Code of Conduct

Players Code of Conduct 

Each player will ensure that his/her playing conduct is that of a young lady or gentleman fairly competing to the limit of his/her ability. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, the player is expected to: 

• Know the rules and abide by them. 
• Respect the game officials and refrain from addressing them or commenting on their decisions during the play of the game.
• Maintain control of his/her emotions, avoiding the use of abusive language or profanity, humiliating remarks, gestures of ill temper, and physical assault upon another player at any time.
• Respect the coaches and players of the opposing team and demonstrate appropriate gestures of sportsmanship at the conclusion of game.  Be humble and generous in victory and proud and courteous in defeat.
• Respect all Clovis Girls Athletic Association staff.
• Follow all field rules and regulations, respecting at all times the property of others.
• 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 manners of each individual player.
• Attend every practice and game that is reasonably possible, and notify the coach in advance if the player is unable to attend.

The Head Coach will be provided with copies of the Code of Conduct prior to the start of the season.  Each Head Coach is responsible to see that their assistant coaches, players, and spectators abide by the respective Code of Conduct.  It is also the coach’s responsibility to review the Codes of Conduct with their assistant coaches and players.   Each coach will ensure that his/her conduct is that of a responsible adult fairly competing to the limit of his/her ability.  To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, the coach is expected to:

• Know the rules and abide by them.
• Instruct players in the rules and coach his/her team in such a way as to motivate each player to compete according to the rules at all times.
• Place the emotional and physical well being of the players ahead of any personal desire to win.
• Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions in a disrespectful or abusive manner.
• Ensure that all field rules and regulations are followed by the players and spectators.
• 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.
• Respect the coaches and players of the opposing team both during the play of the game and at its conclusion, win or lose.
• Respect all CGAA staff.
• Teach each player, especially through personal example, to be humble and generous in victory and proud and courteous in defeat.
• Maintain control of his/her emotions and avoid actions, language, and/or gestures that may be interpreted as hostile and humiliating.
• Instruct team support personnel in their responsibilities in accordance with established rules and procedures.
• Realize, accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability, but also on its sportsmanship, courtesy, and manner.

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:

• Respect the rules of the game.
• Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions or from addressing them in a loud, disrespectful, or abusive manner.
• Cheer for their team in a positive, supportive manner.
• Place the emotional and physical well being of the players ahead of any personal desire to win.
• 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.
• Respect all CGAA staff.
• Follow all field rules and regulations, respecting at all times the property of others.
• 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.
• 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.

Any individual violating the Code of Conduct set forth above shall be subject to penalties and sanctions as set forth in the Disciplinary Procedures below.  In addition to conforming to the requirements of the Code of Conduct above, the following actions are specifically prohibited (“Offensive Actions”):

• Refusing to abide by an official’s decision.
• Verbally abusing or assaulting any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or CGAA staff.
• Physically assaulting, abusing, or threatening any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or CGAA staff.
• Stalking, tailing, or attempting to intimidate any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or CGAA staff.
• Engaging in any other type of violent behavior, such as throwing equipment or other objects.
• Engaging in any lewd or sexual behavior, physically abusing a player, or engaging in any inappropriate physical contact with a player.
• Using drugs or alcohol while coaching, attending, or participating in any CGAA sport or other CGAA event.

Reporting Improper Conduct 

CGAA provides a forum on its website to allow coaches, players, parents, spectators, and officials to report to the Board of Directors any issues they observe before, during, or after practices and games.  The link to report Code of Conduct violations and Offensive Actions can be found under “Contact Us” on the CGAA website.

Reporting By Coaches

• 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.
• In the event any coach feels that the CGAA Board of Directors should be involved in addressing any improper conduct, the coach is encouraged to contact the Board Member present at the event, or contact the Board of Directors through the CGAA website.
• Coaches must report any Offensive Actions to the Board of Directors, including, without limitation:
• Any report or allegation of inappropriate physical contact, violence, or threatened violence against any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or CGAA staff.
• Any observed or reported use of drugs or alcohol by any player, coach, official, parent, or spectator during any CGAA event.
• Any situation where a player, coach, parent, or spectator is ejected from a game or removed from the premises.
• Coaches are encouraged to keep the Board of Directors 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 Board of Directors.
• Coaches shall promptly respond to any request by the Board of Directors for information relating to any incident or violation of the Code of Conduct.

• Parents and spectators are encouraged to report any improper conduct to the coach and/or the Board of Directors.
• 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 Board of Directors through the CGAA website.

Coaches and Officials

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

• The CGAA Board of Directors will conduct a timely and reasonable investigation into any misconduct reported to the Board of Directors.  The scope of any investigation will be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, provided, however, that the Board will provide any person accused of misconduct a reasonable opportunity to be heard.
• After a reasonable investigation, the Board of Directors will determine the appropriate penalty for any violation of this Code of Conduct and any Offensive Action.
• Penalties will be based on the nature and severity of the violation.
• The Board of Directors will strive to treat all similar offenses in a similar manner, while taking into account the individual facts and circumstances of each violation.
• The Board of Directors will not discriminate in any manner in determining whether to impose a penalty or in determining which penalty to impose.
• The Board of Directors will keep reasonable and appropriate records of each reported violation, and shall document each penalty and the reasons for imposing the penalty.

Penalties 

The Board of Directors 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:

• Verbal Warning
• Written Warning
• Suspension: One game suspension; Multiple game suspension; Indefinite suspension
• Expulsion from CGAA

• If a coach or parent is expelled from the league, any child associated with that person is also expelled from the league.
• There are no refunds as a result of any person being removed from the league.