Bytown Dodgers Code of Conduct

Bytown Dodgers Baseball Club

Code of Conduct

Players Contract

I have agreed to become a member of the Bytown Dodgers Baseball Club. As a member of this team, I will do my best to obey these rules and regulations:

01

I will always hustle. I will hustle on and off the field, on every ball I hit, on the bases and in the field.

02

I will respect my coaches and parents and do as they ask. I understand that they come from a place of experience and want to help me become the best I can be.

03

I will not use profanity, drugs, or alcohol. I will always set a good example and represent my team with class.

04

I will practice good sportsmanship before, during, and after games. I will appreciate the good play of our opponents and remain humble during my shining moments.

05

I will treat all opposing players, coaches, and fans with respect. The only difference between us is that they are pulling for the other side.

06

I will respect decisions made by the umpires. I cannot change their decisions, and I recognize my reaction may reflect poorly on both me and my team.

07

I will handle winning and losing in a respectful manner. A player’s true character is shown in handling both winning and losing with similar reflection and appreciation.

08

I will never quit. No matter the score, inning, or number of outs, I will always give my best. My teammates deserve nothing less.

09

I will do my homework. My work ethic is based on the hard work I put in during games and practices as well as at home.

10

I will never throw a bat or other equipment in anger. Not only is this unsafe, but it is a selfish display of poor self-control.

11

I will always prioritize the safety of myself and others around me. I will be properly equipped and aware of my surroundings when throwing a ball or swinging a bat.

12

I will treat practices seriously as an opportunity to become the best player I can be. Practice is my time to polish my tools while the game is my time to apply them.

13

I will practice self-control, setting a positive example for others. I will not get down on myself when things aren’t going my way.

14

I will always support and encourage my teammates. I will be helpful and courteous, treating my teammates the way I would want to be treated.

15

I will respect the facilities we are provided for practices and games. I will not damage equipment, I will clean up when we’re done and I will treat it as I would my home.

16

I will represent my team with class. I understand that how I behave and present myself will reflect either positively or negatively on my teammates and coaches.

17

I will not have bad body language. Negative body language is an easy way to show your teammates and the other team that you are defeated.

18

I understand my grades in school, and behavior at home and outside of baseball, may impact my position on the team. There is more to life than baseball.

19

I will embrace my role, position on the field and in the lineup, and I will not complain. This is a team, and I will always do what is necessary for the team to be successful.

20

I will learn from my mistakes. I will make mistakes, but I will use them as opportunities to learn.

I will always do my best to follow these rules. My coaches, parents and I understand that I am not perfect, but repeated violations can and will impact my standing on this team. Depending on the severity and frequency of my infractions, I may see less playing time, a diminished role or complete removal from the team.

These rules aren’t meant to scare me. These are rules I embrace to help me become a better player, teammate and person.

I understand these rules, and I will do my best to always represent my teammates well.

Parents Contract

The main objective here is for the entire team — players, parents and coaches — to be on the same page. We’re in this together!

I support my child’s commitment to become a member of the Bytown Dodgers Baseball Club. My family is an extension of our baseball family, and as a result I understand I am expected to do my best to commit to team rules and regulations.

01

I commit to making sure my child arrives to games and practices on time. This means often arriving 15 minutes early so that my child has enough time to get situated prior to joining our practice or pre-game preparations.

02

I will be sure that my child is properly equipped, hydrated and fueled for practices and games. This includes proper uniforms and equipment.

03

I will show respect for the umpires. They will sometimes make a wrong call, but the job of the umpire is not an easy one. Voicing my displeasure will not improve the situation.

04

I will stay away from the dugout during games and allow coaches to coach. While this is not easy, I know that providing potentially conflicting messages during a game can be confusing to my child and my presence at the dugout may contribute negatively to his ability to focus.

05

I will be a role model for my child regarding good sportsmanship, teamwork and self-worth. These things start with the adults, and the players will behave accordingly. We will take pride in how we carry ourselves and treat others.

06

I am responsible for the behavior of all family members at games and practices. Others may attend games to cheer on my child, and I need to be sure that they also handle themselves according to these rules.

07

I will provide encouragement and support for my child. My child needs to hear my positive encouragement throughout the game.

08

I will provide encouragement and support for all players on the team. As a team, it’s important to provide the same support for my child’s teammates. We’re in this together!

09

I will respect the opposing team, coaches and fans. They are the same as us in many ways, but they simply wear different uniforms. Appreciation for their performance and respect for their abilities will contribute to a better environment.

10

I understand that winning is important to the team, but the primary objective is promoting an environment of growth and learning (development). They will win. They will lose. They will make mistakes. One of the most important things will be what they learn from success and failure.

11

I will get to know the team values and reinforce them with my child. I will read through those expectations with my child and serve as a reminder when they aren’t being met.

12

I will support the coach’s message. While I may not agree with the coach at all times, I also understand that contradicting the coach’s message is counterproductive.

13

I will help my child embrace their role, no matter what it is. I may not agree with where my child hits or plays in the field, but it is important that I help my child embrace and master that role for the best possible experience.

14

I will help nurture a positive environment on and off the field. I will do my best to keep a positive tone as I realize my reactions impact the team.

15

I will refrain from public complaints about coaching and other players with parents. While I will not always agree with how the team is being coached, I know that these reactions do not help.

16

I will schedule a time with the coach to calmly and constructively discuss lineup and playing time concerns rather than during, immediately before or after a practice or game. Instead of complaining publicly, I will be part of the solution by scheduling a private time to discuss my concerns.

17

I will offer my help as a volunteer to leverage my skills, where possible. The success of this team is run on the contributions of volunteers, and I want to contribute whatever I can to help.

18

I will respect the challenges the coaches face and time commitment they make. I know that coaching isn’t easy. It’s a significant contribution of time and energy, often with the side effect of stress.

19

I will make payments for team fees as scheduled. The Bytown Dodgers is not a bank, and regular on-time payments are required to cover the season cost.

20

I will do everything within my control to make this a positive experience for my child, other players, families and coaches. I will do my part to contribute to this baseball family!

21

I understand that if I am not able to follow these rules, our family can lose the privilege to attend games and practices, and severe or repeated infractions could lead to the suspension of my family from the program indefinitely. I will always do my best to follow these rules. While I am not expected to be perfect and we will all have our weak moments, the main thing is that I will make a consistent effort to help nurture a positive environment for all.

I understand these rules, and I will do my best to always represent this team and my child well.

The 24-Hour Rule

The Bytown Dodgers have a 24-hour policy for parent-to-coach interactions.

Cool-off Regulation

Prevent discussions regarding playing time, positions, game strategy, or general decision-making immediately following a game.

The 24-hour rule is enacted to provide a cool-off period to help remove emotion from the conversation and allow both parties to collect their thoughts prior to speaking about the events. Team and player morale will suffer if a parent storms into the dugout after a game or even waits to meet the coach in the parking lot to discuss sensitive topics, especially since the players and their own child will be around to witness the interaction.

This includes, but is not limited to, discussions of:

Playing time
Player position assignments
Roster management
Philosophy on how the game is managed
Accountability programs

Instead, we require that, after 24 hours has lapsed, parents put their concerns in writing and send this in an email to the coach. Players can also be encouraged to approach their coach directly with their concerns, either in person or by email.

Coaches do sometimes make mistakes – please try to remember that they are developing on a daily basis just as the players are. It is also important to recognize that this is a developmental AND competitive program. When our coaches make baseball decisions, we do so with the best interest of the players behind those decisions. We know that parents truly care about the development of their child within the team, and if they have concerns about their role on the team, their playing time and positions, they should be able to discuss this with the coaches in a clear and professional manner.

If a parent/guardian feels the issue of concern has not been appropriately addressed after having discussed it with the coach, they are encouraged to reach out to the President (John Pezacki, president@bytowndodgers.com). Violation of the 24-Hour Rule will be viewed as a violation of the Parent Code of Conduct, and the Head Coach may request a disciplinary hearing.