CFLL CODE OF CONDUCT

CFLL Code of Conduct for Players, Coaches, and Spectators

CFLL Code of Conduct

Youth athletes, coaches, league administrators and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with CFLL, as well as contest officials, shall adhere to the principles of good sportsmanship and the ethics of competition before, during and after all contests in which they participate and/or attend. By participating in Cactus Foothills Little League in any capacity, you agree to the Code of Conduct set forth in this document and will conduct yourself in a sportsmanlike manner.

All CFLL coaches, assistant coaches, parents, players, and spectators are expected to uphold this policy and respect the decisions of the umpire(s) regardless of their age or experience. Please be respectful and report any policy violations to the league Ombudsman. Violations to this policy will be taken seriously by CFLL and the Conduct Committee and will result in enforcement of the penalties outlined below.

READ THROUGH TO THE BOTTOM AND CLICK ON LINK TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CODE OF CONDUCT TO BE ELIGPBLE FOR PLAY

For coaches, I will:

  • Place the emotional and physical well-being of players ahead of personal desire to win
  • Treat each player as an individual, remembering the large range of emotional and physical development for the same age group
  • Do my best to provide a safe playing environment for all players
  • Do my best to organize practices that are fun and challenging for all players
  • Lead by example in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship to all players
  • Promote fun, fairness, and sportsmanship over winning
  • Teach the rules of the game to all players, staff, and parents
  • Remember that you are a youth sports coach and that the game is for the kids

 

 

For players, I will:

  • Be a team player and support my teammates
  • Be on time and attend every practice & game that I can, and notify my coach if I cannot
  • Work hard to improve my skills and do my best to listen and learn from my coaches
  • Be humble when I win and gracious when I lose
  • Obey the rules of the game and always work for the good of the team
  • Accept the decisions of the officials with grace
  • Never challenge or question a call by an umpire, or the decisions of my coach
  • Conduct myself with honor and dignity
  • Applaud the efforts of my teammates and opponents

For parents, I will:

  • Encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support at all times
  • Respect all decisions of the umpires during games, even when I may disagree
  • Remember that Little League is played for the kids, it is not played for the adults
  • Teach my child that giving one’s best effort is more important than the outcome of the game
  • Not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player or parent such as booing and taunting, refusing to shake hands, or using profane language
  • Refrain from coaching my child or other players during games

In-Game Enforcement of the Code of Conduct for Coaches and Players

Furthermore, with respect to unsportsmanlike conduct, no manager, coach, or player, shall at any time, whether from the bench or the playing field or elsewhere commit any unsportsmanlike act including, but not limited to acts that:

  1. Incite, or try to incite, by word or sign, a demonstration by spectators;
  2. Use profane language, intimidation tactics (including language intended to intimidate), remarks which will in any manner refer to or reflect unfavorably upon opposing players, managers, coaches, an umpire, or spectators, or taunting, or baiting;
  3. Deliberately throwing a bat, helmet, etc.;
  4. Demonstrate behavior in any manner not in accordance with the spirit of fair play;
  5. Any member of the coaching staff who was not head coach leaving the vicinity of the dugout or coaching box to dispute a judgment call by an umpire;
  6. Confronting or directing unsportsmanlike conduct to the umpires after the game has concluded and until umpires have departed the game site;
  7. Use alcohol, tobacco, or tobacco-like products, e-cigarettes, vapor generating electronic devices, and other electronic nicotine delivery systems by players or coaches within the confines of and in the vicinity of the playing field.

The umpire may first warn the player, coach, and/or manager, unless the offense is judged to be major, in which case an ejection shall occur. If the player, manager, and/or coach has received a verbal warning and behavior is continued, the player, coach, and/or manager shall be removed from the game or bench (ejection).

For managers or coaches who violate a, b, c, or d, the umpire may issue a verbal warning to the offender, or eject the offender for a major offense. For violation of e, both the manager and the offending coach shall be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game unless the offense is so severe the umpire may eject the offender and restrict or eject the manager. A coach may leave the bench/dugout to attend to a player who becomes ill or injured. In f and g, the umpire shall report the offense and the Conduct Committee shall determine the appropriate action..

  1. Initiate malicious contact on offense or defense, which can be defined as contact or a collision where in the umpire’s judgment (1) the contact is the result of intentional excessive force, (2) the contact occurred above the waist of the receiving player, and/or (3) there was intent to injure. It should not be misconstrued that the absence of these three conditions would automatically remove the presence of something malicious;
  2. Leave their positions or bench area for the purpose of fighting or physical confrontation;
  3. Have physical contact, spit, kick, direct, or engage in other physical action directed at an umpire.

For violations of h, i, or j, the umpire shall eject the offender from the game. Failure to comply shall result in the game being forfeited. In h, the ball is immediately dead, if on offense, the player is ejected and declared out, unless he has already scored. If the defense commits the malicious contact, the player is ejected; the umpire shall rule either safe or out on the play and award the runner(s) the appropriate base(s) he felt they would have obtained had the malicious contact not occurred. In i, a coach who attempts to prevent a fight or restore order is not in violation of this rule.

Penalties for Violations of the Code of Conduct

Athletes who commit unsportsmanlike acts in violation of the Code of Conduct before, during, or after a game will be subject to the following suspension levels as determined by the League

  1. Level 1 Suspension. An athlete who commits an unsportsmanlike act for which he/she is ejected from the game will be ineligible to compete for the remainder of that game and for a minimum of the next one (1) game. If the unsportsmanlike act occurs in the last game of a season, the athlete will be ineligible for the same period of time as stated above in the next season the athlete participates in; or
  2. Level 2 Suspension. An athlete who receives a second Level 1 Suspension or commits an unsportsmanlike act defined here as an act of a malicious and hateful nature toward a contest official, an opponent or any other person attending a game; such acts may include, but are not limited to, profanity, striking or threatening a contest official; physical contact with an opponent which is beyond the normal scope of competition; spitting on a contest official or opponent; directing gender, racial or ethnic slurs toward a contest official, an opponent or any other person attending an athletic contest; or other such acts deemed to be unacceptable conduct, will be ineligible to compete, at a minimum, in the next game for a period of up to a maximum of ten (10) games; or
  3. Level 3 Suspension. An athlete who receives a second Level 2 Suspension or commits an egregious unsportsmanlike act, as determined by the Conduct Committee, will be ineligible to compete in a game for a period of up to one (1) year; or
  4. Level 4 Suspension. An athlete who receives three (3) or more Level 2 Suspensions or commits an egregious unsportsmanlike act, as determined by the Conduct Committee, will be ineligible to compete in any League game for the duration of their League eligibility.

Managers or coaches who commit unsportsmanlike acts in violation of the Code of Conduct before, during, or after a game will be subject to the following suspension levels as determined by the League:

  1. Level 1 Suspension. A manager or coach who commits an unsportsmanlike act for which he/she is ejected from the contest, will be ineligible to coach or attend the remainder of that game and for a minimum of the next one (1) game. If the unsportsmanlike act occurs in the last contest of a season, the manager or coach will be ineligible for the same period of time as stated above in the next season the manager or coach participates in; or
  2. Level 2 Suspension. A manager or coach who receives a second Level 1 Suspension or commits an unsportsmanlike act defined here as an act of a malicious and hateful nature toward a contest official, an opponent or any other person attending a game; such acts may include, but are not limited to, profanity, striking or threatening a contest official; physical contact with an opponent which is beyond the normal scope of competition; spitting on a contest official or opponent; directing gender, racial or ethnic slurs toward a contest official, an opponent or any other person attending an athletic contest; or other such acts deemed to be unacceptable conduct, will be ineligible to compete, at a minimum, in the next game for a period of up to a maximum of ten (10) games; or
  3. Level 3 Suspension. A manager or coach who receives a second Level 2 Suspension or commits an egregious unsportsmanlike act, as determined at the discretion of the Conduct Committee, will be ineligible to coach for a period of up to one (1) year.
  4. Level 4 Suspension. A manager or coach who receives three (3) or more Level 2 Suspensions or commits an egregious unsportsmanlike act, as determined by the Conduct Committee, will be ineligible to compete in any League game for life.
  5. A manager or coach who is suspended from the next game or number of games after having been ejected from a prior game shall not attend the games from which he/she has been suspended in any capacity and shall not be present at the sites of such games.

Spectators who are in violation of the Code of Conduct before, during, or after a game will be subject to the following suspension levels as determined by the League:

  1. Level 1 Suspension. A spectator who commits an unsportsmanlike act for which he/she is ejected from the contest, will be ineligible to attend the remainder of that game and for a minimum of the next one (1) game. If the unsportsmanlike act occurs in the last contest of a season, the spectator will be ineligible for the same period of time as stated above in the next season. If ejected, the spectator’s child attending the game must also leave the facility unless a parent or legal guardian remains in attendance; or
  2. Level 2 Suspension. A spectator who receives a second Level 1 Suspension or commits an unsportsmanlike act defined here as an act of a malicious and hateful nature toward a contest official, an opponent or any other person attending a game; such acts may include, but are not limited to, profanity, striking or threatening a contest official; physical contact with an opponent or other spectator; spitting on a contest official, spectator, or opponent; directing gender, racial or ethnic slurs toward a contest official, an opponent or any other person attending an athletic contest; or other such acts deemed to be unacceptable conduct, will be ineligible to attend, at a minimum, the next game for a period of up to a maximum of ten (10) games; or
  3. Level 3 Suspension. A spectator who receives a second Level 2 Suspension or commits an egregious unsportsmanlike act, as determined at the discretion of the Conduct Committee, will be ineligible to attend any League game for life.
  4. A spectator who is suspended from the next game or number of games after having been ejected from a prior game shall not attend the games from which he/she has been suspended in any capacity and shall not be present at the sites of such games.
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