Family and Spectator Code of Conduct

Family and Spectator Code of Conduct

Character building and ethics in athletics are embodied in these six core principles:

Trustworthiness
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Citizenship

We ask that you support these principles with the following behaviors at both home and away events:

  • I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during games and practices.
  • I will respect the officials and their authority.
  • I will never question or confront coaches at the game field, instead I will speak to coaches at a separate and agreed upon time and place.
  • I will remember that student athletes participate to have fun and that the game is for our youth, not for adults.
  • I will teach my child that doing one’s best is more important than winning, so that my child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a game.
  • I will guide my child to treat other players, coaches, officials, and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability.
  • I will promote the emotional and physical well-being of student athletes regardless of any personal desire for my own child to win or play.
  • I will not encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger the well-being of the student athletes.
  • I will be a positive role model for my child by displaying sportsmanship, respect and courtesy, as well as positive support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators at every practice or sporting event.
  • I will not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player or parent such as booing, taunting, refusing to shake hands or using profane language or gestures.
  • I will not verbally or physically engage any athletes from the other teams under any circumstances.  If I have concerns, I will reach out to the athletic director or other school administrator.
  • I understand that any violation of this code of conduct may be cause for removal, suspension or permanent expulsion from future athletic contest(s).

Violations of this Code of Conduct may result in one or more of these consequences being applied:

  • Verbal warning by a game official, chaperone and/or school official.
  • Suspension or immediate ejection from the sports event issued by a game official, chaperone and/or school official.
  • Suspension from future athletic events.
  • Suspension from multiple sports events (home and/or away).
  • Season or multiple-season suspension.

Section II Sportsmanship Policy for Athletes

  • Learn and understand the rules of your sport. Play hard, play to win, but play fair.
  • Maintain self control.  Do not allow your temper to distract you from the fundamentals of good sportsmanship..
  • Respect your opponent. Acknowledge good play.  Never taunt. Congratulate him or her at game’s end.
  • Respect the judgment of officials. Never question the decision of an official.
  • Be an example for your school, teammates, and opponents.
  • A player who is disqualified by an official for unsportsmanlike behavior is prohibited from playing in the next regularly scheduled contest.

NYSPHSAA Inc. Code of Ethics

  1. To emphasize the proper ideals of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and fair play.
  2. To eliminate all possibilities which tend to destroy the best values of the game.
  3. To stress the values of playing the game fairly.
  4. To show cordial courtesy to visiting teams and officials.
  5. To establish a happy relationship between visitors and hosts.
  6. To respect the integrity and judgment of the sports officials.
  7. To achieve a thorough understanding and acceptance of the rules of the game and the standards of eligibility.
  8. To encourage leadership, use of initiative, and good judgment by players on the team.
  9. To recognize that the purpose of athletics is to promise the physical, mental, moral, social, and emotional well-being of the individual players.
  10. To remember that an athletic contest is only a game—not a matter of life or death for player, coach, school, fan, community, state, or nation.