Code of Conduct Agreement

As developed by Christopher Stankovich, Ph.D. and approved by OLENTANGY UNITED FC

When kids are surveyed about the reasons why they play sports, the #1 response kids consistently report is to have fun. In addition to the fun kids experience while playing sports, additional benefits from sport participation include physical, cognitive, and emotional growth and development. Unfortunately, all these great things do not happen automatically, but instead occur as a direct result of your positive efforts as a parent. It is in this spirit that we have created the following Parent’s Code of Conduct Agreement to remind parents of a few important tips designed to help your child maximize his or her athletic experience.

As a parent, it is important that you:

RESPECT THE GAME, including your child, his or her teammates, and opponents. This means ensuring that your child attends and comes prepared for all practices and games, and treats both teammates and opponents with dignity and respect. Good sportsmanship means playing fair and safe, controlling negative emotions, and keeping the spirit of competition a healthy endeavor.

RESPECT THE OFFICALS. Remember, soccer officials, (a.k.a. referees), are an important part of the sport of soccer and add to the overall experience for your child. It is important that you distinguish between bad calls (human error) and wrong calls (when an official doesn’t know the rule). In either case, it is important that you respect all officials and develop tolerance skills for when bad calls are made (which will happen – officials are human and like all of us, will occasionally make a mistake ! ). Refrain from coarse and threatening language, as well as all forms of physical aggression. There is never a place in youth sports to use vulgarities, threaten, intimidate, or use physical aggression.

LET THE COACHES COACH. While it may be easy to second-guess your child’s coach from the sidelines, most parents forget or overlook how challenging it is for coaches to both win games and at the same time make sure that all of the players have an opportunity to develop. The job of being a coach is an incredibly challenging task, so be sure to support your child’s coach as much as possible.

Be sure to pay attention to injuries, including concussions, and respond to them in a timely manner. Additionally, pay attention to signs of youth sport burnout and be sure to respond to your child if he or she needs help.
Watch for the safety of all players at all times, including physical and emotional dangers.

Youth sports provide a great opportunity for positive fan support, including cheering. Booing and other negative gestures and language from the sidelines are never appropriate, so be sure to stay focused on positively supporting your child’s team at all times.

Cheer whenever possible, and stay away from booing and other negative fan behavior.

**When a issue arises pertaining to a parent having a question, concern, or complaint regarding decisions or actions taken by a Coach or the Club it is club policy to schedule a face to face meeting with multiple Directors so that a "conflict resolution" solution can be achieved between the parties invloved or not.

**Failure to adhere to the OLENTANGY UNITED CODE OF CONDUCT can result in suspension and/or removal from the Club. These difficult decisions will be made by a committee of Club Directors after a thurough investigation of the matter(s) in question.