General Statement of Conduct
All HEMA Ireland clubs and groups aim to create a welcoming environment for students to train safely and well. HEMA Ireland Clubs and Groups operate a zero tolerance policy with regards to aggressive, violent, intimidating, harassing, or abusive behaviour, or unwanted attention or advances, towards any of our members or anyone in attendance at any of our events. This zero tolerance policy includes, but is not limited to:
• Harassment, defined as any behaviour which is directed at an individual or group which is non-consensual. This includes sexual harassment such as cat-calling, groping or stalking.
• Abuse, covering both verbal and physical abuse, including sexual assault, which results in an individual or group feeling intimidated or unsafe.
• Discrimination, including verbal and physical expressions of discrimination, based on any characteristics listed in the paragraph below,
• Violence, defined as any act of physical intimidation or aggression, including threats of violence.
HEMA Ireland will not tolerate discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority (such as a member of the travelling community), nationality, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation. Equally, HEMA Ireland will not accept use of an inclusivity policy as grounds for including groups/worldviews/politics which actively foster intolerance and exclusion.
Where any issues of inclusivity and tolerance appear to conflict, HEMA Ireland will adopt the course which best fits the association aims of fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment.
All students, instructors, and visitors to HEMA Ireland groups and events are accountable for their own conduct and must refrain from any of the behaviours listed above. HEMA Ireland and its member groups reserve the right to expel offenders from any event or class and remove membership of the association, without allocation of a refund.
General Code of Conduct
All HEMA Ireland clubs and groups aim to be a welcoming and inclusive environment, whilst still providing a setting where our students can study and make progress in a safe fashion. To this end, all students, instructors, and guests of any HEMA Ireland Clubs and Groups must adhere to the following:
• Act and train in accordance with the General Statement of Conduct above.
• Safety has primacy during training. If you have any concerns over your safety or the safety of any other person in any class you should alert the class instructor immediately.
• Display consistently high standards of behaviour: everyone you train with has the right to be treated with dignity, respect and consideration.
• Threatening or violent language is unacceptable and should never be used in class.
• Swearing, smoking/vaping, drinking alcohol, substance abuse, or any other form of abusive or anti-social behavior will not be tolerated whilst training, competing, or in any other sporting/training environment.
• Never attempt to do any exercise, technique or movement that you are not confident and comfortable undertaking – ask an instructor for help if need be.
• Train at your own pace – do not exhaust or injure yourself trying to ‘keep up’, please let an instructor know instead and get advice.
• Instructors should be notified of any pertinent medical conditions ahead of training. This will be kept in confidence, but it is necessary for instructors to ensure that they can provide appropriate modifications to the training if need be.
• If you sustain an injury during class, let the instructor know so they may administer first aid accordingly, and complete an injury record.
Coaches, Officials, and Volunteers
All HEMA Ireland Coaches, Instructors, Officials, and Volunteers must:
• Consider the wellbeing and safety of participants before the development of performance.
• Encourage participants to value their performances and not just results.
• Develop an appropriate working relationship with participants, based on mutual trust and respect.
• Make sure all activities are appropriate to the age, ability, and the experience of those taking part.
• Promote the positive aspects of the sport / martial art (e.g. fair play).
• Ensure that the sport / martial art is played and conducted in accordance with disciplined and sporting behaviour and acknowledge that it is not sufficient to rely solely upon the referees other officials to uphold the code of conduct.
• Follow all guidelines laid down by the national governing body and the club.
• Never exert undue influence over participants to gain personal benefit or reward.
• Never condone violation of the rules of HEMA Ireland.
• Never condone the use of excessive force in training or competition.
• Never engage in any form of sexual relations with anyone under the age of 18, or vulnerable adults.
• Show respect to your Club’s opponents. Without them there would be no sport / martial art or competition.
• Read, understand and put into practise all club policies and procedures.
| Date | Version | Reason | Author |
| 15.01.2024 | 1 | Initial Drafting of New Code of Conduct | Sam Hughes |
| 16.08.2024 | 2 | Updates from EGM Feedback | Helen Gallagher |
| 23.10.2024 | 3 | Expansion and updates to include Statement of Conduct etc. | Ross Bailey |
| 28.10.2024 | 3.1 | Minor Committee amendments | Ross Bailey |