Club Code Of Conduct

OUR CLUB, OUR COMMUNITY

Awareness, Safeguarding & Code of Conduct Guide

Think. Play. Respect. Belong.

Welcome to Basingstoke Chess Club

Chess is more than a game.

It teaches us how to think, plan, make decisions, handle challenges and learn from mistakes. But a chess club is also about people — the children who discover a new passion, the parents who support them, the adults who continue learning, and the volunteers who give their time to make the club possible.

At Basingstoke Chess Club, we want everyone to feel welcome, respected, safe and included.

This guide explains the standards we share as a club and how we can all contribute to a positive environment.

It applies to everyone involved with the club, including:

  • Junior and adult members

  • Parents and carers

  • Coaches and volunteers

  • Committee members

  • Visitors and guests

  • Players attending club events and competitions

We all have a part to play in making our club a great community.

1. OUR CLUB VALUES

Respect

We treat opponents, teammates, parents, coaches, volunteers and visitors with courtesy.

Inclusion

Everyone should feel that they belong, regardless of age, experience, ability or background.

Kindness

We remember that there is a person behind every chess piece and every result.

Learning

Mistakes are part of chess — and part of learning. We encourage questions, curiosity and improvement.

Fair Play

We play honestly, respect the rules and value good sportsmanship.

Community

We support one another and celebrate progress, not just victories.

2. OUR CODE OF CONDUCT

Everyone at Basingstoke Chess Club is expected to:

  • Treat others with dignity and respect.

  • Listen to coaches, organisers and volunteers.

  • Accept both winning and losing graciously.

  • Avoid behaviour that could intimidate, embarrass or upset another person.

  • Respect personal boundaries.

  • Take care of club equipment and the venue.

  • Follow chess, tournament and club rules.

  • Raise concerns appropriately rather than confronting or publicly accusing others.

  • Help create an environment where people feel comfortable asking for help.

We do not tolerate:

  • Bullying or intimidation

  • Harassment

  • Discrimination

  • Threatening or aggressive behaviour

  • Deliberate humiliation or persistent teasing

  • Inappropriate sexual behaviour or communication

  • Cheating

  • Deliberate damage to property

  • Abusive or offensive language directed at others

A disagreement does not have to become a conflict.

Pause. Think. Speak respectfully.

3. JUNIOR CHESS — KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE

The wellbeing of children is a shared responsibility.

Our junior sessions should be places where children can concentrate on chess, make friends, develop confidence and enjoy learning.

Adults working or volunteering with juniors are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.

For adults and volunteers:

  • Treat every child with respect.

  • Use appropriate and age-appropriate language.

  • Avoid unnecessary physical contact.

  • Avoid situations where a child is isolated from others.

  • Communicate with children through appropriate club channels.

  • Never use a position of trust to obtain inappropriate personal contact or information.

  • Report safeguarding concerns promptly.

For juniors:

You should always feel able to say “no” if something makes you uncomfortable.

You can speak to:

  • Your parent or carer

  • A coach

  • A trusted club volunteer

  • The Club Safeguarding Lead

  • Another trusted adult

You will not be in trouble for asking for help.

4. IF A CHILD TELLS YOU SOMETHING WORRYING

If a child tells an adult about something that has frightened, upset or harmed them:

Listen

Stay calm and allow them to speak.

Take them seriously

Do not dismiss their concerns.

Do not investigate

You do not need to establish what happened yourself.

Do not promise secrecy

Explain that you may need to tell someone who can help keep them safe.

Report the concern

Pass the information to the Club Safeguarding Lead or the appropriate safeguarding authority as soon as possible.

In an emergency

If someone is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services on 999.

The priority is always the child’s safety and wellbeing.

5. PHOTOGRAPHY & SOCIAL MEDIA

Photography is an important part of celebrating our club and sharing the achievements of our players.

We want our photography and social-media activity to reflect the same standards of respect and safeguarding as everything else we do.

We will:

  • Obtain appropriate consent before photographing or publishing identifiable images of juniors.

  • Respect requests not to be photographed.

  • Avoid publishing unnecessary personal information.

  • Use photographs appropriately and respectfully.

  • Be mindful of the context in which photographs are shared.

  • Respond appropriately to concerns about images.

Parents and carers should feel comfortable approaching the club if they have a concern about a photograph or social-media post.

Social media

Club social-media channels should be used positively.

We do not use social media to:

  • Bully or ridicule players

  • Publicly shame children or adults

  • Share inappropriate material

  • Publish private information

  • Conduct inappropriate private communication with juniors

Celebrate the game. Celebrate the people. Protect their privacy.

6. ONLINE CHESS & DIGITAL SAFETY

Chess increasingly takes place online, particularly for young players.

The same principles of respect and safeguarding apply online as they do over the board.

Players should:

  • Keep passwords private.

  • Avoid sharing their home address, school, telephone number or other personal information.

  • Be careful when communicating with people they do not know.

  • Report inappropriate messages or behaviour.

  • Tell a parent, carer or trusted adult if something online makes them uncomfortable.

  • Follow the rules of the chess platform they are using.

Parents and carers are encouraged to take an active interest in their children’s online chess activity.

Where club communication involves juniors, official club channels should be used wherever possible.

7. FAIR PLAY & CHESS ETIQUETTE

Good chess etiquette makes the game better for everyone.

During a game:

  • Respect your opponent’s concentration.

  • Do not deliberately distract another player.

  • Follow the rules regarding touching pieces.

  • Use the chess clock correctly.

  • Keep phones and electronic devices according to the event rules.

  • Do not give or receive assistance during a game.

  • Avoid analysing games loudly while others are playing.

  • Respect the playing area.

After the game:

Win or lose, show respect.

A handshake, a smile or simply saying “Good game” can mean a lot.

Suspected cheating

If you suspect cheating, do not confront or publicly accuse another player.

Speak privately to the appropriate organiser, arbiter or tournament official and allow them to deal with the matter according to the rules.

Fair play protects the integrity of the game and the people who play it.

8. PARENTS & CARERS

Parents and carers are an important part of our chess community.

We ask parents to:

  • Encourage children without putting them under pressure.

  • Celebrate effort, improvement and good sportsmanship — not only results.

  • Allow coaches and organisers to manage sessions and competitions.

  • Avoid coaching during games unless specifically permitted.

  • Speak respectfully to opponents, organisers and other parents.

  • Raise concerns privately with the appropriate club representative.

  • Make sure children know who they can approach if they need help.

  • Follow the club’s arrangements for arrival and collection.

Remember:

A child may remember a loss for a few minutes.

They may remember how an adult made them feel for much longer.

Let’s make their chess memories good ones.

9. COACHES & VOLUNTEERS

Our coaches and volunteers give their time to support the club and its members.

Everyone working with juniors should:

  • Follow the club’s safeguarding arrangements.

  • Maintain appropriate boundaries.

  • Communicate appropriately.

  • Treat all children fairly and respectfully.

  • Avoid favouritism.

  • Never use humiliating or threatening language.

  • Report safeguarding concerns.

  • Respect confidentiality while understanding that safeguarding concerns may need to be shared with the appropriate people.

Being a volunteer does not mean being expected to deal with a safeguarding concern alone.

If you are worried, report it.

10. EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Chess is for everyone.

We want Basingstoke Chess Club to be a place where people can participate without fear of discrimination or exclusion.

We expect everyone to show respect towards people who may differ from them in:

  • Age

  • Gender

  • Disability or accessibility needs

  • Culture

  • Nationality

  • Language

  • Background

  • Chess experience

  • Playing strength

A beginner deserves the same respect as an experienced player.

A child who has just learned the rules deserves the same encouragement as a tournament winner.

There is room for everyone at the chessboard.

11. WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG

Sometimes problems happen.

A disagreement, upset child, conflict between players or safeguarding concern should be dealt with calmly and appropriately.

If you experience or witness a problem:

1. Stay calm.

2. Make sure anyone at immediate risk is safe.

3. Speak to an appropriate club representative.

4. Do not publicly confront, accuse or shame another person.

5. Allow the appropriate person to investigate and respond.

6. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

You do not need to know exactly what to do before raising a concern.

If something doesn’t feel right, speak to someone.

12. WHO CAN I SPEAK TO?

Club Secretary

Name: David Graham

Contact: davidgrahambcs@yahoo.co.uk

Club Chair / Committee

Name: Dan Guerrero

Contact: dan75guerrero@gmail.com

Emergency

999 — immediate danger or emergency

101 — non-emergency police matters

13. OUR PROMISE

At Basingstoke Chess Club, we want every player to be able to sit down at a chessboard and think:

“I belong here.”

We cannot promise that every game will be won.

We cannot promise that every move will be perfect.

But we can work together to create a club where people are treated with respect, children are protected, concerns are listened to, and everyone has the opportunity to learn and enjoy the game.

Because chess is not only about the moves we make on the board.

It is also about the way we treat the people sitting across from us.

THINK. PLAY. RESPECT. BELONG.

Basingstoke Chess Club

Our club. Our community. Our shared responsibility.