Conduct Rules and Behavior Requirements

The Mission of baseball at CRCLL is to help the youth of our community become better individuals and develop their baseball skills.  Baseball embodies the discipline of teamwork. It challenges players towards perfection of physical skills and brings into play the excitement of tactics and strategy.

The nature of baseball also teaches that while every player eventually strikes out or experiences a losing team, there is always another chance for success in the next at bat, the next fielding play, or the next game. Too often, in recent times, this ethic has been ignored to the detriment of our players, coaches, umpires and spectators. In an effort to return to the ideals outlined in our constitution and to ensure that all events remain safe and enjoyable for all members of the community, the Board of Directors of CRCLL have adopted a policy of zero tolerance regarding abusive, rude or unsportsmanlike conduct by any player, coach, official or spectator.

Parents/Family Members/Guests/Spectators are expected to abide by the following:

• I agree to refrain from entering the playing area or dugout during a game.
• I agree to not heckle, insult, belittle, or argue with team managers, coaches, players, umpires, or CRCLL officials.
• I agree to always speak or act in a sportsmanlike manner.
• I agree to not use profane, vulgar, or demeaning language in or around CRCLL premises or activities.
• I agree to not be under the influence of alcohol, and/or illegal/legalized drugs or have alcohol or drugs in my possession at any of CRCLL games or events.
• Ejection for infractions not specifically listed but deemed worthy of punishment by CRCLL BoD will follow the same penalties listed.

Penalty for violating the above expectations as determined by the CRCLL BoD:

1st Offense - Ejection from the park
2nd Offense - Ejection from the park and one game suspension
3rd Offense - Ejection from the park and suspension for the remainder of the season

***Striking or bodily assault of any player, coach, umpire, official or spectator will will result in an escalated response***
1st Offense - Ejection from the park, police report, and suspension for the remainder of the season
2nd Offense - Lifetime suspension and 

Players are expected to abide by the following:

• I agree not to protest the decisions of the officials. Disagreements should be left up to the Team Manager and Assistant Coaches.
• I agree not to exhibit abusive language and behavior or unsportsmanlike conduct.
  • Unsportsmanlike behavior; examples are as follows, but not limited to: throwing any equipment or throwing dirt.
    1.  If not ejected by the umpire during the game, suspension from the next game.
    2.  Continued abuses will be referred to the CRCLL Board of Directors for review and discipline.
    3.  Note: As outlined in the Little League rules and regulations if the Umpire ejects the player from the game, they are automatically suspended for the next game as well
• I agree not to argue with, strike, heckle, insult, annoy or taunt any opposing player, team manager, coach, or spectator.
• I agree not to belittle or abuse members of my own team.
• I agree not to use vulgar language or gestures.

Penalty for violating the above expectations as determined by the CRCLL BoD:

1st Offense - Ejection from the game and one game suspension
2nd Offense - Ejection from the game and three game suspension
3rd Offense - Ejection from the park and suspension for the remainder of the season

***Striking or bodily assault of any player, coach, umpire, official or spectator will will result in an escalated response***
1st Offense - Ejection from the game, notification to Police and suspension for the remainder of the season
2nd Offense - Lifetime suspension and notification to Police

Team Managers and Coaches are expected to abide by the following:

• Exemplify high moral character, behavior, and leadership while adhering to strong ethical and integrity standards.
• Respect the integrity and personality of the individual athlete.
• Abide by and teach the rules of the game in letter and in spirit.
• Set a good example for players and spectators to follow.
• Respect the integrity and judgment of umpires and CRCLL officials.
• Display modesty in victory and graciousness in defeat.
• Instruct participants and spectators in proper sportsmanship.
• Be no party to the use of profanity, obscene language, threats or improper actions.
• Put player development as the first priority ahead of winning games.
• Communicate with players, parents, and the league.

Violation of any of the above requirements may result in the team manager or coach being brought before the CRCLL BoD for consideration of disciplinary action up to and including removal of team manager and/or coaching duties.

Coaching Roles and Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the team managers and assistant coaches to provide leadership and organization. Specific manager duties include drafting a team, selecting assistant coaches, setting team schedules, teaching fundamentals and other skills, assigning team responsibilities, completing player evaluations, and communicating to the parents and CRCLL officials. Team managers and assistant coaches are expected to model good sportsmanship, and to observe all Little League International (LLI) and CRCLL policies and rules. Team managers and assistant coaches will put player development and fun as the highest of priorities.

Assistant coaches work collaboratively with the team manager, helping enforce LLI and CRCLL expectations, policies, and rules for the players and parents.

Should a team manager or an assistant coach get ejected from a game for any reason, the official game umpire shall contact the CRCLL Umpire Coordinator and/or Division Commissioner who will report the incident to the CRCLL President. Per LLI rules, all ejected coaches are automatically suspended for the next immediate game. However, a violation of any LLI rules may result in the manager or coach being brought before the CRCLL BoD for consideration of disciplinary action.

 Social Media Policy 

This policy shall apply to all coaches, players, parents, guardians or other persons associated with Coon Rapids Cardinal Little League (CRCLL) regarding use of social media.  This policy applies to the above participants on and off of the field. The goal of CRCLL is to ensure that its participants – coaches, players, parents, guardians, fans, etc. – maintain the highest standard of sportsmanship and ethical behavior at all times.  Adherence to this policy shall be a condition for continued participation in the CRCLL program.   A parent/guardian is required to acknowledge this policy in writing and inform the participating player of the policy.  This policy will be included in the CRCLL Codes of Conduct for Players, Parents and Coaches, respectively, and must be acknowledged in writing and collected by the CRCLL Board President before the team’s first practice. 

We take seriously and will address all inappropriate use of social media.

"Social Media" is defined to include:  Web sites, Web logs (blogs), wikis, social networks (e.g., X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Flickr, YouTube, etc.), online forums, virtual worlds and any other social media generally available to the public or consumers.

"Inappropriate Communication" is defined to include:  any statement, comment, assertion, posting, communication or message of any type that serves to harass, threaten, bully, denigrate, defame, disparage, belittle or impugn the character of the CRCLL or any players, parents, guardians, coaches, umpires, volunteers or board members associated with CRCLL.

REQUIREMENTS

All participants in CRCLL are expected to serve as positive ambassadors of our organization, and they should remember that they are role models to the players.  Because readers of social media networks may view the participant as a representative of CRCLL, CRCLL requires participants to observe the following rules:

• Use of any social media network and postings, displays or communications on any social media network must comply with all state and federal laws, any CRCLL policies and the CRCLL Codes of Conduct for Players, Parents and Coaches.
• Participants must be respectful and professional in all communications (by word, image or other means) via Social Media in conjunction with CRCLL.  
• Participants may not act as a spokesperson for CRCLL except as authorized by the CRCLL Board.  When authorized as a spokesperson for CRCLL, participants must disclose their relationship with CRCLL.
• Participants may not disclose information on any social media network that is confidential or proprietary to CRCLL, its players, parents, coaches, umpires, etc., or that is protected by data privacy laws.  When posting images of CRCLL players, please refrain from identifying any participants without their expressed consent.
• Participants will be held responsible for the disclosure, whether purposeful or inadvertent, of confidential or private information, information that violates the privacy rights or other rights of a third party, or the content of anything posted on any social media network or internet site as it relates to CRCLL.
• Anything related to CRCLL posted on a participant's Web site or Web log or other internet content for which the participant is responsible will be subject to all CRCLL policies, rules, regulations or guidelines as amended from time to time.

VIOLATION

A CRCLL participant who is responsible for a social media network posting that fails to comply with the rules set forth in this policy may be subject to discipline as outlined in the CRCLL Code of Conduct for Players, Parents and Coaches.

GUIDELINES

These are the guidelines for social media in CRCLL.  If you are a participant contributing to blogs, wikis, social networks, virtual worlds or any other kind of social media, these guidelines are for you.  We expect all who participate in social media to understand and follow these guidelines.  Failure to do so could put your baseball season at risk.  These guidelines will continually evolve as new technologies and social networking tools emerge, so please check back once in a while to make sure you are up to date.

It’s your responsibility.  What you write is ultimately your responsibility.  If it seems inappropriate, use caution.  What you publish is widely accessible, and it will be around for a long time, so consider the content carefully.  

Ensure the safety of the players.  When participants choose to join or engage in the social networking groups, they do so as an ambassador of CRCLL and have the responsibility for monitoring content and addressing inappropriate behavior or activity on these networks.  This includes acting to protect the safety of minors online.

Be transparent.  Your honesty—or dishonesty—will be quickly noticed in the social media environment.  If you are posting about your involvement, use your real name and identify your relationship with CRCLL  Be clear about your role; if you have a vested interest in something you are discussing, be the first to point it out.

Protect confidential information.  Be thoughtful about what you publish.  You must make sure you do not disclose or use confidential information.  Players, parents, coaches and other participants should not be cited or obviously referenced without their approval.  For example, ask permission before posting someone’s picture in a social network or publishing a conversation that was meant to be private.

Respect your audience and other participants.  Always express ideas and opinions in a respectful manner.  Make sure your communications are in good taste.  Do not denigrate or insult others.  Remember that our communities reflect a diverse set of customs, values and points of view.

Keep your cool.  One of the aims of social media is to create dialogue.  When confronted with a difference of opinion, stay cool.  Sometimes, it’s best to ignore a comment and not give it credibility by acknowledging it with a response.

Be careful with personal information.  Make full use of privacy settings.  Know how to disable anonymous postings and use moderating tools on your social media sites.

Be a positive role model.

PROCESS

Board meetings are open to all members.  If you have an issue, please contact a board member, and we will add you to the agenda to discuss.  As an organization, we value being transparent and welcoming. 

If your experience is a matter of integrity or safety, please alert a board member as soon as possible so that the board may address the matter in a timely manner.

-Coon Rapids Cardinal Little League Board