Westlake Youth Football League Sports Parental Code of Conduct:
Preamble
The essential elements of character-building and ethics in sports are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six core principles:
Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Good Citizenship
The highest potential of sports is achieved when competition reflects these "six pillars of character".
1. Please be aware of the major time and team commitment required to play football! Do not schedule family vacations during the football season. Try and schedule your vacations before the season starts or after the season ends. There is an entire team and staff of volunteer coaches who count on your child to play and participate in every game.
2. No parent should interfere with a coach’s decisions during games or practices at any time. Allow the coaches to have your child’s undivided attention for the two hours they are at practice and/or playing in games. Oftentimes, what you instruct them to do from the sidelines contradicts what the coach is instructing them to do and this confuses the child. Your greatest asset for your child during games/practices is your encouragement, not your coaching.
3. Parents and spectators must stay outside the coach’s box and five yards away from the sidelines at all times during games. No parent/spectator is allowed on the playing field at any time during a game.
4. Parents and spectators are strongly encouraged not to engage with the referees about anything (especially calls) during a game. It is impossible for referees to catch every infraction during a game! Your child will make many mistakes during a game, so please allow our hard working and underappreciated referees to occasionally make them – NOBODY IS PERFECT.
5. Ensure your child arrives to practices and games on time to show respect to our many volunteer coaches and your child’s teammates. Coaches are not required to play those players who either miss practice or are consistently late.
6. Any parent/spectator or participant ejected from a game for unruly and/or disruptive behavior MUST LEAVE THE FIELD! Any parent, spectator, coach or player ejected from a game is subject to a minimum one (1) game suspension. Your conduct is being observed by your child and you are setting an example for your child—so please don’t act like one!
As a parent you agree:
- I will not force my child to participate in sports.
- I will remember that children participate to have fun and that the game is for youth, not adults.
- I will inform the coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of my child or the safety of others.
- I will learn the rules of the game and the policies of the league.
- I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for my child and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators at every game, practice or other sporting event.
- I (and my guests) will not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent such as booing and taunting, refusing to shake hands, or using profane language or gestures.
- I will not encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger the health and well-being of the athletes.
- I will teach my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence.
- I will demand that my child treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability.
- 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 or his/her performance.
- I will praise my child for competing fairly and trying hard, and make my child feel like a winner every time.
- I will never ridicule or yell at my child or other participants for making a mistake or losing a competition.
- I will emphasize skill development and practices and how they benefit my child over winning.
- I will promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes ahead of any personal desire I may have for my child to win.
- I will respect the officials and their authority during games and will never question, discuss or confront coaches at the game field, and will take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place.
- I will demand a sports environment for my child that is free from drugs, tobacco and alcohol and I will refrain from their use at all sports events.
- I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during games and practices, unless I am one of the official coaches of the team.