Purpose

APAC was founded in 1995 with the purpose of providing a well-rounded extra-curricular program for international schools in the Asia-Pacific area. Every year schools in different locations in Asia and the Pacific hosts various APAC tournaments throughout the year, thus students from these schools get the opportunity to travel within Asia-Pacific to not only compete in sports and in the visual and performing arts, but also experience new cultures and destinations.

Event Categories

The APAC program consists of two categories and each category consists of different events:

  1. Visual and Performing Arts:
    • Band
    • Choir
    • Dance
    • Forensics
    • Orchestra
    • Theatre
  2. Sports:
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Rugby
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Table Tennis
    • Tennis
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball

Goals

APAC will:

  1. Encourage socialization and camaraderie among participants.
  2. Promote intercultural cooperation and understanding.
  3. Develop a sense of fair play among participants.
  4. Develop self-control and discipline among participants.
  5. Promote the value of participation to the best of one’s ability.
  6. Strive for organizational excellence.
  7. Be organized to maximize international diversity.
  8. Promote appropriate involvement for all participants.

APAC Codes

The APAC program has established a code of conduct for students participating in APAC activities. The purpose of this code of conduct is to encourage students to engage in healthy and responsible behaviors that enhance performance. Activities that are hazardous to the health and safety of a student and those around him or her cannot be condoned. Policies have been developed to help students make responsible and appropriate choices. The following are some of the general policies.

  1. Rules of Infraction
    When a student commits an infraction while at an APAC activity relating to alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse, cheating, deceit, flagrant curfew violations, and violations of the “off limits” areas, as well as aiding and abetting any of the above, the following shall apply:
  1. The student may no longer participate in that APAC activity.
  2. The student will be sent home at the parents’ expense if it is feasible to do so.
  3. The student’s school will apply appropriate disciplinary action.
  4. Should a student commit two infractions during a school year, then the student will be excluded from all APAC events for one calendar year, including the same event the following year.
  5. If at any time a student is suspended from further competition or involvement in an event, then the only results affected will be those happening after a decision is made on the infraction. Results prior to that decision will stand.
    NOTE:
  1. With reference to alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, this section includes use or possession or supplying or selling.
  2. Should several players from a team be affected, then all games must be continued with as per the schedule, provided there are sufficient players to legally continue play.
  3. Should a homestay family not wish to continue providing housing, then the host school Activities Director together with the visiting school Activities Director or Administrator of the student concerned will help facilitate a housing alternative.
  4. Ensure communication with homestay families/coach/and event director/and students takes place vis-à-vis meal and transportation plans and needs.
  • Student Behavior
    1. Curfew Times
      1. 10:00pm: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night.
      2. Saturday night curfew to be set by the host school at the closing ceremonies. The recommended target time is 10:00pm.
        NOTE: If the final APAC activity ends after or less than one hour before the established curfew time on any night, the curfew will then be one hour after the end of that activity.
    2. Telephone Curfew Calls
      Telephone checks for all participants, including host school participants, must be made by each school on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights of the APAC tournament/festival to enforce the curfew. Students and host families should be aware that second curfew calls might be made on any night of the event. Coaches must speak to each individual student.
    3. Enforcement
      All APAC coaches, directors, and chaperons, including those of the host school, will enforce the rules and regulations. Curfew calls will be made each night of the tournament/festival.If there is a suspected rules infraction, it should be reported immediately to the Host Tournament/Festival Director who will, in turn, notify the Administrator of the school concerned as soon as is practically possible.The Tournament/Festival Director, will confer, investigate, and make a decision on whether the infraction actually occurred and will impose specific penalties as listed in the APAC Handbook. All action and decisions shall be communicated immediately to the chaperons and Activities Director of the school involved.If the coaches are found condoning the violation of the rules by team members or their improper behavior, they are to be reported to their respective Activities Director or School Head.
    4. Final Activity
      All participating students, coaches and chaperons are required to attend all opening assemblies and to attend and remain until the end of the final activity on Saturday night.
    5. Agreement
      These rules must be presented to all teams before traveling. Each student plus at least one parent (or legal guardian) must sign a copy of these rules to signify that they have been read, understood and agreed to.
  • Coaches Behavior
    All coaches are expected to behave in an educationally appropriate manner. Any blatant violation of this code may result in a formal disciplinary report to the School Director of the coach in violation.

Codes of Behavior

The codes of behavior listed in this section are to be communicated to all APAC constituents. The Players, Parents and Spectators Codes are expected to be in plain sight at all APAC competitive events. These codes were reproduced with permission from the Australian Sports Commission.

  1. Players Code of Conduct
    1. Play by the rules.
    2. Never argue with an official. If you disagree, have your captain or coach approach the official during a break or after the competition.
    3. Control your temper. Verbally abusing officials, belittling other players, and deliberately distracting or provoking an opponent are not acceptable or permitted behaviors in any sport.
    4. Work equally hard for yourself and/or your team. Your team’s performance will benefit and so will you.
    5. Be a good sport. Applaud all good plays whether they are made by your team or the opposition.
    6. Treat all participants in your sport as you like to be treated. Do not bully or take unfair advantage of another competitor.
    7. Cooperate with your coach, teammates and opponents. Without them, there would be no competition.
    8. Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit, not just to please your parents and coaches.
    9. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
  2. Parents Code of Conduct
    1. Encourage children to participate, do not force them.
    2. Focus on your child’s efforts and performance rather than whether they win or lose.
    3. Encourage children to play according to the rules and to settle disagreements without resorting to hostility or violence.
    4. Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a competition.
    5. Remember that children learn best by example. Appreciate good performance and skillful plays by all participants.
    6. Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from sporting activities.
    7. Respect officials’ decisions and teach children to do likewise.
    8. Show appreciation for volunteer coaches, officials and administrators. Without them, your child could not participate.
    9. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
  3. Coaches Code of Conduct
    1. Remember that young people participate for pleasure, and winning is only part of the fun.
    2. Never ridicule or yell at a young player for making a mistake or not coming first.
    3. Be reasonable in your demands on players’ time, energy and enthusiasm.
    4. Operate within the rules and spirit of your sport and teach your players to do the same.
    5. Ensure that the time players spend with you is a positive experience. All young people are deserving of equal attention and opportunities.
    6. Avoid overplaying the talented players; the ‘just average’ need and deserve equal time.
    7. Ensure that equipment and facilities meet safety standards and are appropriate to the age and ability of all players.
    8. Display control, respect and professionalism to all involved with the sport. This includes opponents, coaches, officials, administrators, the media, parents and spectators. Encourage players to do the same.
    9. Show concern and caution towards sick and injured players. Follow the advice of a physician when determining whether an injured player is ready to recommence training or competition.
    10. Obtain appropriate qualifications and keep up to date with the latest coaching practices and the principles of growth and development of young people.
    11. Any physical contact with a young person should be appropriate to the situation and necessary for the player’s skill development.
    12. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
  4. Spectators Code of Conduct
    1. Remember that young people participate in sport for their enjoyment and benefit, not yours.
    2. Applaud good performances and efforts from all individuals and teams. Congratulate all participants on their performance, regardless of the game’s outcome.
    3. Respect the decisions of officials and teach young people to do the same.
    4. Never ridicule or scold a young player for making a mistake. Positive comments are motivational.
    5. Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by spectators, coaches, officials or players.
    6. Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them, there would be no game.
    7. Encourage players to follow the rules and the officials’ decisions.
    8. Do not use foul language, belittle or harass players, coaches or officials.
    9. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
  5. Officials Code of Conduct
    1. Compliment and encourage all participants.
    2. Be consistent, objective and courteous when making decisions.
    3. Condemn unsporting behavior and promote respect for all opponents.
    4. Emphasize the spirit of the game rather than the errors.
    5. Be a good sport yourself. Actions speak louder than words.
    6. Keep up to date with the latest trends in officiating and the principles of growth and development of young people.
    7. Remember, you set an example. Your behavior and comments should be positive and supportive.
    8. Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else.
    9. Give all young people a ‘fair go’ regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
  6. Administrators Code of Conduct
    1. Involve young people in planning, leadership, evaluation and decision-making related to the activity.
    2. Give all young people equal opportunities to participate.
    3. Create pathways for young people to participate in sport, not just as a player but also as a coach, referee, administrator, etc.
    4. Ensure that rules, equipment, length of games and training schedules are modified to suit the age, ability and maturity level of young players.
    5. Provide quality supervision and instruction for junior players.
    6. Remember that young people participate for their enjoyment and benefit. Do not over emphasize awards.
    7. Help coaches and officials highlight appropriate behavior and skill development, and improve the standards of coaching and officiating.
    8. Ensure that everyone involved in junior sport emphasizes fair play, rather than winning at all costs.
    9. Give a code of behavior sheet to spectators, officials, parents, coaches, players and the media, and encourage them to follow it.
    10. Remember, you set an example. Your behavior and comments should be positive and supportive.
    11. Make it clear that abusing young people in any way is unacceptable and will result in disciplinary action.
    12. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.
    13. Modify rules and regulations to match the skill levels and needs of young people.
    14. Compliment and encourage all participants.
    15. Be consistent, objective and courteous when making decisions.
    16. Condemn unsporting behavior and promote respect for all opponents.
    17. Emphasize the spirit of the game rather than the errors.
    18. Encourage and promote rule changes that will make participation more enjoyable.
    19. Be a good sport yourself. Actions speak louder than words.
    20. Keep up to date with the latest trends in officiating and the principles of growth and development of young people.
    21. Remember, you set an example. Your behavior and comments should be positive and supportive.
    22. Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else.
    23. Give all young people a “fair go” regardless of their gender, ability, cultural background or religion.