The International Lifesaving Federation (ILS) is the world authority for drowning prevention, lifesaving and lifesaving sport. ILS is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious, worldwide lifesaving sport and humanitarian organisation. ILS leads, collaborates and partners with national and international organisations to prevent drowning, to promote the provision of lifesaving services and oversee lifesaving sport throughout the world.
ILS expects the highest standard of conduct of its competitors, officials and members. These expectations are reflected in the rules for competition in the ILS constitution and the rule book.
Team members represent their country, their organisation, their club, their sponsors and ILS. As such, team members shall at all times conduct themselves in a proper and civil manner during the championships and related activities including social functions.
The general conduct of all participants is measured by the following ILS code of fair play:
ILS will:
- Promote and encourage fair play through its members.
- Impress upon competitors, coaches, technical officials and administrators the need to maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship and good behaviour in lifesaving sport.
- Ensure that its rules are fair, clearly understood by competitors, coaches, technical officials and administrators, and properly enforced.
- Make every effort to ensure that its rules are applied consistently and impartially.
- Treat all members equally, regardless of gender, race or physical characteristics.
- Make all reasonable provision to accommodate competitors with disabilities provided that there is no competitive disadvantage to other competitors in the event being contested.
ILS technical officials will:
- Abide by the rules and the spirit of the competition.
- Be honest, fair and ethical in dealing with others.
- Be professional in appearance, action and language.
- Resolve conflicts fairly and promptly through established procedures.
- Maintain strict impartiality.
- Maintain a safe environment for others.
- Be respectful and considerate of others.
- Be a positive role model.
Competitors will:
- Abide by the rules and the spirit of the competition.
- Never consider cheating and in particular, not attempt to improve their individual performance by the use of drugs.
- Exercise reasonable self-control at all times.
- Accept success and failure, victory and defeat, with grace and magnanimity.
- Treat their fellow competitors and team members with respect, both in and outside the competition arena.
Team managers and coaches will:
- Insist that competitors understand and abide by the principles of fair play.
- Never countenance the use of drugs by competitors.
- Never employ methods or practices that could involve risks, however slight, to the long-term health or physical development of their competitors.
- Not attempt to manipulate the rules in order to take advantage of their competitors or their opponents.
- Respect the regulations and authority of ILS and its member organisations and not attempt to avoid or circumvent these regulations.
- Recognise the special role that they have to play in ILS and set a good example of sportsmanship and good behaviour at all times.
- Respect the rights of other teams and never deliberately act in a manner intended to be to the detriment of another team.
- Respect the rights of competitors, coaches, technical officials and not exploit or deliberately act in a manner detrimental to them.
- Not endeavour to influence the result of a competition by any action not strictly within the rules and regulations or within the fundamental precepts of fair play.
Delegates, media representatives, supporters and spectators will:
- Respect the authority and regulations of ILS and not attempt to avoid or circumvent them.
- Accept the authority of technical officials.
- Abide by the spirit of the competitions.
- Exercise reasonable self-control and display good behaviour at all times.
- Be respectful and considerate in interactions with others.
- Acknowledge the performance of all involved in the competition with grace and magnanimity.