Chapter 65B. Sports Code of Conduct

CHAPTER 65B SPORTS CODE OF CONDUCT

§65B-1. Definitions

§65B-2. Code of Conduct

§65B-3. Violation & Procedures

§65B-4. Repealer

§65B-5. Severable

§65B-6. When Effective

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Gloucester on 09-23-02 as Ordinance O-02-38. Amendments noted where applicable]

Be it ordained by the Township Council of the Township of Gloucester, in the County of Camden and State of New Jersey, as follows:

§65B-1. Definitions

CODE OF CONDUCT - Written specification of the behavior of parents, guardians, players, coaches and officials when participating in an or observing sporting events on municipal facilities.

YOUTH SPORTS EVENT - Any competition, practice, or other instructional event on municipal facilities.

YOUTH SPORTS TEAM - Any organization which participates or makes use of any municipal facility.

VERBAL ABUSE - Use of obscene or profane language or gestures, racial, ethnic or sexual slurs.

§65B-2. Code of Conduct

A. Every sports team, parent, guardian, player, coach and official shall be required to abide by the Code of Conduct established by this Ordinance and any amendments hereto.

B. Every sports team, making use of a municipal facility, shall be required to provide to parents, guardians, players, coaches and officials a copy of this Code of Conduct. A copy of this Code of Conduct shall be posted at all municipal facilities used by youth sports teams.

C. No parent, guardian, player, coach or official participating in or attending any sports team event on a municipal facility shall initiate a fight, scuffle, or any type of physical abuse or threats of abuse towards any other player, coach, official , parent, guardian or spectator.

D. No parent, guardian, or spectator participating in or attending any sports team event on a municipal facility shall enter the field of play, court or rink during any youth sports event for the purpose of physically or verbally abusing or confronting players, coaches, officials.

E. No parent, guardian, spectator, coach or official at any youth sports event shall verbally abuse any parent, guardian, spectator, coach or official.

F. No parent, guardian, spectator, coach or official at any youth sports event shall throw or cause to be deposited any object on the field of play, court or rink during any youth sports event.

G. No parent, guardian, spectator, coach or official at any youth sports event shall possess, distribute or consume alcoholic beverages, drugs or narcotics in or upon any Township park or recreation area. [Amended on 06-28-04 by Ord. O-04-16]

§65B-3. Violation Procedures

Fines and Penalties - Any person who violates any provision of this ordinance, upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the Township of Gloucester, or any court of competent jurisdiction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars, or imprisonment for a term not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both, at the discretion of the sentencing Judge. Upon conviction before the Municipal Court of the Township of Gloucester, or any court of competent jurisdiction, the Director of the Department of Recreation, as directed by the sentencing Judge, shall impose a ban against the individual from participating on a field, or in any event, owned or sponsored by the Township of Gloucester for a period of thirty (30) days not to exceed one (1) year.

§65B-4. Repealer

All ordinances and provisions thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance shall be and are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.

§65B-5. Severable

If any section, subsection or part, clause or phrase of this Ordinance shall be declared invalid by judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction, such section, subsection, part, clause or phrase shall be deemed to be severable from the remainder of the ordinance.

§65B-6. When Effective

This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after final passage and publication as required by law.