UDA Player Policies & Code of Conduct
Last updated: June 11, 2026
Applies to: 2026/27 Academic Year
Applies to: 2026/27 Academic Year
UDA is committed to creating a positive, professional, respectful, and high-standard environment where players can grow academically, athletically, socially, and personally.
Participation in a UDA Soccer Academy program is a privilege. All players are expected to represent themselves, their teammates, UDA, partner universities, academy partners, and the wider academy community with maturity, respect, and accountability.
This policy outlines the expectations for player conduct, academic commitment, attendance, communication, team behavior, professionalism, and participation in UDA activities.
Participation in a UDA Soccer Academy program is a privilege. All players are expected to represent themselves, their teammates, UDA, partner universities, academy partners, and the wider academy community with maturity, respect, and accountability.
This policy outlines the expectations for player conduct, academic commitment, attendance, communication, team behavior, professionalism, and participation in UDA activities.
Academic Commitment
UDA players are student-athletes. Academic commitment is a core part of the program.
Players are expected to:
Failure to meet academic expectations may result in meetings with UDA staff, additional support requirements, suspension from training or matches, or other action determined by UDA.
Players are expected to:
- Attend all required classes, lectures, seminars, tutorials, meetings, and academic commitments.
- Maintain the attendance standard required by UDA and the applicable partner university.
- Communicate promptly with academic staff, university contacts, and UDA staff when support is needed.
- Complete academic work honestly, responsibly, and on time.
- Take personal responsibility for academic progress and performance.
Failure to meet academic expectations may result in meetings with UDA staff, additional support requirements, suspension from training or matches, or other action determined by UDA.
Attendance & Program Participation
Players are expected to attend and participate fully in all required UDA activities, including but not limited to:
Players must notify the appropriate UDA staff member as soon as possible if they are unable to attend a required activity.
Repeated absence, lateness, lack of communication, or failure to participate may affect a player’s standing in the program.
- Training sessions
- Matches
- Team meetings
- Academic meetings
- Fitness sessions
- Events
- Travel days
- Required appointments
- Program-related activities
Players must notify the appropriate UDA staff member as soon as possible if they are unable to attend a required activity.
Repeated absence, lateness, lack of communication, or failure to participate may affect a player’s standing in the program.
Player Behavior & Respect
UDA players are expected to behave respectfully at all times.
Players must show respect toward:
Players must not engage in bullying, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, threatening behavior, abusive language, or conduct that damages the safety, welfare, or reputation of UDA, its players, staff, partners, or academy community.
Players must show respect toward:
- Teammates
- Coaches
- UDA staff
- University staff
- Match officials
- Opponents
- Volunteers
- Host families or housing staff, where applicable
- Community members
- Facilities and property
Players must not engage in bullying, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, threatening behavior, abusive language, or conduct that damages the safety, welfare, or reputation of UDA, its players, staff, partners, or academy community.
Professionalism & Communication
Players are expected to communicate in a mature, respectful, and timely manner.
This includes communication through:
Players are responsible for checking official communication channels regularly and responding when required.
This includes communication through:
- UDA Connect
- Text or messaging platforms
- Team communication tools
- In-person conversations
- Social media or online platforms
Players are responsible for checking official communication channels regularly and responding when required.
Training, Match & Team Standards
Players are expected to arrive prepared, focused, and ready to participate.
Players must:
Players who are injured, ill, or unable to participate fully must communicate with the appropriate coach, staff member, or medical/physio contact.
Players must:
- Arrive on time.
- Bring required equipment.
- Wear required training or match kit.
- Give full effort.
- Follow coaching instructions.
- Support teammates.
- Maintain a positive attitude.
- Represent UDA with pride and professionalism.
Players who are injured, ill, or unable to participate fully must communicate with the appropriate coach, staff member, or medical/physio contact.
Uniform, Kit & Appearance
Players are expected to wear the required UDA kit for training, matches, travel, events, and official activities as directed by UDA staff.
Players are responsible for keeping their kit clean, presentable, and in good condition.
UDA kit and apparel should be worn in a way that reflects positively on the player, the team, and the academy.
Players are responsible for keeping their kit clean, presentable, and in good condition.
UDA kit and apparel should be worn in a way that reflects positively on the player, the team, and the academy.
Housing, Travel & Program Conduct
Where players participate in UDA-related housing, accommodation, travel, tours, transportation, events, or partner activities, they are expected to behave responsibly and respectfully.
Players must follow UDA instructions, housing expectations, travel schedules, facility rules, partner requirements, and any additional guidance provided by UDA staff or program partners.
Conduct during housing, travel, tours, events, or partner activities may affect the player’s standing in the program.
Players must follow UDA instructions, housing expectations, travel schedules, facility rules, partner requirements, and any additional guidance provided by UDA staff or program partners.
Conduct during housing, travel, tours, events, or partner activities may affect the player’s standing in the program.
Conduct Outside of UDA Activities
Players represent UDA even when they are not actively training, competing, or attending official events.
Players are expected to make responsible choices and avoid behavior that could negatively affect:
Serious misconduct outside of official UDA activities may still result in disciplinary action.
Players are expected to make responsible choices and avoid behavior that could negatively affect:
- Their safety
- Their teammates
- Their academic standing
- Their eligibility
- UDA’s reputation
- Partner university relationships
- The wider academy community
Serious misconduct outside of official UDA activities may still result in disciplinary action.
Discipline & Consequences
If a player does not meet UDA expectations, UDA may take appropriate action.
This may include:
UDA will consider the nature and seriousness of the issue, the player’s response, and the impact on the team, academy, university, partner organization, or community.
This may include:
- A verbal or written warning
- A meeting with UDA staff
- Parent/guardian communication, where applicable
- Loss of match selection
- Suspension from training or matches
- Removal from team activities
- Removal from housing or travel opportunities
- Removal from the program
- Other action deemed appropriate by UDA
UDA will consider the nature and seriousness of the issue, the player’s response, and the impact on the team, academy, university, partner organization, or community.
Player Acknowledgement
By signing the annual UDA Player Agreements & Consents in UDA Connect, I acknowledge that:
- I have read and understand the UDA Player Policies & Code of Conduct.
- I agree to follow the expectations outlined in this policy.
- I understand that failure to meet these expectations may result in disciplinary action.
- I understand that I am responsible for representing myself, my teammates, UDA, and partner institutions with respect and professionalism.