The goal of youth sports is to be a fun and positive experience for the children. In companionship with fun and a positive experience, Northbrook Baseball strongly believes the essential elements of character-building and ethics in sports are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six core principles: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Good Citizenship.
Actions by parents, fans and coaches, whether verbal or nonverbal, can have a lasting emotional effect on children and therefore Northbrook Baseball, like other youth baseball leagues, is instituting codes of conduct for parents/guardians as well as coaches. As a parent or guardian of a player in Northbrook Baseball, your actions reflect not only on you, but your child, his/her team, and the organization that mandate appropriate parental behavior that embody the positive experience and goals of Northbrook Baseball stated above. Accordingly, as a parent in Northbrook Baseball, I agree to abide by and follow the rules and guidelines below:
• I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for my child and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and demonstrate positive support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators at every game, practice, or event.
• I understand that the use of foul language towards anyone (coaches, teammates, officials, opponents, or spectators) will not be tolerated. I will not engage in any language or actions with the intent to initiate, hurt, intimidate, or humiliate any player, coach, official or spectator. These acts shall be considered harassment and will result in my immediate removal from the practice, game, or event, and I understand that, depending on the severity of the circumstance(s), additional discipline may be issued by the Commissioner of Northbrook Baseball in his/her sole discretion.
• I will not complain or become confrontational about calls made by the officials, and I will respect the umpires and their decisions at all times.
• I will not post on any social media site with the intent to initiate, hurt, intimidate, or humiliate any player, coach, official or spectator. The posting of negative, demeaning, or derogatory comments will not be tolerated. These acts shall be considered harassment and may result in my immediate removal from Northbrook Baseball. As a parent, I understand that I am accountable for the actions of my child on social media sites. I will stress to my child the importance of proper conduct on these sites and provide parental oversight to prevent any type of cyber-bullying by my child.
• I (and my guests) will not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent such as booing, taunting, or using profane language or gestures. I will maintain self-control at games, practices, and other club events.
• I will not encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger the health and well-being of the athletes.
• I will encourage my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence. I will demand that my child treat all players, coaches, officials, and spectators with respect.
• I will never ridicule or yell at my child or other participant for making a mistake or losing a game.
• I will not disrupt practices. I will never record practices via audio or video means. I will not interfere in any way at team practice, including that I will not enter the field or the dugout during practice. I understand this Code of Conduct applies during practices. If I violate the Code of Conduct at practice, I understand that I will be prohibited from attending any further practices.
PLAYING TIME
A) House and House+
• I understand that in Northbrook’s Open Registration Baseball (i.e., House and House+), rules are designed such that playing time is fair and equitable to all players. I understand coaches are providing playing time, bench time, and infield play time rules and guidance at different levels. I understand coaches are encouraged to allow players of all abilities to try different playing positions.
o If I have an issue with my child’s playing time or playing positions, I will wait 24 hours after the most recent game before providing feedback or discussing my concerns with my child’s coach(es).
o I understand that the Directors of Northbrook Baseball will not field complaints about playing time; I understand that my only avenue to address playing time is to discuss it with my child’s coach(es).
B) GBN Feeder
• I understand that in GBN Feeder Baseball, playing time is not equal, and that not every player will get to pitch. In GBN Feeder Baseball, I understand that some players may have more plate appearances, innings pitched, and positions played than other players. In GBN Feeder Baseball from the ages of 9u through 13u, I understand that my child is only guaranteed to play 3 defensive innings in a 6-inning game, and 4 defensive innings in a 7-inning game, and that neither of these minimum number of innings are guaranteed to be in the infield or at pitcher (and I understand that in a mercy-rule or rain shortened game, playing time will likely be less than as stated above). For age 14u GBN Feeder Baseball, I understand that there is no minimum playing time, and that playing time is entirely at the discretion of the head coach.
• In GBN Feeder Baseball, I understand that beyond the minimum innings set forth in the preceding paragraph, playing time is at the discretion of the head coach. Further, I understand that if my child breaks a team rule that has been articulated by the head coach, he may play less than set forth above as a result of disciplinary measures.
o If I have an issue with my child’s playing time, I will wait 24 hours after the most recent game before discussing my concerns with my child’s coach(es).
o I understand that the Directors of Northbrook Baseball will not field complaints about playing time beyond the minimums set forth above; I understand that my only avenue to address playing time beyond the minimums set forth above is to discuss it with child’s coach(es).
• I will support the coaches by allowing them to do their job by not coaching my child or other players during games and practices. I will not openly question or confront coaches before, during or after games or practices. I will take the time to speak with coaches about any concerns calmly, privately and at an agreed upon time and place.
• I will not enter the dugout** or participate in conversations with the team during a game. I will ensure that my child is prepared with everything he needs prior to the game.
o **I will only enter the dugout to tend to my injured child when I am invited to do so by one of my child’s coaches.
• I will promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes ahead of any personal desire I have for my child or his/her team to win.
• I will inform the coach of any disability, illness or injury that may affect the safety of my child or the safety of others.
• If I have concerns about anything that is happening on my child’s team, I understand that I must first address my concerns with my child’s head coach, and that if I am not comfortable addressing my concern with my child’s head coach, I will address my concern with one of the assistant coaches. I understand that except in cases of emergency or at the sole discretion of the Commissioner when extenuating circumstances exist, the Directors of Northbrook Baseball will not step in until the situation has been brought to, and discussed with, at least one coach on my child’s team.
I realize that if I violate this Code of Conduct, I may be subject to disciplinary action that could include one or more, but not limited to, the following:
- Verbal warning by Head Coach and/or Northbrook Baseball Board of Directors
- Written Warning by Northbrook Baseball Board of Directors
- Parental Game suspension, including a multiple-game suspension, with written documentation of incident kept on file by Northbrook Baseball.
- Parental Season suspension
- Parental Suspension from all future Northbrook Baseball games (Home or Away), Practices and Events
- Removal of child from Northbrook Baseball
Northbrook Baseball reserves the right to impose the appropriate discipline depending on the facts of each situation and the nature of the offense. I understand this Code of Conduct does not create any contractual right, including that this disciplinary action section does not guarantee any right of warning or progressive discipline.
By signing below, the Parent/Guardian agrees to abide by and be subject to this Code of Conduct.