Stafford Lacrosse Association Code of Ethics and Conduct Training

Coach Training

Partnering for the FutureSLA & Positive Coaches Alliance

SLA Mission Statement

THE STAFFORD LACROSSE ASSOCIATION SHALL PROVIDE ALL STAFFORD COUNTY YOUTH WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY ORGANIZED LACROSSE IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO:

– PROMOTE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, GOOD CITIZENSHIP AND OTHERWISE EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR

– DEVELOP LACROSSE SKILLS, GENERAL ATHLETIC ABILITY AND A SENSE OF TEAM PLAY

– MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD OF PLAYER SAFETY

SLA Vision Statement

The SLA coaches and parents shall provide an environment that allows players to have fun, learn life lessons and have the opportunity to improve as players.

SLA & PCA Core Values

Respect your ROOTS– Rules– Opponents– Officials– Teammates– Self

(Positive Coaching Alliance, 2009)

SLA Organization

Ethics Chain of CommandPRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION

COACHES DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORBOY’S/GIRL’S COMMISSIONER

COACHESMEMBER AT LARGE (parent liaison)

PARENTS

Enforcement Chain of CommandPRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION

COMMISSIONER OF BOY/GIRL PROGRAMSFIELD COMMISSIONER

COACHES

PARENTS

SLA Code of Ethics

• Coaches will be concerned primarily with the well-being, safety, and protection of the individual player. There must be a balance between the development of performance and the social, emotional, intellectual and physical needs of the individual.

• SLA is committed to the exhibition of sportsmanship and ethical behaviors in and around all athletic contests.

• All contests must be safe, fair, controlled and orderly for all athletes, officials, and fans alike.

• Unsportsmanlike behavior and violence in any form is not to be tolerated in athletic contests or practices.

• Coaches must not encourage players to violate the rules. They should actively seek to discourage and condemn such action and encourage players to obey the spirit of the rules.

(NVYLL, 2009) & (BISC, 1989)

SLA Code of Ethics

• Coaches must observe all player participation rules and strive to make each player feel as if he/she is a valuable member of the team regardless of any physical or developmental limitations he/she may have.

• In order to enforce this policy, SLA has implemented these regulations in accordance with NVYLL regulations which are supported and observed by all league club commissioners. The rules and regulations focus upon the responsibility of the coach to teach and demand high standards of conduct and to enforce personally the rules and regulations set forth by the NVYLL.

• SLA requires that the code of ethics and conduct be issued to and signed by each head and assistant coach, each season, as a guide to govern their behavior. The penalty for failing to sign a copy of this policy will be to restrict the coach from participating in SLA programs

(CE&R, 2009) & (NVYLL, 2009)

SLA Code of ConductCode of Conduct for Coaches• Be courteous at all times with players, opponents, officials and fans.• Treat all with dignity and respect (ROOTS)• Exercise self-control on the field before, during and after contests. • Be responsible for the sportsmanlike conduct of his or her players on

the team.• Coach your own team. • Explain to the parents that they are to respect the decisions of the

referees and the play of both teams in a sportsmanlike manner. • There shall be no use of foul and abusive language. • Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials. • There shall be no use of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, or

illegal drugs at NVYLL programs. • There shall be no recruitment of players from other teams or clubs. • Win with character, lose with dignity. (NVYLL,2009)

SLA Code of ConductCode of Conduct for Parents• Be courteous at all times with players, opponents, game officials and

fans.• Let the coaches coach.• Let the players play• Let the official officiate• Exercise self-control on the sidelines before, during and after contests. • There shall be no use of foul and abusive language.• Provide positive support for your player and team. • Become familiar with all rules of the contest. • Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials. • There shall be no use of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, or

illegal drugs at NVYLL programs. • Make appropriate contingency preparations for potential emergency

medical treatment.

SLA Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct for Players• Be courteous at all times with players, opponents, game officials and

fans.• Treat all with dignity and respect (ROOTS)• Exercise self-control on the field before, during and after contests. • Win with character, lose with dignity.• Refrain from using offensive language, taunting, or fighting on or off the

field• Use physical contact within the rules and not for the purpose of

intentionally inflicting injury upon another player• Wear all required equipment• Follow all applicable rules of play

(CE&R, 2009)

SLA EnforcementVIOLATION OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT SHALL RESULT IN THE

APPLICATION OF THE DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES BELOW:•  NON-SEVERE PROBLEMS: 

– A DISCIPLINE PROBLEM INVOLVING PLAYERS, COACHES OR PARENTS/GUARDIANS WHICH OCCURS DURING OR IMMEDIATELY BEFORE OR AFTER ANY GAME OR ACTIVITY SHALL BE HANDLED INFORMALLY BY THAT HEAD COACH OR, IF NECESSARY, THE FIELD COMMISSIONER WHICH MAY INCLUDE A WARNING OR RESTRICTED PLAYING TIME. 

• SEVERE PROBLEMS:– THE NCAA EXPULSION RULE, AS MODIFIED BY THE NVYLL, SHALL APPLY TO

ALL NVYLL GAMES.  A SEVERE DISCIPLINE PROBLEM WHICH OCCURS DURING OR IMMEDIATELY BEFORE OR AFTER ANY GAME OR ACTIVITY, AS DETERMINED BY A REFEREE, HEAD COACH OR THE FIELD COMMISSIONER, SHALL BE RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSIONER.  PUNISHMENT MAY INCLUDE SUSPENSION OF THE PLAYER OR PARENTS/GUARDIANS FOR ONE OR MORE PRACTICES OR GAMES.  IF THE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES THAT MORE SERIOUS PUNISHMENT IS NEEDED, SUCH AS SUSPENSION FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON, HE/SHE SHALL PRESENT THE ISSUE TO THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR RESOLUTION BY MAJORITY VOTE. 

(SLA,2004)

SLA Enforcement• A SEVERE DISCIPLINE PROBLEM SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE

LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:  FIGHTING, COMMITTING OTHER ACTS OF VIOLENCE, DELIBERATELY VIOLATING SAFETY STANDARDS AND ENDANGERING OTHER PLAYERS, DISPLAYING POOR SPORTSMANSHIP

• IF A SEVERE OR NON-SEVERE PROBLEM OCCURS BETWEEN AN SLA MEMBER AND A MEMBER OF ANOTHER YOUTH LACROSSE CLUB OR A REFEREE, THE COMMISSIONER MAY NOTIFY EITHER THE OTHER CLUBS COMMISSIONER, FOR INFORMAL RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM, OR THE NVYLL CHAIRMAN, FOR RESOLUTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NVYLL BY-LAWS.

(SLA,2004)

PCA ConceptsPositive Coaching Alliance (PCA)

All SLA coaches are encoraged to complete the PCA Double Coach I workshop

“A Double-Goal Coach strives to win and, even more importantly, uses sports to teach life lessons through Positive Coaching.”

PCA has three national goals:

• Replace the "win-at-all-cost" model of coaching with the Double-Goal Coach®, who wants to win but has a second, more important, goal of using sports to teach life lessons;

• Teach youth sports organization leaders how to create an organizational culture in which Honoring the Game is the norm; and

• Spark and fuel a "social epidemic" of Positive Coaching that will sweep this country.

• http://www.positivecoach.org/

(PCA,2009)

Coaches Responsibility• To be responsible for the propriety and consequences of your own

actions

• Within the limits of their control, coaches have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the players

• Coaches must accept responsibility for the conduct of their players and discourage inappropriate behavior in training, competition

• Report any conduct that violates this code or adversely affects the positive environment of the organization

• Be familiar with all rules of the contest (CE&R, 2009)

Parent’s Responsibilities

• Serve as official timekeeper

• Serve as official scorekeeper

• Promise to support the goals of SLA and NVYLL, which include teaching youth to work together cooperatively and develop self-esteem and sports skills through game play, and, above all, to have fun.

• Understand that, as a spectator, if my conduct or language is deemed to be unsportsmanlike by the Field Commissioner, I may be asked to leave the playing area in which my son’s or daughter’s games are being held.

Player’s Responsibilities

• To be responsible for the propriety and consequences of your own actions

• To be prepared to play, have the proper equipment and a positive attitude and have fun

• To be willing to learn from each practice and game

• To play within the rules and to learn any rules you may not understand

• To speak only to the coaches regarding game situations and positively to all others

Summary

• Do what’s right to ensure the safety and well-being of others

• Coach your own team

• Teach game skills and life lessons

• Support your child with positive reinforcement

References• BISC, British. 1989.“National Coaching Foundation Code of Ethics & Conduct

for Sports Coaches”. The British Institute of Sports Coaches (BISC). Available at http://www.brianmac.co.uk/ethics.htm

• CE&R, Community Education and Recreation. 2009. “Keeping Youth Sports Kid-Friendly and Fun”. Available at http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/reced.youthsports/code_of_ethics_for_coaches_and_parents

• NVYLL. 2009. “Code of Conduct” Available at http://www.nvyll.org

• PCA. 2009. . “The Double Goal Coach Workshop” Available at: http://www.positivecoach.org/

• SLA. 2004. . “Organization By-Laws” Available at: http://staffordyouthlacrosse.com/Default.asp?snid=162628875&org=staffordyouthlacrosse.com