Southington Valley Football League Code of Conduct
Players, coaches, officials, parents and spectators are to conduct themselves in a manner that “Honors the Game” of football and demonstrates respect to other players, coaches, officials, parents and spectators. The essential elements in this “Code of Conduct” are HONESTY and INTEGRITY.
The following essential elements of the “Code of Conduct” must be followed:
· Sportsmanship and teaching the concepts of fair play are essential to the game and must be taught at all levels and developed on the field during practices and games.
· The value of good sportsmanship, the concepts of fair play, and the skills of the game should always be placed above winning.
· The safety and welfare of the players are of primary importance.
· Coaches/Adults must always be aware of the tremendous influence they have on their players. They are to strive to be positive role models in dealing with young people as well as adults.
· Coaches/Adults should always demonstrate positive behaviors and reinforce them to players, other parents, officials and spectators. Players should be specifically encouraged and positively reinforced by coaches to demonstrate respect for teammates, opponents, officials and spectators.
· Players should always demonstrate positive behavior and respect toward teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, parents and spectators.
· Coaches, players, parents and spectators are expected to demonstrate the utmost respect for officials and to reinforce that respect to players/teammates. Coaches are also expected to educate their players as to the important role of football officials and reinforce the ideal of respect for the official to players/teammates.
· Grievances or misunderstandings between coaches, officials or any other parties involved with the sport should be communicated through the proper channels and procedures, never on or about the field of play or otherwise in view of spectators or participants.
· Spectators involved with the game will not maliciously criticize, badger, harass or threaten an official, coach, player or opponent.
· Coaches must be able to demonstrate a solid knowledge of the rules of football, and should adhere to the rules in both the letter and the spirit of the game.
· Attempts to manipulate rules in an effort to take unfair advantage of an opponent, or to teach deliberate unsportsmanlike conduct, is considered unacceptable conduct.
· Eligibility requirements, at all levels of the game, must be followed.
· There will be no drinking of any alcohol or smoking in the immediate presence of children.