The FCYSO is a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation whose purpose is to create a youth sports program based upon the ideals of good sportsmanship, integrity, personal responsibility, self-sacrifice, and teamwork taught through organized athletic activities. This Code of Conduct outlines expectations for players, parents and coaches.

I. PLAYERS

A. SPORTSMANSHIP

1. Give your best effort in school.
2. Give your best effort at all games, practices and FCYSO events.
3. Not argue with umpires, referees, coaches or players.
4. Respect and encourage teammates.
5. Listen to your coaches and follow their instructions.
6. Never throw equipment (i.e.: helmets, bats, balls, gloves or any other items of equipment) out of anger ordisappointment.
7. Do not throw temper tantrums (i.e. stomping out of anger, yelling/crying inappropriately, etc.)
8. Never use profanity, racial or derogatory comments of any kind.
9. Attend all practices and games or appropriately give notification to head coach.
10. Clean up the location after all practices and games.
11. Not leave the playing area during a game or practice except for injury, illness or to use a restroom.
12. Focus on the game at all times and do not converse with others outside the playing area.

B. PLAYING TIME

Playing time in regular season games for players who follow the sportsmanship requirements will be granted according to the individual sporting bylaws. Regular season games are to be used for teaching and gaining of experience by all players. The sporting bylaws use varying methods to ensure each player receives specified minimum amounts of playing time during regular seasongames. Tournaments are purely competitive events and playing time is determined by the head coach with the goal of fielding the most competitive team. You are expected to work hard and earn your playing time and positions. If you are not satisfied with your playing time or positions, first work hard to show your coaches what you can do. Second, discuss the matter with your coaches. Ask them what you need to improve on and for some ideas on how you can work to improve.

II. PARENTS

A. AFFIRMATIVE ACTS IN GENERAL

You are expected to:

1. Support the team, the coaches and FCYSO
2. Be positive & encouraging to your child, teammates & other parents
3. Be respectful of all others, including opposing players, fans, officials and umpires
4. Volunteer required time for individual sporting concessions & fund-raiser events.

B. PROHIBITED ACTS IN GENERAL:

You may not at any time or in any manner:

1. Consume alcoholic beverages at any FCYSO event
2. Coach or instruct any players, including your child (unless you are your child’s coach) during a game or practice.
3. Use profanity, racial or derogatory comments of any kind.
4. Contribute to the destruction of equipment or facilities.
5. Verbally and/or physically assault another person at any league event.
6. Take part in any action that is deemed disruptive to the orderly conduct of the event.
7. Violate any City, State, or Federal regulation, ordinance, and law.

C. PLAYING TIME / POSITION

FCYSO prohibits parents from discussing playing time or position with coaches immediately prior to, during or immediately following a game. You may ask your child’s head coach what you and the coach can do together to help your child improve. This must be done away from playing field and while players and other parents are not present. Preferably, meetings require 24-48 hours advance notice.

D. BEHAVIOR

Parents are expected to treat all players, coaches, umpires and fans with respect. Parents should be fans. Parents are expected to not coach any players, including their child (unless of course he/she is their child’s coach), during practices and games. Parent instructions to players during practices or games are often inconsistent with instructions given by the coaches. Giving a player instructions causes stress to the player. Limit comments to cheering and encouraging the team. Please do not yell at the coaches, children, umpires/officials. Let the coaches handle the umpires/officials.
E. KEEPING A PROPER DISTANCE FROM THE TEAM: Parents are not allowed in the team area (i.e. dugout, sideline, etc.) unless as a coach, scorebook keeper, down-marker holder, etc. that are required to be in the area for game purposes. Parents are required to remain a proper distance from the team during games, practices and warm ups. Parents may approach these areas when their child is sick, injured, needs directions concerning a ride home following the game or similar instructions. Players should arrive at the playing location with an adequate supply of water or sports drinks.

F. PARENT VOLUNTEERING

The FCYSO is a non-profit organization that relies on sponsorships and volunteers. Volunteering at events is expected and may be required for each sport your child plays. In addition, the FCYSO expects parents to be good role models by exhibiting behavior of caring for facilities by picking up trash, cleaning up where necessary, etc.

G. FEES

Parents are expected to pay registration fees on or before the due date. Fees not paid in full by the first game of each sport will result in that player not being able to participate. In case of financial hardship, please contact an FCYSO Board Member. When a player quits the team or is removed from the team, no refunds are given.

H. COACHING EVALUATIONS

As the FCYSO coaches are all volunteers, evaluations will be distributed to all parents at the end of each sporting season. Coaches will have the opportunity to review all of their evaluation comments. The Sport Director reviews and addresses all evaluations with the President of the FCYSO.

III. COACHES

A. AFFIRMATIVE ACTS IN GENERAL

You are expected to:

1. Support the team, other coaches and cooperate with the administration of the FCYSO.
2. Be positive and encouraging to all children and parents.
3. Promote honesty, teamwork, fair play and responsibility.
4. Be respectful of all others, including opposing players, fans, officials and umpires.
5. Treat players with dignity and respect regardless of their athletic ability. Reward their efforts more than their skills.
6. Encourage and motivate your players with patience and positive talk. Do not let your players get down on themselves.
7. Schedule appropriate practices and games and conduct them so that all players have opportunities to improve their skill level through active participation.
8. Work with Sport Director to ensure understanding of the following:
   a. sport bylaws
   b. rules & regulations
   c. age-appropriate skill development
   d. drills & practice strategies
9. Cooperate with the administration of the FCYSO and the enforcement of rules and regulations. Report any irregularities that violate sound competitive practices to the Sports Director.
10. Protect the health, safety and well-being of the players and ensure players use equipment properly. Remember the players are in your continuous custody during all practices, games & events.
11. Attend any mandatory coaches meetings.
12. Maintain high levels of fairness and professionalism.
13. Learn the strengths and weaknesses of players in order to place them in situations where they have a maximum opportunity to achieve success.
14. Address issues appropriately and communicate any issues to Sport Director as they arise.

B. PROHIBITED ACTS IN GENERAL

You may not at any time or in any manner:

1. Consume alcoholic beverages or use tobacco products at any FCYSO event.
2. Use profanity, racial or derogatory comments of any kind.
3. Argue with officials, coaches, or players. This is not to be confused with challenging an official call. Arguing results from refusal to accept the final decision of an official after the coach’s challenge has been made and considered by the official. (It is acceptable to challenge the interpretation of a rule in a courteous non- confrontational manner.)
4. Participate in the destruction of equipment or facilities.
5. Verbally and / or physically assault another person at any league event.
6. Take part in any action that is deemed disruptive to the orderly conduct of the event.
7. Violate any City, State, or Federal regulation, ordinance, and law
8. Quit or leave during any team event unless in case of injury or emergency or employment on-call.

C. BEHAVIOR

Coaches are expected to show as much, if not more, discipline and commitment as players and parents – the FCYSO holds its coaches to a very high level of professionalism and integrity. Be a positive role model in your words and actions. Help develop positive character in the youth.

D. ASSISTANT COACHING

Head coaches for each sport are allowed to select Assistant Coaches as needed and as communicated back to the FCYSO Sport Director.

E. SELECTION PROCESS

Individuals interested in coaching need to contact the Sport Director and notify them of interest well in advance of the start of each sport season. Coaches will be recruited, educated and selected by the Sport Director based on the following criteria.

1. Previous coaching experience inside and outside the organization.
2. Understanding of fundamentals.
3. Teaching abilities – including communication skills, patience, temperament and good sportsmanship.
4. Time commitment honored.

The FCYSO also reserves the right to process background checks for all head coaches. Those with prior conviction of felony, child abuse or sexual misconduct will immediately be disqualified and restricted from coaching.

IV. PENALTIES

For the reported first violation of the Code of Conduct, the coach, player and/or parent(s) may be removed from that game/practice. The second violation may result in suspension from all FCYSO games and practices, wherever located, for a 7-day period commencing on the day of the offense. A third violation of any type by a coach, player or his/her parent(s) may result in the expulsion from all FCYSO activities. FCYSO reserves the right to expel any individual on the first offense by noting that a Board Member, with the practice, game or meeting of FCYSO, may remove a coach, assistant coach, player, or parent/guardian of a player that has demonstrated improper conduct as described in this Code of Conduct, FCYSO constitution, specific sport bylaws, or affiliated governing bodies and leagues.

V. ADDRESSING CONCERNS

Steps for addressing and rectifying concerns/problems:

1. 1. Player speaks to coach and/or other person with which the problem lies.
2. Parent speaks to coach and/or other person with which the problem lies.
3. Parent speaks to Sport Director.
4. Sport Director calls FCYSO President.
5. Sport Director & FCYSO President speak with coaches and/or other person with which problem lies.
6. Sport Director & FCYSO President meet with entire team, including coaches; coaches are never excluded from team meetings.

If a problem arises with a coach, absent exigent and extreme circumstances, the FCYSO will always initially assume a pro-coach viewpoint; the burden of persuasion lies with the challenger to change the viewpoint of the FCYSO and prove any alleged violation or misconduct by clear and convincing evidence; however, coaches are held to extremely high standards by the FCYSO.

The removed individual(s) has the right to address the action in front of the entire Board in executive session at the next properly scheduled meeting. The Board will take a vote of confidence on the action. If it is determined that the removal was improper a public apology will be published in the next issue of the community newspaper.

Handling Issues Process

• Recognize: Sometimes difficult to recognize the issue. Make sure the issue is defined and limited, don’t allow to mushroom or spread.
• Responsibility: Analyze the issue for all possible causes and then determine who (one or many) was responsible. If next step and corrective outline are not followed, responsibility shifts toward more senior person.
• Remedy: Maybe the issue can be reversed or corrected, if not steps should be taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again. For most issues the following corrective outline should be followed. Very serious issues may justify skipping the counseling or discipline steps.
• Counseling: The purpose is to inform about and encourage or discourage practices or behavior. May be done at any time for almost any topic. 1 unbreakable rule… positive in public, negative in private.
• Discipline: The purpose of discipline is to reinforce requirement to perform the desired action.
Generally use after counseling has failed some issues justify skipping counseling. Must be related to the conduct being corrected. Must be as immediate as possible. Should be as discrete as possible.
• Punishment: The purpose of the punishment is to make refusal to comply unpleasant or impossible. Should only be used after discipline has failed or when skipping counseling and discipline is justified. May be public. May be unrelated to action being corrected, the individual/s being punished must be able to explain reason for punishment.

VI. QUESTIONS

Please contact an FCYSO Board Member if you have any questions ~ www.fcyso.com.

VII. AMENDMENTS

FCYSO may amend the Code of Conduct and any time.

• Refunds will be considered on an individual bases but will be reduced based on incurred expenses (uniform orders or league registrations.)