WRC CODE OF ETHICS

WRC COACHES INFORMATION, RESPONSIBILITIES & CODE OF CONDUCT

The WRC by-laws state, “The objective of the WRC, Inc. shall be to implant firmly in its players the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect for authority regardless of race, creed, color, religion or sex. To achieve this objective, the WRC will provide a supervised program of competitive games. Officers and members shall bear in mind that stressing exceptional athletic skills or winning games is secondary. The type of leadership extended is of prime importance.”

We exist to teach, lead and guide the kids in becoming not only good athletes, but also good people – those with good attitudes, morals and character. As a coach for the Rec, we expect you to encourage these ideals to your players and their parents, as well as teach the sport to the kids.

WRC is here to help you as a coach with any and all of the responsibilities of running the team. We strongly encourage you to make discipline one of your requirements for your team and to communicate this to the parents and players at the first practice. By discipline, we mean: listening to and obeying the coach(es), coming to practice/games prepared to play the sport, showing respect to all people, offering good sportsmanship at all times, taking care of equipment the right way and following the rules of the game. At all times we, as coaches, should speak positively and offer encouragement to the players and their parents to the best of our ability.

Responsibilities:

-          First contact with parents: introduce yourself as coach, give first practice time and date, what items each child should bring (i.e. water bottle with name clearly marked

-          Plan practice session: You will have from 45 minutes to more than an hour with your team and will need to keep them active and participating.  League directors can help you with ideas.

-          Equipment: Maintain equipment for the season and return to the league directors after the last game.

-          Communication: Inform parents throughout the season to any schedule changes or special events, such as picture day or weather cancellations.

-          Time: Arrive to practice/games 15 minutes before scheduled start time and remain with the children until all have been picked up or accounted for.

-          Uniform: Distribute t-shirts to your team. Communicate any problems to the league directors.

-          Roster: Try to establish a roster for each game – starting team, subs schedule, bench-sitting schedule, etc. Try to encourage the players to play many positions.

-          Remember: CHILDREN ARE TO PLAY AS EQUALLY AND FAIRLY AS POSSIBLE DURING REGULAR SEASON PLAY. Please refer to league rules for the specifics.

Whiteford Recreation Club Coaches will:

1.       Place the emotional and physical well-being of players ahead of a personal desire to win.

2.       Treat each player as an individual, remembering the large range of emotional and physical development for the same age group.

3.       Do their best to provide a safe playing situation for my players.

4.       Promise to review and practice basic first aid principles needed to treat injuries of my players and complete the CDC’s HEADS UP Concussion Online Training course (https://headsup.cdc.gov/).

5.       Do their best to organize practices that are fun and challenging for all players.

6.       Lead by example in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship to all my players.

7.       Refrain from using foul language in front of any players, parents or officials.

8.       Maintain control of his/her emotions and avoid actions, language, and/or gestures that may be interpreted as hostile and humiliating.

9.       Not cheat or engage in any form of unethical behavior that violates league rules.

10.   Provide a sports environment for their team that is free of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, and I will refrain from their use at all youth sports events and facilities.

11.   Be knowledgeable in the rules of each sport that they coach, and will teach those rules to their players.

12.   Use coaching techniques appropriate for all of the skills that they teach.

13.   Ensure that fans of his/her team conduct themselves with sportsmanship and maturity at all times while in attendance at game sites, and assist the game officials in maintaining control of spectators during the games.

14.   Respect the coaches and players of the opposing team both during the play of the game and at its conclusion, win or lose.

15.   Remember that they are youth sports coaches, and that the game is for children and not adults.

Whiteford Recreation Club Parents Code of Conduct

Each parent and spectator will ensure that his/her conduct is that of a responsible adult or youth who are positively encouraging all participants to the limit of his/her ability.  To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, each parent and spectator is expected to:

 a. Respect the rules of the game.

b. Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions or from addressing them in a loud, disrespectful, or abusive manner.

c. Cheer for their team in a positive, supportive manner.

d. Place the emotional and physical well-being of the players ahead of any personal desire to win.

e. Maintain control of his/her emotions, avoid the use of abusive language, profanity, and gestures of ill temper, and refrain at all times from making hostile or negative remarks about the opposing team.

f. Respect all Whiteford Recreation Club coaches, trustees and officers.

g. Follow all building rules and regulations, respecting at all times the property of others.

h. Leave school grounds in a timely fashion after the conclusion of a game.

i. Demonstrate appropriate gestures of sportsmanship at the conclusion of a game, win or lose.  Do not interact in a negative fashion with fans, players or coaches of the opposing team or game officials.

j. Realize, accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability, but also on the sportsmanship, courtesy, and citizenship of its fans.

Offensive Actions

Any individual violating the Coaches, Players or Parents Code of Conduct set forth shall be subject to penalties and sanctions as set forth in the Disciplinary Procedures of the Whiteford Recreation Club.  In addition to conforming to the requirements of the Codes of Conduct, the following actions are specifically prohibited:

1.       Refusing to abide by an official’s decision.

2.       Verbally abusing or assaulting any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or Whiteford Recreation Club officer or trustee.

3.       Physically assaulting, abusing, or threatening any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or Whiteford Recreation Club officer or trustee.

4.       Stalking, tailing, or attempting to intimidate any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or Whiteford Recreation Club officer or trustee.

5.       Engaging in any other type of violent behavior, such as throwing equipment or other objects.

6.       Engaging in any lewd or sexual behavior, physically abusing a player, or engaging in any inappropriate physical contact with a player.

7.       Unless specifically allowed by the rules of the sport, pushing, shoving, or striking any player.

8.       Using drugs or alcohol while coaching, attending, or participating in any WRC sport or other WRC event.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

 1.   Reporting Improper Conduct

Whiteford Recreation Club provides a forum on its Facebook to allow coaches, players, parents, spectators, and officials to report to the WRC Board any issues they observe before, during, or after practices and games.  To report Code of Conduct violations and Offensive Actions, Direct Message the WRC Facebook page or email one of the WRC officers or Trustees (their contact information is available on the Facebook page).

a.  Reporting By Coaches

i. It is the responsibility of every coach to address improper conduct observed by the coach or brought to the coach’s attention in a timely and respectful manner.

ii. In the event any coach feels that the WRC board should be involved in addressing any improper conduct, the coach is encouraged to contact the board within 24 hours of the event.

iii. Coaches must report any Offensive Actions to the WRC board, including, without limitation:

1) Any report or allegation of inappropriate physical contact, violence, or threatened violence against any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or Whiteford Recreation Club officer or trustee.

2) Any observed or reported use of drugs or alcohol by any player, coach, official, parent, or spectator during any WRC event.

3) Any situation where a player, coach, parent, or spectator is ejected from a game or removed from the premises.

iv. Coaches are encouraged to keep the WRC board informed of any improper conduct and the steps taken by the coach to address the misconduct, even if the coach is not required to report the misconduct to the WRC board.

v.  Coaches shall promptly respond to any request by the WRC board for information relating to any incident or violation of the Code of Conduct.

b.    Reporting by Parents and Spectators.

Parents and spectators are encouraged to report any improper conduct to the coach and/or the WRC board.

ii. If a parent or spectator reports misconduct to the coach and feels that the misconduct is not appropriately addressed, the parent or spectator is encouraged to contact the WRC board through the WRC Facebook page via Direct Message.

2.  Procedures for Addressing Improper Conduct

a.    Coaches and Officials

i. Coaches and officials shall promptly address any misconduct that is observed or brought to the attention of the coach or official during a WRC event.

ii. Coaches and officials have the absolute authority, in their sole discretion, to issue verbal warnings and/or eject any player, parent, or spectator from any game or match if the player, parent, or spectator violates the Code of Conduct or engages in any Offensive Action.

iii. Officials have the absolute authority to issue verbal warnings and/or eject any coach from any game or match if the coach violates the Code of Conduct or engages in any Offensive Action.

b.   Whiteford Recreation Club Board

i. The WRC board will conduct a timely and reasonable investigation into any misconduct reported to the WRC board.  The scope of any investigation will be determined by the WRC board in its sole discretion, provided, however, that the WRC board will provide any person accused of misconduct a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

ii. After a reasonable investigation, the WRC board will determine the appropriate penalty for any violation of this Code of Conduct and any Offensive Action.

1) Penalties will be based on the nature and severity of the violation.

2)  The WRC board will strive to treat all similar offenses in a similar manner, while taking into account the individual facts and circumstances of each violation.

3)  The WRC board will not discriminate in any manner in determining whether to impose a penalty or in determining which penalty to impose.

iii. The WRC board will keep reasonable and appropriate records of each reported violation, and shall document each penalty and the reasons for imposing the penalty.

All decisions of the WRC board are final and cannot be appealed.

1.    Penalties

The WRC board shall determine the appropriate penalty for any violation of the Code of Conduct and any Offensive Actions.  Penalties may include any one or more of the following:

a.  Verbal Warning

b.  Written Warning

c.   Suspension:

i. One game suspension

ii. Multiple game suspension, or

iii. Indefinite suspension

d. Expulsion from WRC

2.    Additional Considerations.

If a coach or parent is expelled from the league, any child associated with that person is also expelled from the league.

b. If a player is suspended from the Whiteford Agricultural School District, they cannot participate in WRC practices or games for the duration of their suspension.  If a player is expelled from the Whiteford Agricultural School District, they cannot participate in WRC games or practices.  If they are currently on a team, they will be removed from that team.

c. Behavior of players may also subject them to discipline under the Whiteford Agricultural School District student code of conduct.

d. There are no refunds as a result of any person being removed from the league.