West Pinellas NFL Flag Football League Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct

The mission of West Pinellas NFL Flag Football (WPNFFL) is to provide a safe, fun learning environment for the youth of our community. WPNFFL will not tolerate verbal or physical abuse of its volunteers, coaches, referees, parents, player, coach or spectators.
Spectators, as well as the players, referees, and coaches are expected to abide by the code of conduct described here at all WPNFF Games. While most of the adults and children in the program will abide by this code without being instructed, it is being published to protect the children, the integrity of our program, and emphasize the values of our League.
West Pinellas NFL Flag Football requires that the following Code of Conduct shall apply to ALL PARTICIPANTS in our programs. This includes players, coaches, referees and parents in attendance at games, practices, or events.
The WPNFFL shall in all instances related thereunto be guided by the core values of SAFETY, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, and FAIR PLAY. All participants are expected to exhibit behavior that adheres to these core values at all times, in any activity or situation that is related to WPNFFL.

PLAYERS
I will:
1. Have fun!
2. Be a good sport (win or lose), be honest and fair.
3. Learn the value of commitment to the team: sportsmanship, ethical conduct, and fair play.
4. Show courtesy and respect to my teammates, opponents, coaches and officials.
5. Know that athletic contests are educational experiences.
6. Give complete attention to the instructions of my coaches and league officials.

VIOLATIONS
1. Use profanity, talk “trash”, or taunt others before, during or after any game.
2. Display any unsportsmanlike behavior.
3. Criticize my teammates or players from other teams.
4. Act in any way that may incite spectators.
5. Willfully harm or harass any of my teammates
6. Arguing or showing disrespect to football officials or coaches.

Violations of the above may result in a verbal and/or written warning (1st offense) suspension (2nd offense): and/or expulsion (3rd offense).

ADULTS/COACHES/REFEREES

1. ZERO TOLERANCE  Coaches, players, parents are not allowed to interact with the officials.  Coaches are only allowed to question rulings on the field.  They must call a timeout to question rulings.  If they are correct they get their timeout back.  JUDGEMENT CALLS CANNOT BE QUESTIONED.  At no time are coaches, parents, fans or players allowed to question, or verbally abuse officials.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  At any WPNFFL practice game, anyone who: verbally abuses, attempts to intimidate, is flagrantly rude, cannot control their language or actions with an official, coach, player, volunteer or fellow parent, will be asked to leave the field immediately. They will then receive a written warning regarding their behavior. In addition, his or her child (children) will be immediately removed from that game.

2. Anyone who commits a second, similar offense that is pursuant to a preceding offense during the same season will be banned from attending the SYFFLF events for the remainder of that season. In addition, the offending adult’s child (children) may be barred from participating for the remainder of that season. If this should occur, WPNFFL will not refund registration monies.

3. Anyone who physically assaults an official, coach, player fellow parent or volunteer will be banned effective immediately from the SYFFLF participation and their child (children) removed from participation for one full calendar year from the date of the offense. Upon the culmination of the 1-year suspension, parents may reapply for re-instatement of their child (children). If the adult commits a subsequent offense, he or she will be permanently banned from participation in the WPNFFL program with no opportunity for appeal.

4. Parents/fans are prohibited from being on the playing fields/ during practice/games unless they are a coach-appointed volunteer serving a specific purpose.


COACHES 

Our organization is committed to the principles of Positive Coaching and against a “win-at-all-cost” mentality. A win-at-all-cost coach has only one goal – to win. Our coaching philosophy is one that shares the goal (wants to win) but has a second goal that is even more important – to use this sports experience to help young people learn “life lessons” and positive character traits that will help them be successful throughout their lives.

To ensure the appropriate atmosphere for these activities, our organization has adopted a zero tolerance policy in the enforcement of the Code of Conduct.

 · I will place the emotional and physical well being of my players ahead of my personal desire to win.

· I will treat each player as an individual and expect age appropriate skills from all my players.

· I will do my best to provide a safe playing situation for my players.

· I will lead by example in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship to all my players on and off the field.

· I will respect the decisions of referees and coaches.

· I will remember that I am a youth sports coach and that the game is for children and not adults.

· I will adhere to the Coaches Code of Conduct while participating in any West Pinellas NFL Flag Football sports activity.

· I will be knowledgeable in the rules of each sport that I coach, and will teach these rules to my players.

I do understand that I will abide by the above Code of Conduct, if I do not live up to the Coaches’ Code of Conduct, I will be banned from participating in any West Pinellas NFL Flag Football activities for a period determined by our staff.  

24 Hour Rule
Please wait 24 hours before talking to your child's coach about any grievances you may have about the day's game. We have great volunteer coaches in our program that we know would be more than willing to chat with you about any concerns, but we are asking that you hold off 24 hours before doing so.