Gloucester Township Youth Lacrosse
Code of Conduct
Preliminary Statement: The purpose of the club is to promote the game of lacrosse while educating children in the skills, methods, and rules of the game, together with teaching them sportsmanship, teamwork, respect for others and how to win and lose with dignity.
1. Participants shall show respect to themselves, their opponents, their coaches, their teammates and their parents. We will be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. Taunting, cursing and/or belittling others are not acceptable to Gloucester Township Youth Lacrosse and will not be tolerated by the club or the coaching staff.
2. Any Statements that are made by players, parents or members that could be perceived as negative or harmful to the club in any public forum will constitute an immediate suspension of the violating member family for at least one month from the date of the article / posting and or discovery of the statement. This includes any electronic media including public and personal web sites including Face Book, My Space, Blogs, etc. ; but does not exclude any other forms of print including newspapers, leaflets, flyers, postcards etc.
3. Participants shall respect the game of lacrosse, play by the rules and learn the proper techniques of the game. Reckless play and/or intent to injure are not acceptable to Gloucester Township Youth Lacrosse and will not be tolerated by the club or the coaching staff.
4. Participants shall attend practice regularly and notify his/her coach of any anticipated absence, whether for practice or a game.
5. While participating in lacrosse, participants shall devote their attention and energy to learning the game. Participants shall listen to the coach’s instructions and shall respect his or her decisions.
6. Coaches shall treat all participants fairly and provide equal opportunity to each participant. Equal opportunity shall not necessarily mean absolutely equal playing time, but shall mean that each participant has the opportunity to try out for a team or position, to compete in all games and to learn the game of lacrosse, in practice and in games.
7. Coaches shall focus on the development of the participants, taking into account the goals of winning, learning the rules of the game, developing skills, and developing character. No one goal shall be weighted more than any other goal.
8. Coaches shall not argue with other coaches, referees, players or parents in front of the participants. Coaches may calmly dispute a call, or question the referee or other party after the game or at a timeout. Referees will make mistakes and opponents may be difficult or unruly. Nonetheless, Coaches will conduct themselves with dignity to set an example for their teams.
9. Parents shall support their child’s desire to play lacrosse by offering positive reinforcement, and polite cheering at games. Parents shall not shout at, taunt, belittle or threaten any game official, coach, player or other spectator.
10. Parents shall make arrangements to allow their child to attend practices and games as often as is practical, keeping in mind that all families have other priorities and family matters.
11. Safety is of paramount importance.
12. Any parent, participant or player has the right to object to any or all of the Gloucester Township Youth Lacrosse’s rules in the Code of Conduct. A private meeting with all parties involved will be convened with at least 3 of the board members to listen to any current member’s dispute in confidentiality.
