CODE OF CONDUCT
The Montrose Avalanche Soccer Club is a not-for-profit organization operated by member volunteers who work to promote soccer as a competitive youth sport on a local, regional and statewide basis. With competitive play, there is a need to promote and maintain basic levels of sportsmanship and camaraderie between players, parents, and coaches. Being part of the Montrose Soccer Club, as an official, parent member, player, coach or referee (i.e. members), should be considered a privilege. It is understood that with such privilege comes responsibility. It is the responsibility of all Montrose Soccer Club members to conduct themselves in a manner that is courteous, friendly, and sporting while participating in or observing Club functions. Adherence to this code of conduct will promote sportsmanship, camaraderie, and friendship among Montrose Soccer Club members.
In an effort to better define and educate members on what are the responsibilities of its members while participating in Club soccer functions the following Rules are to be adhered to by all participants.
Rules for Players, Parents and Coaches
First, and foremost, Montrose Soccer Club is a drug, tobacco, and alcohol free organization. Any use of illegal drugs, tobacco, or alcohol by a member of the soccer Club during a soccer function or in an illegal manner is strictly forbidden and is a violation of the Code of Conduct. Sunset Mesa is a City Park and the City’s rules for its recreational facilities must be obeyed. Smoking is not allowed by anyone at the soccer fields on Sunset Mesa. Smoking by adults (i.e. 18 years of age or older) at other soccer fields and facilities is discouraged, but is subject to local field rules and regulations.
The Laws of the Game as defined by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) shall be followed while playing soccer. Other laws, rules and regulations enacted by the Colorado Youth Soccer, as our state sanctioning body, shall be adhered to (go to www.coyouthsoccer.org for rules and bylaws).
Players
All players shall compete in a sporting manner. Good sportsmanship shall be demonstrated by players at all times when participating in Club functions (e.g. matches, practice, and tournaments).
Language — use of foul language, profanity, or insulting remarks at practice or on the sidelines is unsportsmanlike behavior. Harassing others by word or action (e.g. bullying), or knowingly making false accusations against other players, coaches, or Club members is unsporting behavior. Dissent (e.g. argumentatively challenging a referee or coach), is unsportsmanlike behavior.
Fighting — physically striking, pretending to, or attempting to strike a teammate, opponent, official, coach or member with a fist, hand, foot, head or body with the intent to inflict pain or intimidation, not within the laws of the game, is prohibited. Bullying, either physically or verbally, is prohibited. Such actions are considered violations of the Code of Conduct.
Apparel — appropriate sports apparel is expected to be worn during soccer functions. Clothing not intended as sports apparel shall not be worn at soccer functions. Apparel that expresses foul language, insults, gang affiliation, or derogatory racial comments are not to be worn and are considered unsportsmanlike behavior. Reasonable levels of modesty should be adhered to when choosing and wearing sports apparel at soccer club practices and matches. Shorts must cover undergarments (this is a FIFA law of the game) and female tops should cover and support as intended. Club team uniforms are to be worn at all scheduled and organized soccer matches.
Coaches
Coaches shall manage play within the Laws of the Game. Sportsmanship shall be demonstrated by the coaches (i.e. managers, coaches, assistant coaches and trainers) during all Club soccer functions. Coaches should be a voice of encouragement, support, and guidance. Coaches are expected to be leaders of their teams and as such should set the tone and example for play. Players should feel that they can trust and confide in their coaches. Coaches are expected to look out for the physical and mental well-being of their players while under their supervision at Club soccer functions.
Language — It is understood that coaches must instruct and discipline players all of which may occur at elevated voice levels depending upon the situation, but it must not be done in a demeaning or degrading manner. Coaches should not use profanity and refrain from insulting or derogatory remarks during games or practices. All coaches will experience times when there will be disagreements with officials, parents, or even players that will lead to frustration and anger, but it is important not to resort to addressing players with profane or insulting language. Such use of profanity or insulting language is considered a violation of the Code of Conduct. Addressing officials using profane and insulting language shall be subject to the Laws of the Game. Addressing other Club members using profanity or insulting/derogatory language is considered unsportsmanlike behavior.
Fighting — No coach shall strike any player. Striking a player is a violation of the Code of Conduct. Coaches shall not engage in any form of physical intimidation or fighting with other coaches, referees, or Club members during Club soccer functions. Such actions are also violations of the Code of Conduct.
Discipline — Coaches are expected to maintain discipline and promote adherence to the Code of Conduct as well as strive to play in a sporting manner. Coaches are the on-the-field representatives of the Club for their teams and are to manage players and parents to the best of their ability under the Laws of the Game and under the Code of Conduct. Coaches may institute specific team rules (The Montrose Soccer Club Board may, if it deems necessary, amend or resend specific team rules imposed by Coaches if there is sufficient cause to do so.) regarding player conduct, practice attendance, playing time, parent involvement, and sportsmanship that are more extensive than the Code of Conduct, but never shall such team rules be in conflict with this Code of Conduct. Coaches are expected to treat all players fairly. Application of all team rules and procedures must be uniform and unbiased, no player or group of players shall be targeted with special rules.
Parents
Parents of players or those volunteers working with the Club as Board members, coaches, referees, or Club officials are all members of the Club. As members, there is an expectation that sportsmanship will be demonstrated when participating in Club soccer functions. Parents are reminded that as members it is also their responsibility to help other family and friends that participate in Club soccer functions to promote and maintain a demeanor of good sportsmanship. Members should provide support and encouragement to players and coaches at soccer games and practices and strive to demonstrate exemplary actions of sportsmanship while participating in Club soccer functions.
Language — use of profanity should be avoided. The use of profanity, insulting or derogatory remarks regarding Club players, Club members, players on opposing teams, officials is generally considered unsportsmanlike behavior. Cheering for the Club teams is encouraged but criticism of officials, coaching by parents from the sidelines, use of inappropriate language, and similar intrusive behavior will not be tolerated. Over indulgence of any of these discouraged forms of behavior is cause for disciplinary action.
Fighting — Club members shall not engage in any form of physical or verbal intimidation or fighting with coaches, referees, Club members or opposing team members during Club soccer functions. Such actions are violations of the Code of Conduct.
Violations and Disciplinary Actions
All violations of the Laws of the Game or the Colorado Youth Soccer rules that occur during the course of a scheduled soccer match are determined by the referees and the disciplinary actions are at the discretion of the referees according to the FIFA Laws of the Game and the Colorado Youth Soccer rules or Mountain Region League. The Montrose Soccer Club Board will make the final determination of violations of the Club Code of Conduct and the Board shall be the make the final determinations on disciplinary actions related to the Club Code of Conduct. Disciplinary actions may be in addition to those actions prescribed by a referee or the league for offenses committed during games.
Reports of violations of the Code of Conduct can be submitted by any member of the Club at any time. Such reports should be made to a Player Agent or a Board member and should be submitted in writing or in person at a Board meeting. If they are to be verbal reports to the Board, they must be as an agenda item. Club Referees are expected to report all red card incidents to the Club Board in a timely manner. Those reports can be made to the Referee Assignor or directly to a Player Agent.
Members of the Montrose Soccer Club that violate the Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary actions. All disciplinary actions are to be commensurate to the severity of the infraction.
Drugs and Alcohol
Illegal use of drugs or alcohol by a player would be justification for suspension for the season or remainder thereof. Illegal use of drugs or alcohol by a coach, referee or official of the Club while participating in a Club soccer function would be justification for suspension for the season or remainder thereof. Use of alcohol by a Club member while participating in a Club soccer function could warrant disciplinary actions including, but not limited to, season suspension, a “red card” (i.e. one match suspension), or a “yellow card” (i.e. warning).
Violations of the Code of Conduct
Actions that can be described as violations of the Code of Conduct are generally those type of actions that display a complete disregard of the principles of good sportsmanship. Violations that involve fighting are generally “red card” offenses and the member involved in such an incidence would be required to “sit out” a match or a week of practice and a match. Violations of abusive language may warrant a “yellow card” warning from the Board. Depending on the circumstance, persons involved, and the nature of the language abuse, a “red card” offense may appropriate and the disciplinary action would require the member involved to “sit out” a week and/or miss a match.
A coach striking a player would generally warrant suspension or expulsion from the Club. The severity or circumstances of the infraction would determine the severity of the disciplinary action. Repeated violations of the Code of Conduct by a Club member may warrant possible suspension from Club soccer functions for a season. This would include players or coaches receiving multiple red card violations pursuant to the Laws of the Game during the course of a season. If such violations are so flagrant or often repeated it may warrant banishment from the Club. Banishment is considered to be extreme and uncommon.
Unsportsmanlike Behavior
Actions that can be described as unsportsmanlike behavior should be avoided. When such actions are overt, repeated, or deliberate, they should involve some form of discipline. Often the most appropriate form of discipline is a “yellow card” warning. Such warnings can come from a Club official, referee, or coach. If the unsportsmanlike behavior is reported to the Board, the Board shall issue a formal warning to the member to cease such actions in the future or risk expulsion from the Club.
Repeated unsportsmanlike behavior implies the same disregard for the Code of Conduct and should be involve disciplinary actions that involve suspension. Such suspensions may be a “red card” type suspension of “sitting out” one game or if those unsportsmanlike behavior offenses continue after warnings or short-term suspensions then there would be cause for consideration of a suspension for the season or remainder thereof.