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CAMBRIDGE MINOR BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (CMBA) PARENT/GUARDIAN & SPECTATOR

CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY

 

Last Revised & Approved: February 14 2023

 

 

Table of Contents

Preface

Parent/Guardian & Spectator Code of Conduct Parent/Guardian & Spectator Expectations

Concussion Awareness - Parents/Guardians

Disciplinary Action for Code of Conduct Infractions Expulsion

 

 

Preface

The essential elements of character-building and ethics in baseball are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six (6) core principles or pillars of character:

  • Trustworthiness
  • Respect
  • Responsibility
  • Fairness
  • Caring
  • Good citizenship.

The highest potential of the game of baseball is achieved when competition reflects these six pillars of character. To achieve this potential, Cambridge Minor Baseball Association (CMBA) has developed and will enforce Codes of Conduct for every level of membership in the Association.

CMBA is adopting a zero-tolerance policy and failure to adhere to any Code of Conduct will result in appropriate disciplinary action at the discretion of the Board of Directors (BOD) or applicable disciplinary committee.

 

 

 

Parent/Guardian & Spectator Code of Conduct

Children’s sports are supposed to be fun – for the children. Unfortunately, many parents, fans, and coaches don’t realize that their actions, whether verbal or nonverbal, can have a lasting emotional effect on children. Too many children are leaving sports activities because adults unfairly take the fun away.

This is why Cambridge Minor Baseball is dedicated to promoting the healthy development of youth in sports by creating the following Code of Conduct for parents and spectators to abide by.

Parent/Guardian & Spectator Expectations

  • I will encourage my child, in a positive manner, to participate in sports.
  • I will remember that children participate to have fun and that the enjoyment of the game is for all involved.
  • 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 strive to 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 CMBA event.
  • I (and my guests) will not engage in any kid of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent such as booing, taunting, refusing to shake hands, or using profane language or gestures.
  • I will not encourage any behaviours or practices that would endanger the health and well being of the athletes.
  • Through example, 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 by their 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 participant for making a mistake or losing a competition.
  • I will emphasize skill development and practices and how they benefit my child over I will also de‐emphasize games and competition at the lower age groups.
  • 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 official and their authority during games, and will never question, discuss or confront coaches at the game field. I will take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place not in view of the players.
  • I will demand a sports environment for my child that is free from drugs and alcohol, and I will refrain from their use at all CMBA 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.

 

 

If I fail to abide by the rules and guidelines, I will be subject to disciplinary action that could include, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Verbal or written warning.
  • Parental game suspension with written documentation of incident kept on file by CMBA.
  • Game forfeit through the official or coach.
  • Parental season suspension.

CMBA enforces a zero-tolerance policy towards situations of harassment or abuse directed against game officials, players, coaches, or spectators using any of the following, but not limited to, methods of physical, verbal, email, texting or social media.

Concussion Awareness - Parents/Guardians

I can help prevent concussions through my:

  • Efforts to ensure that my participant wears the proper equipment and wears it correctly.
  • Efforts to help my participant develop their skills and strength so they can participate to the best of their abilities.
  • Respect for the rules of the sport or activity and efforts to ensure that my participant does, too.
  • Commitment to fair play and respect for all (respecting other coaches, team trainers, officials and all participants and ensuring my participant respects others and plays fair).

 

I will care for the health and safety of my participant by taking concussions seriously. I understand that:

  • A concussion is a brain injury that can have both short‐ and long‐term effects.
  • A blow to the head, face, or neck, or a blow to the body may cause the brain to move around inside the skull and result in a concussion.
  • A person doesn’t need to lose consciousness to have had a concussion.
  • An athlete with a suspected concussion should stop participating in training, practice or competition immediately.
  • I have a commitment to concussion recognition and reporting, including self‐reporting of possible concussion and reporting to a designated person when an individual suspects that another individual may have sustained a concussion.
  • Continuing to participate in further training, practice or competition with a suspected concussion increases a person’s risk of more severe, longer lasting symptoms, and increases their risk of other injuries or even death.

 

I will support an environment where participants feel safe and comfortable speaking up. I will:

  • Encourage athletes not to hide their symptoms, but to tell me, an official, another parent or another adult they trust if they experience any symptoms of concussion after an impact.
  • Lead by example. I will tell a coach, official, team trainer and seek medical attention by a physician or nurse practitioner if my participant is experiencing any concussion symptoms.
  • Understand and respect that any athlete with a suspected concussion must be removed from sport and not permitted to return until they undergo a medical assessment by a physician or nurse practitioner and have been medically cleared to return to training, practice or competition.

 

I will support my participant to take the time they need to recover.

  • I understand my commitment to supporting the return‐to‐sport process.
  • I understand my participant will have to be cleared by a physician or nurse practitioner before returning to sport.
  • I will respect coaches, team trainers, other parents, physicians and nurse practitioners and any decisions made with regards to the health and safety of my participant.

Parent Name (Print): Signature:

Date:

 

 

 

Disciplinary Action for Code of Conduct Infractions

Disciplinary action for Coach, Parent and Player Code of Conduct infractions will, as a general rule, follow multi-tiered disciplinary approach, with the severity of the penalty increasing for each subsequent infraction.

However, CMBA reserves the right to impose a more severe penalty than the next subsequent tier in the process should the infraction warrant such a penalty. The penalties, in increasing order of severity are as follows:

  • 1st Infraction – Written Warning
  • 2nd Infraction – Single Game Suspension
  • 3rd Infraction – Multi Game Suspension
  • 4th Infraction – Season Long Suspension (Pending Fair Hearing)
  • 5th Infraction – Removal from CMBA Participation (Pending Technical Hearing)

All reports of Code of Conduct infractions must be submitted in writing to the CMBA President, Executive Vice President or other Executive member and will be subject to the same process that is in place for handling complaints.

Expulsion

  1. a) CMBA reserves the right to reject participation in such a case where previous record of behavior unbecoming a participant of CMBA has been evident.
  2. b) Participation may be revoked at any time to an individual who has been deemed by CMBA to be in contravention of the Bylaw or Operating Procedures. Such action shall only result after a fair hearing, and a majority vote of the BOD.