Code of Conduct
Behavioral Expectations
Behavioral Expectations for parents, coaches, and players have been developed by the New Providence PAL Board with the intent of providing conduct guidelines for all PAL participants. All parents, coaches, and players are expected to review and follow these guidelines.
Player Expectations:
As a PAL sports participant, you are expected to:
- Be on time to all practices and games (If you are going to be late or unable to play, please inform the coach in advance).
- Play by the rules and regulations of your sport.
- Respect the decisions of coaches and understand that they are acting in the best interests of the team.
- Promote the well-being of teammates through positive encouragement regardless of skill level.
- Learn and exhibit the values of sportsmanship, honesty, integrity, fairness and safety.
- Put forth your best effort and have fun!
- The following behaviors will not be tolerated:
- Altercations with coaches, teammates, opposing players, or officials.
- Disrespectful conduct of any sort, including profanity, obscene gestures, offensive remarks of a sexual or racial nature, trash-talking, bullying, taunting, boastful celebrations, or other actions that demean individuals or the sport.
- Drug, tobacco, and alcohol use at all youth sports events.
Coach Expectations:
As the coach of a PAL sports team, you are expected to:
- Be punctual for all practices, games, and related events.
- Uphold the rules and regulations set down by your respective PAL league.
- Exercise fairness by ensuring playing time for all players.
- Teach your players the fundamentals of the game and provide them with support along the way.
- Teach your players the value of good sportsmanship through both winning and losing.
- Remember that your players’ safety take precedence over winning a game, and to take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
- Treat all players, coaches, fans and officials with respect regardless of their race, sex, creed, or ability. Encourage players to do the same with their teammates.
- Be supportive of all players regardless of skill level and provide them with constructive feedback so that they can improve.
The following behaviors will not be tolerated:
- Drug, tobacco, and alcohol use at all youth sports events.
- Altercations with any member of your team, the opposing team, or the officials.
- Disrespectful conduct of any sort, including profanity, obscene gestures, offensive remarks of a sexual or racial nature, trash-talking, bullying, taunting, boastful celebrations, or other actions that demean individuals or the sport.
- Improper gamesmanship techniques that seek a competitive advantage and violate the value of sportsmanship.
Parent Expectations:
As the parent of a PAL sports participant, you are expected to:
- Attend and enjoy the games, while showing support for all of its participants.
- Allow the coaches to make all decisions and run the team.
- Wait 24 hours after a game before discussing any problems you may have with the coach’s strategies or leadership, and do so in a respectful, quiet and individual manner.
- Act as a role model for good sportsmanship and remain positive whether the team wins or loses. Encourage children to do the same.
- Assist in providing a drug, tobacco, and alcohol free environment by refraining from these substances while at all youth sports events.
The following behaviors will not be tolerated:
- Disrespectful conduct of any sort, including profanity, obscene gestures, offensive remarks of a sexual or racial nature, trash-talking, bullying, taunting, boastful celebrations, or other actions that demean individuals or the sport.
- Altercations with coaches, players, or officials.
- Criticizing any player regardless of skill level.
Disciplinary Action
Parents are expected to ensure their child’s understanding of and commitment to NP PAL’s Behavioral Expectations. Should a parent, coach or player fail to abide by the NP PAL Behavioral Expectations, the following actions may be taken:
- Coaches will provide a verbal warning to any player who behaves inappropriately.
- A PAL Commissioner will deliver a verbal warning to a coach or parent who exhibits inappropriate or offensive behavior.
- Any inappropriate or offensive behavior on the part of a parent, coach or player that continues after verbal warning will be addressed by ejection from a PAL event and/or a suspension period to be determined by PAL.
- Any egregious behavior on the part of a parent, coach or player will be addressed by ejection from a PAL event and/or a suspension period to be determined by PAL.