Minors age 17 and under will review and sign in addition to their parent or legal guardian.

I understand that I must abide by the following Code of Conduct as a Staff or Volunteer in the True North Running Youth Programs. I am coaching/serving the children – It is not for my own gain. I will conduct myself in a manner to earn the respect and confidence of the athletes, students, parents, and officials with positive, respectful communication and remarks. I will make sure that the children are having fun, learning, and improving as opposed to just winning by incorporating True North Running's core values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility. I will behave in a non-abusive manner. I need to look at the special needs of each child, gifted and not gifted, regardless of sex, race, religion, culture, economic level of the family, disability, or skill level. I understand that I must be a positive influence, refraining from yelling or making negative remarks to the children. I will provide a safe and fun environment. I will never touch out of anger. I will motivate with praise and specific instruction. I will not permit any unsportsmanlike conduct from program participants, athletes, or spectators representing the team or program I am leading. In a competition, I will prepare athletes for the competition and will lead them to acknowledge their competitors, offering congratulations to his/her opponent win or lose. I will lead by example and role-modeling accomplishments and winning with humility and learning and losing with dignity. I will honor the time and commitment of participants, athletes, parents, coaches, and True North Running staff by being on time and being prepared. I will respect and follow any program policy handbook. I will share my feedback and concerns in a civil and tactful manner with True North Running Staff. Good Sportsmanship is priority. I understand as serving as a coach or volunteer that I am a representative of True North Running and will be a positive mentor and role model to all youth participants while representing. I will complete the required child abuse prevention and reporting training(s) within 30 days of signing this document and then again within every 2 years if I remain associated with True North Running in a staff or volunteer capacity. I understand I play a key role in child abuse prevention and have read and will abide by the tenets of True North Running’s procedures and policies related to preventing child abuse including: Child Abuse Prevention Guidelines for Youth Programs To protect True North Running staff, volunteers, and program members, at no time during a True North Running program or outside of the True North Running program may a True North Running staff person or volunteer be alone with a single child where he or she cannot be observed by others. Staff and volunteers shall never leave a child unsupervised when participating in an organized program or sport. Coaches or staff should remain at a practice location following the completion of a practice/session/activity until all children under their supervision have been picked up by an approved adult. I will not engage in physical abuse—striking, spanking, shaking, slapping, and so on; verbal abuse—humiliating, degrading, threatening, and so on; sexual abuse—touching or speaking inappropriately; mental abuse—shaming, withholding kindness, being cruel, and so on; neglect—withholding food, water, or basic care. No type of abuse will be tolerated and may be cause for immediate dismissal. Volunteers and staff must use positive techniques of guidance, including redirection, positive reinforcement, and encouragement rather than competition, comparison, and criticism. Volunteers and staff should be observant with regards to the health of children under their supervision. They should note any bumps, bruises, burns, etc. Questions or comments should be addressed to the parent or child in a nonthreatening way. Those responding will document and report any questionable marks or responses to appropriate True North Running Staff. Volunteers and staff will respect children’s rights not to be touched or looked at in ways that make them feel uncomfortable, and their right to say no. Volunteers are not to transport children in their own vehicles without additional adult supervision. Using, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during working hours or while volunteering at or for True North Running is prohibited. Smoking or use of tobacco in the presence of children or parents while volunteering is prohibited. Possession or use of any type of weapon or explosive device is prohibited. Profanity, inappropriate jokes, sharing intimate details of one’s personal life, and any kind of harassment in the presence of children, parents, volunteers, or True North Running staff is prohibited. No one will have secrets with children and will not give excessive gifts (e.g., TV, video games, jewelry) to youth. Any gifts must have prior permission of True North Running. Staff and volunteers will not engage in electronic communication with youths. Volunteers and staff shall not release children under their supervision to anyone other than the parent, guardian, or other adult authorized by the parent or guardian. True North Running will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of one youth by another youth. In addition, True North Running will not tolerate any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying, and to the extent that such actions are disruptive, we will take steps needed to eliminate such behavior. Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional, is repeated over time, and involves an imbalance of power or strength. Bullying can take various forms, including: Physical Bullying – when one person engages in physical force against another person, such as by hitting, punching, pushing, kicking, pinching, or restraining another. Verbal Bullying – when someone uses their words to hurt another, such as by belittling or calling another hurtful names. Nonverbal or Relational Bullying – when one person manipulates a relationship or desired relationship to harm another person. This includes social exclusion, friendship manipulation, or gossip. This type of bullying also includes intimidating another person using gestures. Cyberbullying – the intentional and overt act of aggression toward another person by way of any technological tool, such as email, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or website postings (including blogs). Cyberbullying can involve: Sending mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images Posting sensitive, private information about another person Pretending to be someone else to make that person look bad. Intentionally excluding someone from an online group. Hazing – an activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers that person regardless of that person’s willingness to participate. Sexualized bullying – when bullying involves behaviors that are sexual in nature. Examples of sexualized bullying behavior include sexting, bullying that involves exposure of private body parts, and verbal bullying involving sexualized language or innuendoes. Anyone who sees an act of bullying, and who then encourages it, is engaging in bullying. The policy applies to all youths, staff, and volunteers. All staff and volunteers must follow state-specific mandatory reporting requirements. Staff and volunteers will be trained to be aware of and understand their legal and ethical obligation to recognize and report suspicion of mistreatment and abuse. I understand: To participate in True North Running events, staff and volunteers must not have engaged in or been accused or convicted of youth abuse, indecency with a youth, or injury to a youth. I must complete the training required and be familiar with the symptoms of child abuse and neglect, including physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse. I must know and follow organizational policies and procedures which protect youths against abuse. I must report suspected child abuse or neglect to True North Running staff immediately. True North Running staff are required to report to appropriate authorities within 24 hours as outlined by the Safe Sports Act, a federal law. One or more of these authorities must be notified depending on the specific incident. I must follow up to ensure that appropriate action has been taken. If the True North Running staff directly involved does not act as seems necessary, I will contact the True North Running Director at 217-502-0436. If the True North Running staff is not available or fails to report the incident or take the incident seriously, I must meet my personal mandatory responsibility by reporting directly to: Local law enforcement at 911 if there is imminent danger DCFS hotline at 800-25-Abuse (800-252-2873, TTY 800-358-5117) Praesidium’s Anonymous Helpline at 1-855-347-0751 I must report concerns or complaints about other staff, volunteers, adults, or youth which are in violation of this code of conduct to the True North Running administration at 217-502-0436. Failure to report concerns may be grounds for termination of employment for True North Running employees and suspension of privileges for volunteers. Failure to report may also result in criminal or civil charges if injury or a crime has occurred. That any actions deemed by the True North Running staff as unacceptable or in violation of the intent of this code may result in loss of volunteer status and eligibility up to and including a ban from any involvement in True North Running sports. A review of any violation may include a review by a designated Sports Committee for possible sanctions or outright sanctions by the True North Running administration. True North Running cooperates fully with the authorities to investigate all cases of alleged abuse. Staff and volunteers shall fully cooperate possible in any external investigation by outside authorities or internal investigation conducted by True North Running or persons or organizations given investigative authority by True North Running. Failure to cooperate fully may be grounds for termination of employment for True North Running employees and expulsion from current and future True North Running events.

Fall 2025 Coach Application