This being said, school and college athletics departments should have policies, procedures and educational programs in place that address sexual harassment, sexual abuse, bullying and other forms of misconduct. As national media attention is focused on this issue, the time is ripe for athletic department leaders to devote staff meeting time and student-athlete meetings to reviewing sexual harassment policies and procedures and the definitions of prohibited activities. Athletics directors should pay careful attention to (1) the requirement that every staff member understand his or her immediate obligation to report any instance of sexual harassment or abuse whether or not the victim wishes to file a formal complaint and (2) the inclusion in coaches' employment agreements and athletics department policies of clear statements prohibiting intimate relationships with students, even if they have reached the age of consent.
SportsManagementResources.com has numerous model policy examples that school administrators can use (free):
SAMPLE POLICY: Ethical and Professional Conduct of Athletic Department Employees
LINK: http://sportsmanagementresources.com/library/ethical-conduct-of-employees
SAMPLE POLICY: Standards of Professional Coaching Conduct
LINK: http://sportsmanagementresources.com/library/standards-of-coaching-conduct
SAMPLE FORM: Coaches’ Code of Conduct Agreement
LINK: http://sportsmanagementresources.com/library/coaches-code-of-conduct
SAMPLE POLICY: Safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender student-athletes and employees
LINK: http://sportsmanagementresources.com/node/257
SAMPLE STUDENT-ATHLETE POLICY: Hazing, Initiation Rituals, Sexual Harassment, Bullying and Physical Punishment
