Coaching Code of Ethics & Conduct

1. Certification Compliance: A coach must maintain “good standing” with the RRCA by fulfilling all annual requirements for the RRCA Certified Coach credential.
2. Professional Excellence: Coaches are expected to uphold the highest standards of excellence in their work. They must acknowledge the limits of their expertise and only operate within their proven competencies.
3. Qualified Services: Coaches may only provide services and use techniques for which they are qualified by education, training, or experience. In areas lacking established professional standards, coaches must exercise careful judgment and implement safeguards to protect the welfare of their athletes and clients.
4. Continuous Learning: Coaches must stay informed about current scientific and professional developments in their field. They are responsible for ongoing education to maintain their skills and must base their professional judgments on scientifically and professionally validated knowledge.

1. Upholding Integrity: Coaches must actively promote integrity in all aspects of their coaching practice.
2. Honesty and Respect: Coaches shall conduct themselves with honesty, fairness, and respect in all professional interactions.
3. Truthful Representation: Coaches shall not make any public statements—whether through action, omission, or implication—that are false, deceptive, misleading, or fraudulent regarding:
   • Their training, experience, or competence;
   • Their academic degrees or professional credentials;Their affiliations with institutions or associations;
   • The nature or scope of their services; or
   • The basis for, results of, or degree of success associated with their services.

1. Upholding Standards and Clarifying Roles: Coaches must uphold the highest professional standards of conduct. They are responsible for:
   • Clearly defining their professional roles and obligations;
   • Taking full accountability for their actions; and
   • Adapting their coaching methods to meet the individual needs of their athletes.
2. Collaboration and Professional Boundaries: Coaches collaborate with other professionals and institutions, as necessary, to best serve their athletes and clients. While coaches, like all individuals, are entitled to personal moral standards, these standards must never:
   • Compromise their professional responsibilities; or
   • Undermine public trust in the coaching profession.
3. Duty to Prevent Harm: Coaches must take all reasonable steps to avoid causing harm to athletes or participants; and minimize foreseeable and unavoidable harm.

1. Non-Discrimination: Coaches do not engage in discrimination based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
2. Respect and Inclusion: Coaches respect the fundamental rights, dignity, and worth of all participants and clients. Coaches:
   • Recognize and value cultural, individual, and role differences;
   • Actively work to eliminate biases that could impact their professional work; and
   • Refrain from participating in or condoning any form of unfair or discriminatory practices.
3. Prohibition of Harassment and Demeaning Behavior: Coaches do not engage in any behavior that is harassing, demeaning, or disrespectful toward participants, clients, or colleagues. This prohibition applies to all interactions and is based on factors including—but not limited to—age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status.

1. Prioritizing Welfare and Rights: Coaches contribute to the welfare of all individuals with whom they interact professionally. In every professional action, coaches:
   • Consider the welfare and rights of their athletes and participants; and
   • Ensure their decisions and actions align with the best interests of those they serve.
2. Managing Personal Conflicts and Limitations: Coaches recognize when personal issues or conflicts could impair their professional effectiveness. Coaches:
   • Avoid engaging in activities where personal problems may cause harm to athletes or participants;
   • Seek professional consultation or assistance if personal issues arise that could impact their work; and
   • Limit, suspend, or terminate their professional duties if necessary to prevent harm.
3. Resolving Conflicts and Power Dynamics: When conflicts arise between professional obligations or concerns, coaches:
   • Actively work to resolve conflicts in a manner that minimizes harm;
   • Perform their roles responsibly, with sensitivity to power imbalances; and
   • Avoid exploiting or misleading others, both during and after professional relationships.

1. Zero Tolerance for Sexual Harassment: Coaches shall not engage in sexual harassment of any kind. Sexual harassment may occur as a single severe incident or as repeated, persistent behavior. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to:
   • Sexual solicitation;
   • Physical advances; or
   • Verbal or nonverbal conduct of a sexual nature that is unwelcome, offensive, or creates a hostile environment or power imbalance.
2. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: Coaches must remain vigilant against any personal, financial, social, organizational, or political influences that could compromise their professional judgment or integrity. Coaches refrain from entering into or promising any relationship—personal, professional, financial, or otherwise—with individuals under their supervision if such a relationship:
   • Could impair their objectivity;
   • Interfere with their ability to perform their coaching duties; or
   • Risk harming or exploiting the other party.
3. Prohibition of Exploitation and Romantic Relationships: Coaches shall not exploit athletes or participants over whom they hold supervisory, evaluative, or other authority. This includes but is not limited to engaging in sexual or romantic relationships with athletes or participants under their direct or indirect authority. Such relationships are inherently

1. Community and Societal Responsibility: Coaches are aware of their professional responsibilities to the community and society. They apply and make public their knowledge of the sport of running in order to contribute to human welfare. They are obligated to comply with this Code of Ethics & Conduct when making public statements relating to their professional services, products, or publications.
2. Compliance with Laws and Policies: Coaches must comply with all applicable laws, guidelines, policies, and procedures required for maintaining their RRCA Certified Coach credential.
3. Transparency in Service Delivery: When providing services to individuals, groups, or organizations, coaches must:
   • Use clear and understandable language;
   • Provide upfront information about the nature of the services, including any associated fees; and
   • Share appropriate details about the expected results and conclusions of the services provided.
4. Anti-Doping Commitment: Coaches shall not tolerate the use of performance-enhancing drugs. They must actively support athletes’ efforts to remain drug-free and promote a culture of fair competition.

Automatic Revocation for Serious Offenses:  The RRCA will immediately and permanently revoke the certification of any coach who is found to be:

• convicted of or pleads guilty to any violent crime, including assault, battery, or abuse; or
• listed on any state or federal sex offender registry.

No appeal or review process will be available for revocations under this section. The RRCA will verify convictions, plea status, or registry listings through official channels and notify the coach of revocation via the email provided by the coach to the RRCA.

1. Knowledge of Ethical Standards: Coaches must be familiar with this Code of Ethics and Conduct and all applicable ethical guidelines. Ignorance or misunderstanding of these standards is not a valid defense for unethical conduct.
2. Addressing Conflicts: If the demands of an organization with which coaches are affiliated conflict with this Code of Ethics and Conduct, coaches clarify the nature of the conflict, make known their commitment to this Code of Ethics and Conduct, and to the extent feasible, seek to resolve the conflict in a way that permits the fullest adherence to this Code of Ethics and Conduct.
3. Seeking Guidance for Ethical Uncertainty: If a coach is uncertain whether a situation or action violates this Code, they should consult with the RRCA Director of Coaching Education; or other appropriate authorities to determine the proper course of action.
4. Reporting Ethical Violations: If a coach believes another coach has violated this Code, they must:
   • Attempt to resolve the issue informally with the individual, if appropriate, and if doing so does not violate the rights of any athlete involved.
   • For serious violations or if informal resolution is not appropriate, report the issue to the RRCA Director of Coaching Education. The RRCA will examine the issue in consultation with the CEO and, if necessary, the Board of Directors.
5. Consequences for Gross Violations: If the RRCA determines that a coach has committed a violation of this Code and refuses to correct their behavior, the RRCA may revoke the coach’s certification.