and State Events

A player may be ordered off by a Referee/Umpire, the Convener or the School Sport Officer for one of the following reasons:-

a) Striking or unduly rough play.
b) Swearing and/or abusive behaviour being directed towards members of the opposition, umpires or any other officials.
c) Continual disputing of umpiring decisions. Players will be given one warning and if they infringe a second time they will be ordered off.

Clarification of match official (ie referees and umpires) decisions may only be done by the team captain or coach, via the convener, in a calm and sensible manner.

The penalty cards in Australian Football, Football (Soccer) and Hockey will apply. Netball Rules Section 13 Game Management will apply.

Such a player will not be permitted to return during the remainder of the match and shall not be replaced for that match (except in racquet games, where the rubber in progress will be forfeited and a replacement at No. 4 is allowed in subsequent rubbers).

The student involved is to take no further part in that day's competition and shall be suspended for the minimum of the next level of the competition.

The student is not to represent the school in any other team during the round he/she is suspended.

The supervising teacher must lodge a written report to the school principal and the District or School Sport Officer within 24 hours of any incident involving the ordering off of a player.

Schools will be responsible for taking whatever action they feel appropriate.

If a player displays unacceptable or abusive behaviour whilst at a SSV Final, the convener or the School Sport Officer will inform the coach of the team that if such behaviour continues the player will be unable to take any further part in the day's competition.

If a person associated with a team (spectator, coach, official, staff member or parent) displays unacceptable or abusive behaviour whilst at a SSV Final, the convener or the School Sport Officer will inform the coach of the team that if such behaviour continues the team may be disqualified from further participation in the day's competition.

Games will be stopped before full time in the following instances:

a) If two incidents occur during a game resulting in one or more players from a particular team being sent off in each incident, the match will be stopped by the convener and awarded to the opposing team.
b) If coaches dispute an umpiring decision in an unacceptable manner they will be given one warning. If a second infringement occurs the match will be stopped by the convener and awarded to the opposition.
c) If in a one-sided match, after consultation between the umpire and the convener, it is felt that frustration may cause unacceptable behaviour if play continues, the match will be stopped by the convener and awarded to the team winning at the time.
d) If spectators (i.e. students, ex-students, parents, friends) supporting a particular team display unacceptable or abusive behaviour towards the umpire or members of the opposition, the convener will inform the coach of that team that if it continues the match will be stopped by the convener and awarded to the opposition.

Premier League

If a player is suspended in club/community matches their suspension will be recognised by SSV and the player will not be eligible to compete in SSV Premier League competition in that sport during their suspension period.