Gender Diversity Policy
Everyone, no matter the role they have in football, can help create a culture that is inclusive and welcoming of gender-diverse people. At Langwarrin SC we encourage all supporters, members, players and coaches to adopt and encourage the following guidelines:
- Use, and encourage others to use, respectful and inclusive language.
- Follow Football Australia, Football Victoria and Langwarrin's SC’s guidelines about standards of behaviour.
- Offer your own, ask about and use preferred names and pronouns when speaking with and about people. If you make a mistake, apologise and move on with your conversation, and try not to repeat the mistake. Do not use an individual’s former name if they indicate a different preferred name. To do so may constitute harassment.
- It is not relevant, impolite and may constitute harassment to ask a gender diverse person about their genitals or surgery, what hormones/hormone blockers they may be using.
- Respect an individual’s decision about which toilets or changerooms they use. Act respectfully in changing spaces.
- If you are aware of an individual’s transgender status, keep this information confidential unless you have that individual’s express consent.
- Be an active bystander. When you see disrespectful or inappropriate behaviour, do something, show support or speak up. If it is not safe to act, report the behaviour or incident to a Committee person, club official or team member.
- Learn about issues facing gender-diverse people and their participation in sport, especially:
- Avoiding mixing up gender identity (how and individual perceives their own gender) with sexual orientation. (an individual’s romantic or sexual attraction toward others)
- Recognise that gender diverse people are also diverse people, who may be form a variety of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, and who have had a variety of life experiences, and which may impact their ability to affirm their gender/transition.
- How to support an individual who may be in the process of affirming their gender (“coming out”) while maintaining appropriate privacy and ensuring they control the process.
Coaches & Team Managers
COACHES AND TRAINERS
Football is a team sport and while a single player may be influential, it takes a team to win.
Use your coaching skills to guide and direct your players to take advantage of their strengths in an appropriate way and within the rules
Use appropriate and inclusive language, such as:
- A: player, opponent, a defender, a midfielder or a forward rather than this bloke, pick up your man or woman
- B: team, crew or everyone instead of boys or girls
- C: gender neutral expressions (use they/them rather than he/him or she/her)
Be prepared to talk with players (or their parents) about how Langwarrin SC sees inclusion as a key value in community football.
If you are aware of any gender diverse people in your team, you must keep this information confidential unless you have that player’s express consent
Set the tone for, and leadership of, your team regarding expectations of behaviour and follow-through that addresses poor conduct, harassment, and vilification in line with the club’s policies and procedures
TEAM MANAGERS
Privacy is important for all players. Ensure appropriate protections for and the confidentiality of private information you have access to
You may need to remind players (and others) about preferred names and pronouns of gender diverse people within the club. This can be done formally or as part of everyday and polite conversation
Take reports or complaints of poor behaviour related to gender identity seriously, and follow club procedures to address them
If you have players who prefer to use unisex facilities, discreetly (while protecting the privacy of the individual concerned) ensure that similar facilities are/can be made available at away games
Confidential complaints
Clubs and Football Victoria may receive concerns or complaints related to the inclusion and treatment of gender diverse players. Complaints may include the specific treatment of a person, general ideas of “fairness” of the competition, or risks of injury to players.
There is no separate complaints of policy or procedure under Football Victoria guidelines for managing complaints relating to gender diversity. Complaints are always assessed on the merits/facts of each case. However, in community football, the idea of social inclusion should be given greater emphasis than concerns about competitive advantage in relation to the participation of gender diverse players.
Langwarrin SC and Football Victoria recognises that the governing body and the individual clubs are the key places where commitment to inclusion comes to life.
Please email member.support@langwarrinsc.com.au to register a confidential complaint.
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