This is the model AHA Code of Conduct that is used at clubs operated directly by the Academy of Historical Arts. Affiliated clubs are welcome to borrow and implement it as well.
Rules and culture
Everyone has the right to participate at the club in safety. The club is open to absolutely anyone who would like to participate who is able and willing to do so in a friendly, respectful, and safe fashion, without any harassment of any kind.
We are all responsible for cultivating the club and its culture, and for reporting problems within the club. We are all responsible for modelling what good behaviour should look like at the club, and we are all ambassadors for the club whenever we attend training sessions or events.
During exercises (and sparring), it is more important to be a good training partner than to “win” the exercise (or the sparring). Speed, strength, a desire to win, or any other such excuse, will not excuse poor behaviour as a training partner. Calibrate everything you do so that your partners have the safest and best training experience you can give them.
When in doubt, or if you are not finding any enjoyment or value in an exercise, talk to your training partner or an instructor and communicate your needs, your requests, or your worries. Instructors must always take this seriously, and must take steps to resolve the issue.
Creating an enjoyable training environment also requires cleanliness and hygiene. You should maintain appropriate personal hygiene and should also wash your training clothes and protective gear to avoid being “that person” who smells bad to everyone else..
If the club has a uniform, you should do your best to wear it for training sessions. Uniform can be an appropriate part of club culture and so it is important to pay attention to these details. Even if you don’t think it makes a difference, it can be important to other people in the club, so please do make the effort.
It is better for us all if we can deal with small issues early, before they become major problems.
Social media
This organisation does not differentiate between people’s behaviour on social media and in person. You should conduct yourself in relevant spaces on social media the way you would in person, as an ambassador for the club. Our club culture is that people should be good to each other both in person and online.
If you have problems with the way a club member conducts themselves online, talk to one of the club instructors and explain what has made you uncomfortable. Instructors will treat this just as seriously as if the issue occurred in person at the club.
Instructors
As an instructor, we expect you to be a role model for club members, and to model the behaviours and approaches we want everyone to follow.
As an instructor, you should be upfront and honest with club members, and you should conduct yourself in an upfront and open fashion. We do not emulate Machiavellian schemes and intrigues in this club. Support your fellow instructors and staff members as much as you can; if you have concerns and cannot offer such support, then speak with a more senior official at the club.
As an instructor, do not hesitate to take actions to safeguard club members or to resolve any problems that you perceive. You have the necessary authority to do this by yourself – but feel welcome to speak to any other instructor if you need to talk through an issue.
Raising a complaint
Every instructor in the club has the duty to hear complaints and worries whenever a participant speaks up, and has the authority to talk to people about improving their behaviour.
You can speak to any instructor at the club if you have any issue you wish to raise. You may request to remain anonymous so that only the instructor to whom you raised the issue knows that you have been involved – any request for anonymity must be honoured.
Discipline
If asked by any participant to change what you are doing, please do comply. Everyone in the club has the right to request that any situation be improved if they are not enjoying the experience.
Staff members and instructors at the club may need to deal with problems in a variety of different ways. This can range from having a quiet word, to requiring that a problematic person leave the class immediately.
We prefer to deal with issues in a light-handed fashion and to nudge behaviour to be more in line with the club culture. However, in more extreme cases, instructors may (and should) take whatever steps are necessary to guard the well-being of the club and its members, and to expel or ban problematic individuals.