Marion County NFL Flag Code of Conduct
Welcome to Marion County NFL Flag! Our mission is to create an experience and memories that our participants will never forget. As an official partner of NFL Flag, the goal is to create a positive impact through teaching football skills, emphasizing exercise, and reinforcing the importance of character in athletics and in life. The league is designed to work skill development and fundamentals for both offensive and defensive skill positions. This Code of Conduct outlines the expectations for all participants—athletes, coaches, parents, and spectators—to ensure that everyone involved can have a positive, enriching, and safe experience. By adhering to these guidelines, we can foster a respectful and supportive community that champions sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal growth.
GENERAL CODE OF CONDUCT
While participating at Marion County NFL Flag or any Tournament representing Marion County NFL Flag, all PARTICIPANTS agree to abide by the Code of Conduct as a coach, player, parent or spectator as defined below. THIS CODE OF CONDUCT APPLIES TO ALL COACHES, ATHLETES, PARENTS AND SPECTATORS.
· Follow all rules as indicated in NFL FLAG Tournament / Season Rule book, as appropriate
· Coaches are responsible for the behavior of athletes and parents - if parents/spectators are behaving poorly, the team itself risks being penalized or disqualified with no right to appeal.
· Crowd support is encouraged. However, inappropriate, rude or confrontational behavior by spectators may lead to disqualification of your team from the tournament, season and/or future events.
· Respect the calls of the referees.
· Once any dispute or challenge has been settled and play resumes, the situation will not be revisited. If a dispute occurs on the last play of the game, this includes the official score, this must be settled prior to leaving the field.
· Refrain from harassing, bullying or engaging in negative behavior towards other athletes, coaches, spectators and/or staff.
· Honor the game by displaying sportsmanship and respecting the rules and officials, staff, teammates, and opponents.
· Resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence. Fighting will NOT be tolerated.
· Refrain from the use of profanity.
· No possession of alcohol, drugs or weapons of any kind.
· If there are any concerns or issues that arise, please communicate respectfully and calmly with the tournament or field director of the event.
· Inform staff of any injury or ailment that may affect the safety of the athlete, and refrain from allowing an injured/ill athlete to participant in the event.
· Use social media responsibly and reflect good sportsmanship. Never use it for negative commentary regarding staff, players and/or coaches or to harass/bully others.
· The Event / League Staff and Officials reserve the right to interrupt any game which is not operating within the realm of good sportsmanship and fair play.
Failure to comply with any of the above guidelines may result in removal from Marion County NFL Flag or the Tournament you are participating in. Suspension from the season and/or the entire tournament series may be enforced at the sole discretion of League Staff/Tournament Director, and additional repercussions for associated league operators, teams, players, and spectators may apply as applicable.
PLAYERS CODE OF CONDUCT AND ACOUNTABILITY
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), GAME OR SEASON suspension (2nd offense), and/or expulsion (3rd offense).
ADULTS/COACHES/REFEREES CODE OF CONDUCT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
1. At any Marion County NFL Flag event, practice or competition, 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 that event. They will then receive a verbal or written warning regarding their behavior.
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 Marion Count NFL Flag 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, Marion County NFL Flag will not refund registration monies.
3. Anyone who physically assaults an official, coach, player fellow parent or volunteer will be banned effective immediately from Marion County NFL Flag participation and their child (children) removed from participation for one full calendar year from the date of the offense. Upon the culmination of the season, 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 Marion County NFL Flag program with no opportunity for appeal at the discretion of the Marion County NFL Flag Board of Directors.
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.
5. Failure to pick up your child (children) in a timely manner after Marion County NFL Flag practice, game, or event may result a review for disciplinary action.
COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Marion County NFL Flag 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 valuable life lessons in teamwork, sportsmanship, adversity, resilience 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 for violations in its enforcement of the Code of Conduct.
By agreeing to coach, volunteer, or work for Marion County NFL Flag in any capacity, Coaches attest:
· 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 Code of Conduct while participating in any Marion County NFL Flag activity.
· I will be knowledgeable in the rules of each sport that I coach and will teach these rules to my players.
By continuing, coaches understand that they must abide by the above Code of Conduct, and if they do not live up to the Code of Conduct, they and their players, spectators, and family members may be banned from participating in any Marion County NFL Flag activities for a period determined solely by the Marion County NFL Flag Board of Directors.