Mathews Little League Code of Conduct

By submitting a registration form, participating on or with a team, and/or attending any Mathews Little League event, I pledge to follow the code of conduct below.

Mathews Little League is a recreational baseball and softball program. During some games/seasons, the level of competition is increased causing more tension. We all need to be reminded from time to time that our main goal is to ensure that the players have a safe and fun environment where they can learn and grow. There will be plenty of time for competitive sports in travel ball, high school, and beyond. 

Player's responsibilities are simple; be respectful of others, be responsible, play fair, and always do your best, and always exhibit good sportsmanship.

As a Mathews Little League participant I hereby pledge that I will:

- Encourage good sportsmanship from fellow players, coaches, officials, and parents.
- Be a team player and support my teammates.
- Be on time and attend every practice and game that I can, and will notify my coaches if I cannot.
- Work hard to improve my skills.
- Do my best to listen and learn from my coaches.
- Encourage my parents to be involved with my team and League in some capacity.
- Congratulate the other team after each game as a demonstration of sportsmanship.
- Refrain from using violence, unfriendly language, or insults to others.
- Be generous when I win and gracious when I lose.
- Obey the rules of the game and always work for the good of the team.
- Accept the decisions of the officials with grace and never challenge or question calls. 
- Refrain from challenging or questioning on-field calls by officials and/or managers and coaches.
- Conduct myself with honor and dignity.
- Applaud the efforts of my teammates and opponents.

I also agree that if I fail to abide by the aforementioned rules and guidelines, I will be subject to disciplinary action levied by the MLL Board of Directors that could include but is not limited to the following:

- Verbal warning
- Written warning
- Player suspension for games
- Player suspension for season including postseason
- Player being expelled from the league

The Mathews Little League Board of Directors retains the sole authority to determine what, if any, disciplinary action is appropriate for any conduct infraction.

The essential elements of character building and ethics in sports are the foundations of sportsmanship and are demonstrated by the core principles of respect, responsibility, fairness, and good citizenship.

As a MLL Little League family member or guardian, I hereby pledge to provide positive support, care, and encouragement for each child participating in MLL by adhering to the following code of conduct:

- Remember that children participate to have fun
- Be a positive role model for my player and encourage sportsmanship
- Teach my player to play by the rules and resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence
- Demand that my player treats coaches, officials, and other players with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex, or ability
- Teach my player that doing one’s best is more important than winning
- Praise my player for competing fairly and trying hard
- Promote the emotional and physical well being of athletes ahead of my personal desire to win
- Respect the officials and their authority during games

- Force my player to participate
- Engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent
- Boo, taunt, refuse to shake hands, or use profane language
- Encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger the health and well being of athletes
- Ridicule or yell at my player or other participants for making a mistake or losing a game
- Use drugs, tobacco, or alcohol at any league event
- Coach my player or other players during games and practices, unless I am a coach.

Mathews Little League has no tolerance for poor or negative game attitudes. We expect all managers and coaches to set a good example for the team/players. This will be enforced in two ways:

1. Our umpires have the final call on the field and no one is allowed to argue a call by the umpire.  The umpire will deal with the actions/attitudes of anyone within the fences.  If there are issues outside the fence, the umpires will ask the Team Manager to deal with the issue.
2. At all times, the Board will provide a Vice President of the Division. This person has final say on all actions/attitudes of anyone outside of the fences. One warning may be given depending on the severity of the action/attitude. If after a warning, the actions/attitudes continue, the offender will be removed/ejected from the game and/or park.

No Coach shall:

- At any time, lay a hand upon, push, shove, strike, and feint to throw or threaten any individual
- At any time use violence, unfriendly language, racial slurs or insults towards any individual.
- Be guilty of heaping personal verbal or physical abuse upon any official for any real or imaginary belief of wrong decisions or judgment.
- Be guilty of objectionable demonstration of dissent at an official's decision by throwing of gloves, helmets, hats, bats, balls or any other forceful unsportsmanlike action.
- Be guilty of using unnecessarily rough tactics in the play of a game and/or against the body of an opposing player.
- Be guilty of physical attack upon any board member, umpire, manager, coach, player or spectator.
- Be guilty of the use of profane, obscene or vulgar language in any manner at any time.
- Appear on the field of play, stands, or anywhere in the Mathews Little League complex while in an intoxicated state at any time.  "Intoxicated" will be defined as an odor of alcohol on one's breath or clothing, or a behavior issue.
- Be guilty of gambling upon any play or outcome of any game with anyone at any time.
- Smoking anywhere on the premises. RCRC prohibits smoking at any time within the park boundaries.
- Be guilty of discussing publicly with spectators in a derogatory or abusive manner any play, decision or a personal opinion on any players during the game.
- Speak disrespectfully to any manager, coach, official or representative of the League.
- Be guilty of tampering or manipulation of any league rosters, schedules, draft positions or selections, official score books, rankings, financial records, or procedures.
- Be guilty of challenging any umpire's authority. The umpires shall have the authority and discretion during a game to penalize the offender according to the infraction up to and including the removal from the game and/or park.