South Oldham Little League Code of Conduct

Through baseball, the South Oldham Little League (“SOLL”) seeks to enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of every child that takes part. It is the league’s express goal that every player will be a better citizen, and have a greater chance for success in future endeavors, as a result of their Little League experiences. As such, the South Oldham Little League expects the highest degree of sportsmanship from its members.

In keeping with this philosophy, the following Code of Conduct has been adopted to better promote fairness, teamwork, good citizenship, sportsmanship, responsibility, and respect among the members of the South Oldham Little League.

Players will learn these values by the examples they see from those around them, and to this end, the following rules will be strictly enforced:

Verbal abuse of an official, coach, player, or spectator, including obscene gestures, will not be tolerated. The offender may be removed from the SOLL fields at the discretion of an umpire or SOLL board member.
Baseball is a game of interpretations, and as a result, disputes will occur from time to time. However, it is important that players learn respect. All disputes that are taken up with the umpire will be handled in a civil manner. Only coaches may initiate such discussions with an umpire. The coach(es) will conduct themselves with decorum and once the umpire has made his/her final ruling, the coach(es) will make no further field protest. Off-field protests may be lodged with the Board of Directors per league policy.
Coaches will refrain from complaining about perceived bad calls to players and fans.
All discussions will be held in conversational tones. Under no circumstances will a coach, fan, or player yell at an umpire, coach, fan, or player. The lone exception to this rule is when a coach or player shouts to another coach or teammate during the course of a play as part of that play.
Profanity is expressly forbidden at all times at the South Oldham Little League complex.
Alcoholic beverages and the use of illicit drugs are prohibited at all SOLL activities, including events outside the South Oldham Little League complex.
The use of tobacco products on the SOLL fields and in the dugouts is prohibited.

Anyone removed from the SOLL fields must leave all fields and the access roads to the fields. Such persons may remain in the SOLL parking lot.

Any infraction of the above rules will result in a report being delivered to the South Oldham Little League Board for consideration of further action, as appropriate.

First Offense: Upon the reporting of a first offense by an individual, the Board of Directors, at a minimum, will provide a written warning to the offender, detailing the consequences of future infractions. Depending upon the severity of the infraction, nothing precludes the Board of Directors from banning a repeat offender from all South Oldham Little League activities, including, but not limited to, practices and games, for a period of time deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

Second Offense: The Board of Directors may institute a wide range of penalties for repeat offenders, beginning with the second offense, as deemed appropriate by the Board. Such penalties include, but are not limited to:

· Suspension from all coaching activities for a prescribed period of time.

· A ban from participating in all SOLL activities for a set period of time or number of games.

· Severe violations can result in suspension from all SOLL activities for the remainder of the current season or tournament.

Third Offense: The Board of Directors may choose to apply any of the penalties prescribed for a second offense. In the most extreme of circumstances, the SOLL Board of Directors may hold a meeting to determine whether or not the individual should be permanently banned from all future SOLL activities. The individual in question must receive a certified letter of such a hearing at least one week prior to the meeting, and must be given the opportunity to speak at the meeting.

Physical Abuse - Physical abuse of an official, coach, player, or spectator will result in immediate expulsion from the SOLL fields at the direction of an umpire or a SOLL board member. Anyone expelled for this reason may not return to the SOLL fields or participate in any SOLL activity until the SOLL Board of Directors approves.

Any parent, coach, fan, player, or umpire who has been suspended or banned from league activities may petition, in writing, to the Board of Directors for a review of the penalty. The petition should be delivered to the league president, and the Board of Directors will meet as soon as reasonably possible to consider the petition. The aggrieved parties will have the opportunity at the meeting to present their appeal.

The South Oldham Little League strongly encourages the following:

Applaud effort on the field, regardless of the score.
Remember that the league exists for the players to learn and to have fun. Even though baseball is competitive in nature, winning is of secondary performance.
Parents should be supportive of coaches. The coaches are volunteers giving of their time – and often, giving of their money – in order to coach. Parents should be a positive role model that fosters respect of the coaches among the players. Concerns about a player’s role on a team should be expressed to the coach(es) in a private setting, never in public.
Umpires are “in training” as well as the players. Coaches and parents should bear in mind that many of our umpires are youngsters learning the skills of umpiring. All umpires will make mistakes occasionally, but coaches and parents are expected to accord the umpires with the respect their position within the game deserves.
Booing, taunting, refusing to shake another coach’s and/or player’s hands after a game, or ridiculing another player is not acceptable behavior.
Teach players that they have a responsibility to learn and to try their best. Effort leads to achievement and respect.
All children, regardless of race, creed, sex, or talent, will have an opportunity to play baseball and to learn.

I have read, understand, and agree to the above stated Code of Conduct of the South Oldham Little League. I agree to be bound by its provisions.

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(signature of parent, coach, or official)

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(printed name)

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(Date)