Wilsonville Little League

Code of Conduct / Sportsmanship Contract

Wilsonville Little League (WLL) is committed to providing every participant in WLL with a positive baseball/softball experience. Every participant in WLL, the players, managers, coaches, board members, umpires and parent helpers is a volunteer. The league spends a tremendous amount of time and money supporting its participants with quality training, improved facilities and the best equipment possible. The fabric of an all-volunteer league is held together by good sportsmanship and the mutual respect of everyone involved. WLL believes that every participant deserves to be treated with respect. To this end, the league has developed a CODE OF CONDUCT AND SPORTSMANSHIP commitment form for all of its participants.

Parent/Guardian Role in Supporting Sportsmanship

Parents/Guardians play an important role in supporting sportsmanship as a mentor-role model for their children. There are four roles in youth sports - player, coach, official and parent. By choosing the parent role, Wilsonville Little League (WLL) expects parents to act as mentor/role models for their children and support the League efforts to promote sportsmanship.

There will be zero tolerance for parents who intimidate, interfere with, physically or verbally abuse coaches, players, officials, parents or other fans at any League practices, games or other events. WLL expects high standard of sportsmanship from players, coaches and officials and expects the same standard of conduct for parents/guardians of children registered to play.

The consequences of not following the parental rule of conduct will result in League action. On first offense you will be contacted by the WLL League Vice President and warned that your behavior is not following the League sportsmanship code of conduct. If a second offense occurs the matter will be discussed by the full WLL Board and could result in your child being dismissed from playing in WLL for the year.

Good Sportsmanship is defined as:

·         playing hard, giving maximum effort and hustling regardless of ability or outcome
·         enjoying the privilege of participating and the opportunity to compete
·         being a humble winner and a gracious loser
·         treating everyone as you would want to be treated
·         cheering and encouraging all participants (on my team or the other team)
·         never speaking in a degrading or negative manner toward any participant
·         never using foul language
·         never throwing any equipment
·         never intentionally hurting, threatening or assaulting another participant

Consequences for violating the league's Code of Conduct:

·         First Offense - addressed by the team manager. Punishment can be simply a reprimand or up to a game suspension. In the case of a physical incident or altercation, the matter shall be addressed by the League's Board of Directors.
·         Second Offense - shall be addressed by the Board, with wide discretion in the punishment, ranging from suspension to expulsion from the league.
·         Third offense - again, the incident will be addressed by the Board.

Process for Addressing Participant Concerns

·         Any participant who feels a violation has occurred should FIRST address the matter with relevant person in charge (i.e. a parent/player issue with a team manager or coach).
·         Any matter that cannot be addressed between the affected parties shall be referred to the appropriate League Vice President.
·         Any matter that cannot be addressed with the assistance of the appropriate Board contact shall then be referred to the entire Board of Directors for consideration.