Members' Code of Conduct

The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to set out the standards of behaviour expected from all members, representatives, officials, volunteers, club representatives, parents/guardians, and other persons participating in TAASA-related activities.

TAASA exists to preserve, develop, and promote traditional archery in South Africa. Members are expected to uphold the values of respect, safety, integrity, sportsmanship, discipline, and good representation of the Association.

By joining TAASA, renewing membership, participating in TAASA activities, or representing TAASA in any capacity, members agree to conduct themselves in a manner that protects the reputation, safety, and integrity of TAASA and the wider traditional archery community.

This Code applies to:

• all TAASA members;
• youth members;
• parents and legal guardians of youth members, where applicable;
• club, school, range, and affiliate representatives;
• coaches, judges, officials, volunteers, and event personnel acting under or with TAASA;
• members participating in TAASA-recognised events, competitions, qualifiers, training sessions, meetings, and online platforms;
• members representing TAASA locally, nationally, or internationally;
• any person using the TAASA member portal or engaging in official TAASA communication channels.

This Code applies during in-person activities, online engagement, travel, competitions, public representation, and any situation where a person's conduct may reasonably affect TAASA or the sport of traditional archery.

Members acknowledge this Code of Conduct when signing up for TAASA membership, renewing membership, updating their member profile, entering TAASA-recognised events, or representing TAASA in any official capacity.

For youth members under 18, the parent or legal guardian who provides consent during sign-up is also expected to support the youth member's compliance with this Code.

Acceptance of this Code is a condition of TAASA membership and continued participation in TAASA activities.

Members must conduct themselves according to the following principles:

4.1 Respect

Members must treat fellow archers, officials, volunteers, opponents, coaches, parents, guardians, spectators, clubs, schools, and event organisers with courtesy and dignity.

4.2 Safety

Archery is a martial discipline and must be practised with strict attention to safety. Members must never act in a way that places themselves or others at unnecessary risk.

4.3 Integrity

Members must act honestly in all TAASA-related matters, including membership details, event registration, scoring, equipment declarations, eligibility, and representation.

4.4 Sportsmanship

Members must compete fairly, accept official decisions respectfully, and honour both victory and defeat with discipline and humility.

4.5 Preservation of Traditional Archery

Members must respect the traditional, historical, and cultural nature of the archery styles, equipment, and disciplines promoted by TAASA.

4.6 Good Representation

Members must avoid conduct that may bring TAASA, its members, affiliated clubs or schools, traditional archery, or South Africa into disrepute.

Members must:

• Act respectfully and responsibly at all times;
• follow the lawful and reasonable instructions of TAASA officials, event organisers, judges, range officers, coaches, and authorised representatives;
• Communicate respectfully and constructively;
• Avoid abusive, threatening, insulting, discriminatory, or intimidating behaviour;
• Avoid gossip, slander, defamation, or conduct that damages trust within the Association;
• Respect the property, facilities, equipment, and rules of clubs, schools, ranges, venues, and event hosts;
• Dress and behave appropriately at TAASA-related events;
• Comply with TAASA rules, event rules, competition rules, and any lawful venue requirements;
• ensure that information provided to TAASA is accurate and up to date;
• Avoid conduct that undermines the unity, reputation, or proper functioning of TAASA.

Members must observe strict safety discipline whenever bows, arrows, or related equipment are handled.

Members must:

• Follow all range rules and safety instructions;
• Obey the instructions of the range officer, judge, coach, or event official immediately;
• Never point a bow, drawn bow, or arrow at any person;
• Never nock an arrow unless authorised to do so and positioned safely;
• Never shoot without permission or outside the authorised shooting area;
• Never cross the shooting line, enter the range, or retrieve arrows unless it is safe and authorised;
• Ensure that equipment is safe, suitable, and fit for use;
• Report unsafe equipment, unsafe conduct, injuries, incidents, or near misses to an official;
• not participate while under the influence of alcohol, illegal substances, or anything that may impair judgment or safe participation;
• Assist in maintaining a disciplined, calm, and safe shooting environment.

Members participating in TAASA-recognised competitions, qualifiers, ranking events, trials, postal leagues, or tournaments must:

• Compete honestly and fairly;
• Follow the published competition rules and format;
• respect judges, scorekeepers, officials, opponents, volunteers, and fellow competitors;
• accept official decisions respectfully, using the correct appeal or query process where available;
• not interfere with another archer's shooting, concentration, equipment, arrows, target, or score;
• not falsify, alter, misrepresent, or manipulate scores, results, equipment categories, age categories, experience levels, or eligibility;
• Declare equipment honestly, including bow type, arrow shaft category, and any other required classification;
• not gain or attempt to gain an unfair advantage;
• not pressure, intimidate, or influence judges, scorekeepers, officials, or other competitors;
• Uphold the spirit of traditional archery and fair competition.

TAASA may disqualify, suspend, or refer a matter for disciplinary review where competition misconduct occurs.

TAASA includes youth members and recognises the need for a safe, respectful, and appropriate environment for minors.

Members must:

• treat youth members with dignity, patience, and respect;
• Avoid bullying, humiliation, intimidation, harassment, grooming, manipulation, or inappropriate communication;
• Avoid private or inappropriate one-on-one situations with minors where proper supervision is absent;
• Communicate with youth members in a manner that is appropriate, transparent, and connected to legitimate archery or TAASA activities;
• Respect the role of parents and legal guardians;
• Report any concern involving the safety, welfare, or mistreatment of a youth member to TAASA.

Parents and legal guardians of youth members must:

• Ensure that the youth member understands and follows this Code;
• Provide accurate consent and contact details during registration;
• Support respectful behaviour towards officials, coaches, volunteers, and other members;
• not pressure, abuse, intimidate, or interfere with officials, scorekeepers, coaches, or competitors;
• Assist TAASA, where reasonable, in ensuring the safety and well-being of the youth member.

TAASA does not tolerate harassment, abuse, discrimination, bullying, intimidation, victimisation, or threatening behaviour.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• verbal abuse, insults, humiliation, or threats;
• Physical aggression or intimidation;
• discriminatory conduct based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, disability, religion, belief, language, culture, or any other protected or personal characteristic;
• sexual harassment or inappropriate sexual conduct;
• bullying, exclusion, repeated targeting, or harmful group behaviour;
• Retaliation against a person who raises a concern or complaint in good faith;
• Conduct that creates an unsafe, hostile, degrading, or offensive environment.

Any serious allegation may be escalated to the appropriate committee, authority, or external body where necessary.

Members must conduct themselves responsibly on digital platforms, including WhatsApp groups, email, the TAASA member portal, social media, websites, forums, and any other online spaces connected to TAASA or traditional archery.

Members must:

• Communicate respectfully and constructively;
• not post abusive, defamatory, discriminatory, threatening, or inflammatory content;
• not share confidential TAASA information without authorisation;
• not speak on behalf of TAASA unless authorised to do so;
• not publish official announcements, selections, results, disciplinary matters, or internal decisions before TAASA has done so officially;
• not misuse TAASA logos, branding, documents, member information, event information, or media;
• Respect the privacy of members and officials;
• Do not publish photos, videos, or identifying information of minors without appropriate consent;
• Do not use TAASA platforms for spam, unrelated promotion, political campaigning, personal attacks, or divisive conduct;
• Avoid online conduct that may bring TAASA or traditional archery into disrepute.

TAASA may moderate, restrict, remove, or act against content or conduct that breaches this Code.

Members must respect the privacy and personal information of other members.

Members may not:

• Collect, copy, share, publish, or misuse another member's personal information without permission;
• share screenshots, private messages, member portal information, contact details, documents, or internal communications without authorisation;
• Use TAASA member information for private marketing, solicitation, harassment, or unrelated purposes;
• Publish sensitive information relating to members, youth members, complaints, disciplinary matters, or internal governance.

TAASA will process member information in accordance with its Privacy Policy and applicable law.

Members serving as officials, coaches, judges, volunteers, team managers, committee members, or representatives must hold themselves to a higher standard of conduct.

They must:

• Act fairly, impartially, and in the best interests of TAASA and the sport;
• Avoid favouritism, bias, conflicts of interest, or abuse of position;
• Keep confidential matters confidential;
• treat members, competitors, parents, volunteers, and spectators respectfully;
• apply rules consistently and transparently;
• declare any personal interest that may affect a decision;
• Avoid using their role for personal gain or improper influence;
• protect the safety and dignity of all participants, especially youth members;
• Report misconduct, safety concerns, or safeguarding concerns when they arise.

Members representing TAASA at events, meetings, competitions, ceremonies, media engagements, or public platforms must conduct themselves with discipline, respect, and professionalism.

Members must:

• Remember that their conduct reflects on TAASA;
• respect hosts, organisers, officials, competitors, sponsors, partners, and the public;
• Follow team instructions, schedules, protocols, and official communication channels;
• Wear approved attire, uniform, or identification where required;
• not make unauthorised statements on behalf of TAASA;
• not enter into commitments, agreements, sponsorships, media arrangements, or public positions on behalf of TAASA without authorisation;
• Do not behave in a way that damages the reputation of TAASA or its members.

Where a member is selected, nominated, invited, or approved to represent TAASA at an international event or competition, the member must comply with this Code and any additional event-specific rules, team agreements, travel requirements, host-country laws, tournament regulations, and instructions issued by TAASA or the appointed team management.

Members representing TAASA internationally must:

• conduct themselves respectfully as representatives of TAASA and, where applicable, South Africa;
• respect the host country, host culture, organisers, officials, fellow nations, competitors, volunteers, and spectators;
• Attend required team meetings, ceremonies, practices, briefings, and scheduled activities;
• Follow travel, accommodation, transport, safety, and communication arrangements;
• Wear approved team attire where required;
• not act independently in a way that compromises the team, the Association, or the event;
• not make unauthorised media statements, social media announcements, sponsorship representations, or public claims on behalf of TAASA;
• Avoid public disputes, inappropriate online commentary, or conduct that may embarrass the team or Association;
• Comply with tournament rules, equipment rules, anti-doping requirements where applicable, and all lawful instructions from event officials;
• Report incidents, illness, injury, safety concerns, disputes, or disciplinary concerns to the appointed team manager or TAASA representative as soon as reasonably possible.

TAASA may require members selected for international representation to acknowledge an additional competition-specific Code of Conduct, team agreement, or travel undertaking before departure.

Members must disclose any personal, financial, business, family, club, or other interest that may improperly influence, or appear to influence, a TAASA-related decision.

This includes decisions relating to:

• team selection;
• event appointments;
• judging or officiating;
• disciplinary matters;
• sponsorships, partnerships, suppliers, or payments;
• club or school recognition;
• Access to member information or internal systems.

A person with a conflict of interest may be required to recuse themselves from discussion, voting, decision-making, or implementation.

Any member who believes that this Code has been breached may report the matter to TAASA.

Reports should, where possible, include:

• The name of the person making the report;
• the person or people involved;
• the date, time, and place of the incident;
• a clear description of what happened;
• Any supporting evidence, witnesses, screenshots, photos, documents, or relevant information.

TAASA may decline to act on anonymous complaints where there is insufficient information, but may still investigate serious safety, safeguarding, or integrity concerns.

Members must not make false, malicious, or deliberately misleading complaints. Members must also not victimise or retaliate against any person who raises a concern in good faith.

Where a possible breach of this Code is reported or identified, TAASA may take appropriate steps depending on the nature and seriousness of the matter.

The process may include:

• Preliminary review of the complaint or incident;
• Informal resolution, where appropriate;
• Written notice to the member concerned;
• an opportunity for the member to respond;
• Referral to MANCOM, a disciplinary officer, or a disciplinary panel;
• Review of relevant evidence;
• a decision and outcome;
• Appeal or review, where applicable.

TAASA may take immediate, temporary action where necessary to protect the safety of minors and members, the integrity of an event, or the reputation of the Association.

Where a member breaches this Code, TAASA may impose one or more of the following outcomes, depending on the seriousness of the matter:

• informal guidance or corrective instruction;
• verbal or written warning;
• requirement to apologise or correct conduct;
• Removal from a WhatsApp group, online platform, event, or activity;
• Restriction of access to the member portal or TAASA communication channels;
• disqualification from an event or competition;
• Suspension from events, activities, or membership benefits;
• Removal from an official role, volunteer role, team, committee, or appointment;
• Withdrawal of selection, nomination, or permission to represent TAASA;
• referral to an affiliated club, school, range, event organiser, or external authority where appropriate;
• Termination of membership, subject to TAASA's governing documents and applicable law.

Sanctions should be fair, proportionate, and appropriate to the seriousness of the conduct.

Where a formal sanction is imposed, the affected member may request an appeal or review in accordance with TAASA's disciplinary process, constitution, policies, or any applicable rules.

An appeal must be submitted in writing within the timeframe specified by TAASA and must clearly state the grounds for appeal.

This Code should be read together with TAASA's:

• Constitution or founding documents;
• Privacy Policy;
• membership terms;
• competition rules;
• event rules;
• safeguarding or youth protection policy, where adopted;
• disciplinary policy, where adopted;
• Any event-specific or team-specific undertaking.

Where a competition, international event, host organisation, or venue has its own rules, members must comply with those rules in addition to this Code.

TAASA may update this Code from time to time. The current version will be made available on the TAASA website, the member portal, or through official communication channels.

Material changes may require members to acknowledge the updated Code during membership renewal, profile update, event entry, or continued participation.