SLIDER

SUPPORTING ETHICAL BEHAVIOR

One of the goals of the JSA is to CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS ETHICAL CHOICES. 

We want to stress being proactive rather than being reactive as we strive to give our sailors the tools to make positive choices.

All of us – including PROGRAM CHAIRS, HEAD INSTRUCTORS, INSTRUCTORS and PARENTS should WORK TOGETHER AND WITH JUNIOR SAILORS to accomplish this goal.

We hope that the SUGGESTIONS below will prove helpful.

  • GIVE YOUR SAILORS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO HELP THEM MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES.
  • ENCOURAGE A FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE RATHER THAN OUTCOME.
  • SEPARATE THE PERFORMER FROM THE PERFORMANCE.
  • HELP SAILORS SET REALISTIC GOALS/EXPECTATIONS FOR THEMSELVES.
  • USE THE JSA ETHICS GUIDELINES POSTER AS A CENTERPIECE FOR YOUR PROGRAM PLANNING.

GUIDELINE #1:

“Respected sailors always know and abide by the Racing Rules. They promptly take a penalty or retire when they know they broke a rule or file a protest when appropriate.”

SUGGESTIONS FOR HELPING SAILORS TO FOLLOW GUIDELINE #1:

  • Include rules instruction in your program.
  • Introduce a “rule of the week” – at age and skill appropriate levels.
  • Include penalty turns as part of the on-the-water training.
  • Set up on-the-water drills that will create rules situations (.i.e. rules that apply at mark roundings).
  • Use the UK link on the JSA website to study animated rules situations.
  • Invite a local judge to help with mock protests.
  • Have sailors serve as arbitrators. (See Appendix C of the JSA Yearbook, “Arbitration Procedures and Rules”.)
  • Brainstorm other ideas for improving sailors’ knowledge of the RRS and the protest processes

GUIDELINE #2:

“Respected sailors always obey event regulations on and off the water, including housing rules.”

SUGGESTIONS FOR HELPING SAILORS TO FOLLOW GUIDELINE #2:

  • Before each regatta go to the JSA Website for the regatta’s “Notice of Race” and the JSA’s “Housing Regulations and Responsibilities”.
  • Review these and other regatta regulations with the sailors who will be attending the regatta.
  • Make it clear to sailors that they represent not only themselves but also their club/program and that their club/program expects positive representation.
  • Make following their daily program regulations as well as regatta regulations part of the culture of their club/program.

GUIDELINE # 3:

“Respected sailors are always organized, prepared, and responsible for their own equipment.”

Before the sailing season begins have a rigging day and check-in each of each boat that will be used in

your program.

  • Be sure that all gear, including the sailor’s PFD is clearly and indelibly labeled.
  • Check each boat to be sure it has the required safety equipment . . . particularly Optis and BlueJays. (Safety Equipment lists are made available from the JSA.) Make this a condition of participation.
  • Strongly encourage sailors and their parents to label all other personal belongings.
  • Prepare a regatta checklist for each boat class. This list of necessary boat and personal gear will help sailors get organized for a regatta.

GUIDELINE # 4:

“Respected sailors always show respect to fellow sailors and those helping to run regattas and programs.”

Make RESPECT a major part of what you do.

  • Develop ways for sailors to help other sailors and make that a part of the program culture. (i.e. Have 4 Opti sailors work together to remove an Opti from its rack and launch it.)
  • Teach strategies for expressing concerns in a positive way.
  • Make it clear to parents, instructors, committee people, sailors, and others who areinvolved with the junior sailors that RESPECTFUL behavior is expected from everyone.

Remember that young people learn more from what they observe than from what they are told.

  • Review the Ethics Guidelines that spell out what “RESPECTED SAILORS NEVER DO”.
  • Be sure the sailors understand what the consequences will be at the the program level, regatta level, the JSA level and even at the national level if they:
    • Swear at, intimidate or harass anyone, including teammates, on or off the water.
    • Steal or borrow, without permission, anything that does not belong to them.
    • Break laws related to alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs.

See the JSA document entitled “Enforcing the JSA ETHICS GUIDELINES” and note that the above “Nevers” have also been incorporated in the “Rules for JSA Events, Section 10, Discipline”.

JSA Ethics Committee – January, 2004

 

Download and display the JSA ethics poster