Code of Conduct

Introduction    

McCabe Park Little League is a community youth baseball activity with the goal of providing our children an opportunity to develop life skills through team play, sportsmanship, competition, and hard work. Our mission is to provide McCabe youth the opportunity to play baseball in a recreation league commensurate with their individual ability, potential, and interest. An emphasis on fair play and respect for all participants is a primary element of our league’s mission. To better achieve that mission, we provide the following Codes of Conduct for all McCabe Park Little League players, parents, and coaches.

Player's Code    

As a McCabe Park Little League player, I will: 1) Show good sportsmanship before, during, and after games. I understand that baseball is a game, and that the players on the other team are my opponents, not my enemies. 2) Be humble and generous when I win and gracious when I lose. 3) Respect the game of baseball and its rules, and play the game fairly. 4) Work for the good of my team and give my best effort at all times. 5) Show respect for the authority of the umpire, even though I will sometimes disagree with his/her calls. 6) Conduct myself with honor and dignity and treat other players as I would like to be treated.  7)Control my temper and not retaliate, even if I believe I have been wronged.  8) Not use or possess tobacco, alcohol, or illegal or performance-enhancing drugs.

Parent's Code    

As a parent, you play a special role in the development of your child and of his/her teammates. Your encouragement and good example will do more to ensure good sportsmanship and self-discipline than any other influence. The other team is the opponent, not the enemy, and should be treated with respect. While winning is important, playing well and fairly is the essence of the game. 1)Support your child    Support your child by giving encouragement and showing interest in his/her team. Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. Teach your child that hard work and an honest effort are often more important than victory. 2)Always be positive. Children learn more by example than by criticism. Work to be a positive role model, and reinforce positive behavior in others. Applaud good plays by others on your child's team as well as good plays by the opposing team. Do not criticize any child’s performance from the sidelines. Accept the results of each game. Teach your child to be gracious in victory and to turn defeat into victory by learning and working toward improvement. 3) Don't be a sideline coach or umpire. Refrain from coaching or umpiring from the sidelines. Parents who shout or scream from the sidelines often give inappropriate advice at the wrong time. The coach should be the only sideline voice. Remain well back from the sidelines and within the spectator area. You and your child will both enjoy the game more if you put some emotional distance between yourself and the field or play.  Umpires are symbols of fair play, integrity and sportsmanship - Do not openly question their judgment or honesty.  4)Demonstrate a positive attitude toward your opponents and their families.  Opponents are not enemies. Never allow yourself to be drawn into a verbal disagreement with opposing parents or coaches. No one has ever regretted letting “cooler heads prevail.”  5) Remember that your child wants to have fun    Your child is the one playing baseball, not you. Children must establish their own goals - to play the game for themselves. Take care not to impose unreasonable demands on your child. Let your children experience the fun of playing as well as the challenge of excelling.

• We will not criticize the umpires openly or directly, during or after games. Any criticism shall be done in writing, sent to my coach and not verbally. 
• We will give only positive feedback to players. 
• We will cheer at all games within the spirit of fair play and shall do our best to cheer the effort regardless of the outcome.
• We shall do our best to teach our players to become students of the game. 
• We shall show the quality of our sportsmanship during and after each game and help our children remember to thank the umpire after the game without regard to the result.
• We shall do our very best to have our child prepared for every game. 
• We shall support the learning efforts of the players, the coaches, and the umpires by demonstrating our patience.
• We shall leave the coaching to the coach during the game. We shall not give our child instructions during the game.
• We understand that the league can, and will if necessary, suspend our individual privilege to watch our child play should we behave in a manner that is rude or otherwise offensive. 
• We agree to do our best to have as much fun watching the game as the players should have playing the game.

Manager/Coach's Code 

The McCabe Park Little League Manager/Coach’s Code enumerates basic requirements, organized under four principles. They are: Setting a good example; keeping players safe; ensuring that all participants in McCabe Park Little League have a positive experience; and relating to game umpires in an exemplary manner and encouraging players to do the same. 

1. Setting a good example    The manager/coach’s example is powerful. If a manager/coach insists on fair play, concentrates on players' enjoyment of the game and their overall, long-term development, and supports the umpire, players and parents will notice. If a manager/coach discourages (or allows) players to play outside the rules, are overly concerned about the results, and/or criticize the umpire or opposing coach, players and parents will also notice. Above all, children deserve a coach they can respect.

• Manager/Coaches, in all contact with McCabe Park Little League players, parents, officials and coaches, should strive to set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct. Before, during, and after the game, they should be an example of dignity, patience and positive spirit.
• Before games, opposing managers should meet and exchange greetings to set the proper tone for the game. After games, the teams and coaches should meet and congratulate each other in a sportsmanlike manner.
• Managers/Coaches should ensure that their players’ baseball experience is one of fun and enjoyment, and improvement in skill (winning is only part of it). Players should never be yelled at, lectured or ridiculed for making mistakes or losing a game. Coaches should be generous with praise when it is deserved.
• Mangers/Coaches should avoid any conduct which could be construed as physically or verbally abusive.
• Mangers/Coaches should completely refrain from verbal dissent during a game with an opposing coach.
• Mangers/Coaches should honor all professional relationships with colleagues, associations, umpires, and the public.

2. Keeping players safe   Managers/Coaches should have the safety of the players in their charge as their first priority at all times. Coaches should be familiar with the facility(ies) and fields on which their teams practice and play, and be mindful of the levels of fitness and skill of each one of their players. Coaches should also be familiar with the Rules of the Game, current with principles of age-appropriate coaching, aware of applicable existing rules and regulations, and informed of the affairs of McCabe Park Little League.

• Mangers/Coaches should check players’ equipment and playing facilities frequently. They should meet safety standards and be appropriate for the age and ability of players.
• Managers/Coaches should follow the advice of a physician when determining when an injured player is ready to play again. During a game, and in an absence of medical advice, coaches should err on the side of caution in permitting an injured player to return to play.

3. Creating a positive experience    McCabe Park Little League wishes to ensure that games are fair, positive and enjoyable experiences for the children and adults involved. A baseball game should be friendly and unifying - a spirited social and athletic occasion for players, coaches, umpires, and spectators.

• Mangers/Coaches should require all players and spectators to adhere to the highest level of sportsmanship at all times. During the game, the manager/coach is responsible for the sportsmanship of the players. If a player is disrespectful, irresponsible or overly aggressive, the coach should remove the player from the game at least long enough for him/her to calm down. Coaches should explain acceptable behavior to players and parents at a preseason meeting. Encourage parents to make positive comments about good play by either team. Prohibit them from yelling at players and the umpire.

4. Relating to officials. Mangers/Coaches should demonstrate respect for the umpire and his/her role. Mangers/Coaches can help umpires improve by letting them concentrate on the game, accepting their inevitable, occasional mistakes, and offering constructive post- game comments.

• Before a game, managers should introduce themselves to the umpire. During the game, they should address the umpire only as needed to continue play. After the game, they should thank the umpire and ask players to do the same.
• Questions about calls should be handled by calling time out, not shouting at the umpire.  Once time out is called, the manager can quietly discuss the call between them.  Others near and around the field should not be able to hear the discussion.
• A small disagreement should be discussed with the umpire calmly after the game. For major complaints, or if the umpire appeared to be unfair, biased, unfit, or incompetent, report opinions to the Chief Umpire.

Other general code of conduct rules

• Speed Limit 5 mph in roadways and parking lots while attending any McCabe Park Little League function. Watch for small children around parked cars.
• No Alcohol allowed in any parking lot, field, or common areas within a McCabe Park Little League complex..
• Use Cross walks when crossing road ways. Always be alert for traffic.
• No Profanity.
• After each game, each team must clean up trash in dugout and around stands.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR COACHES, UMPIRES, and PARENTS
Little League coaches are responsible not only for their own behavior, but also of the behavior of their players, assistants, and spectators.

Be a positive role model for the children entrusted to you. Your example is the first line of defense against inappropriate behavior.

Teach by example. Remember that many baseball terms are unfamiliar to young players. Concepts like tagging up, force outs, and follow through need to be demonstrated to be understood.

During a game, no more than three coaches (four for coach pitch teams) are permitted on the field or in the dugout at a time.

The on-deck position is not permitted. When a team is at bat, everyone except the batter and the first and third base coaches must remain inside the dugout and out of the doorway.

The use of tobacco and alcoholic beverages in any form is prohibited on the playing field, benches or dugouts.

Conversations with umpires over rule interpretations or involving the unacceptable conduct of players or parents/spectators must be addressed as privately as possible in order to prevent situations from escalating beyond whatever the issue at hand may be.

A coach must request and be granted "time" by an umpire if he or she wants to talk to the pitcher or batter.

Coaches, players, and parents/spectators need to be appreciative of the special -- and at times difficult -- role played by umpires, without whom our league cannot function.

Umpires should always be addressed respectfully.

The following statements are absolutely true with regard to any baseball game:

1) The umpires are the only ones empowered to decide the outcome of a given play.

2) If the umpires didn't see it, it didn't happen.

3) Balls and strikes are whatever the home plate umpire says they are.

4) Out or safe calls are not negotiable.

Be mindful of the negative impact that arguing with an umpire in front of children and spectators would have on the pleasant atmosphere that we all want to enjoy as we participate in or watch a game.

Trust that all of the close calls you'll witness during your team's games will even out over the course of a season.

Remember the close ones that went your team's way, and be thankful, because those calls could have very easily gone the other way.

Protest situations should be prevented if at all possible. When a situation arises that you recognize as possibly leading to a protest, the potential offenders should be notified immediately so that they can take whatever action is necessary to avoid the protest.

For a protest to be considered, the procedures outlined in the Little League rulebook must be followed. Any concerns related to our league's umpires should be directed to league board members. Coaches and umpires know that your efforts on behalf of our neighborhood's children are very much appreciated.

Thanks for all you do to make our season a positive, successful experience for all the children entrusted to your care.