Oak Hills
Youth Athletics
Guiding Principles,
Codes of Conduct
and
Disciplinary Procedures
Oak Hills Youth Athletics (OHYA) is an association dedicated to all students attending the Oak Hills Local School District. OHYA offers programs in various sports for boys and girls.
Mission Statement
Oak Hills Youth Athletics is dedicated to the development of well-rounded youth through positive sports competition. We strive to develop fundamental skills through active participation of our players and to promote good sportsmanship from our players, coaches and parents.
Oak Hills Youth Athletics is dedicated to the support of the organized sports in the Oak Hills Local School District. OHYA believes that our mission is to provide these organized sports with as many athletes as possible, that are as well prepared as possible for that next level.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
These principles are written to ensure a balanced blend of sportsmanship, recreation, skill development, and competitive activity in keeping with the OHYA Mission Statement.
2. Principles
a. All players, coaches, officials, parents, and spectators will be treated fairly and with respect.
b. Retention of athletes is a key measure of success.
c. Players will be provided with the highest quality training and coaching that OHYA can supply.
d. Input from Coaches at the next level is critical in developing a progressive schedule of age appropriate fundamental skills.
e. Players should be evaluated periodically to gauge our success in meeting targets for skills development. The results of these evaluations will be shared with both the player and the parent.
f. Parents play an extremely important role in the development of young athletes.
g. All activities and actions sanctioned by OHYA will be conducted in an open and transparent manner.
h. OHYA will openly accept criticism and complaints, and will effectively and fairly resolve these issues consistent with our Mission Statement.
i. OHYA has a goal of continuous improvement. As deviations from our mission are noted, we will look for the underlying problem and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that we are living up to the standards and goals of our Mission Statement.
Code of Conduct
1. Purpose
Oak Hills Youth Athletics values sportsmanship, fair play, skill development, and mutual respect among all players, coaches, officials and spectators. This Code of Conduct has been established and adopted to ensure the guiding principles of Oak Hills Youth Athletics are understood and met by all individuals associated with this organization.
This Code of Conduct applies to all sports and activities associated with OHYA. These activities include, but are not limited to, signup sessions, drafts, practices, OHYA sponsored games, and any activities, attended under the OHYA banner, run by other organizations.
The Code of Conduct for coaches, players, parents, and spectators will be thoroughly discussed at the pre-season coaches meeting. In addition, this Guiding Principles, Code of Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures will be available on the Oak Hills Youth Athletics website for review.
The following codes of conduct will be strictly enforced.
Each player will ensure that his/her playing conduct is that of a young lady or gentleman fairly competing to the limit of his/her ability. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, the player is expected to:
a. Know the rules and abide by them.
b. Respect the game officials and refrain from addressing them or commenting on their decisions during the play of the game.
c. Maintain control of his/her emotions, avoiding the use of abusive language or profanity, humiliating remarks, gestures of ill temper, and physical assault upon another player at any time.
d. Respect the coaches and players of the opposing team and demonstrate appropriate gestures of sportsmanship at the conclusion of game. Be humble and generous in victory and proud and courteous in defeat.
e. Respect all Oak Hills Local School District staff.
f. Follow all building rules and regulations, respecting at all times the property of others.
g. Realize, accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability but also on the sportsmanship, courtesy and manners of each individual player.
h. Attend every practice and game that is reasonably possible, and notify the coach in advance if the player is unable to attend.
The Head Coach will be provided with copies of the Code of Conduct prior to the start of the season. Each Head Coach is responsible to see that their assistant coaches, players, and spectators abide by the respective Code of Conduct. It is also the coach’s responsibility to review the Codes of Conduct with their assistant coaches and players.
Each coach will ensure that his/her conduct is that of a responsible adult fairly competing to the limit of his/her ability. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, the coach is expected to:
a. Know the rules and abide by them.
b. Instruct players in the rules and coach his/her team in such a way as to motivate each player to compete according to the rules at all times.
c. Place the emotional and physical well being of the players ahead of any personal desire to win.
d. Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions in a disrespectful or abusive manner.
e. Ensure that all building rules and regulations are followed by the players and spectators.
f. Ensure that fans of his/her team conduct themselves with sportsmanship and maturity at all times while in attendance at game sites, and assist the game officials in maintaining control of spectators during the games.
g. Respect the coaches and players of the opposing team both during the play of the game and at its conclusion, win or lose.
h. Respect all Oak Hills Local School District staff.
i. Teach each player, especially through personal example, to be humble and generous in victory and proud and courteous in defeat.
j. Maintain control of his/her emotions and avoid actions, language, and/or gestures that may be interpreted as hostile and humiliating.
k. Instruct team support personnel in their responsibilities in accordance with established rules and procedures.
l. Realize, accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability, but also on its sportsmanship, courtesy, and manner.
Each parent and spectator will ensure that his/her conduct is that of a responsible adult or youth who are positively encouraging all participants to the limit of his/her ability. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, each parent and spectator is expected to:
a. Respect the rules of the game.
b. Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions or from addressing them in a loud, disrespectful, or abusive manner.
c. Cheer for their team in a positive, supportive manner.
d. Place the emotional and physical well being of the players ahead of any personal desire to win.
e. Maintain control of his/her emotions, avoid the use of abusive language, profanity, and gestures of ill temper, and refrain at all times from making hostile or negative remarks about the opposing team.
f. Respect all Oak Hills Local School District staff.
g. Follow all building rules and regulations, respecting at all times the property of others.
h. Leave school grounds in a timely fashion after the conclusion of a game.
i. Demonstrate appropriate gestures of sportsmanship at the conclusion of a game, win or lose. Do not interact in a negative fashion with fans, players or coaches of the opposing team or game officials.
j. Realize, accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability, but also on the sportsmanship, courtesy, and citizenship of its fans.
5. Offensive Actions
Any individual violating the Code of Conduct set forth above shall be subject to penalties and sanctions as set forth in the Disciplinary Procedures below. In addition to conforming to the requirements of the Code of Conduct above, the following actions are specifically prohibited
(“Offensive Actions”):
a. Refusing to abide by an official’s decision.
b. Verbally abusing or assaulting any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or Oak Hills Local School District staff.
c. Physically assaulting, abusing, or threatening any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or Oak Hills Local School District staff.
d. Stalking, tailing, or attempting to intimidate any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or Oak Hills Local School District staff.
e. Engaging in any other type of violent behavior, such as throwing equipment or other objects.
f. Engaging in any lewd or sexual behavior, physically abusing a player, or engaging in any inappropriate physical contact with a player.
g. Unless specifically allowed by the rules of the sport, pushing, shoving, or striking any player.
h. Using drugs or alcohol while coaching, attending, or participating in any OHYA sport or other OHYA event.
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
Oak Hills Youth Athletics provides a forum on its website to allow coaches, players, parents, spectators, and officials to report to the Disciplinary Committee any issues they observe before, during, or after practices and games. The link to report Code of Conduct violations and Offensive Actions can be found under “Contact Us” on the OHYA website.
a. Reporting By Coaches
i. It is the responsibility of every coach to address improper conduct observed by the coach or brought to the coach’s attention in a timely and respectful manner.
ii. In the event any coach feels that the Disciplinary Committee should be involved in addressing any improper conduct, the coach is encouraged to contact the Disciplinary Committee through the OHYA website.
iii. Coaches must report any Offensive Actions to the Disciplinary Committee, including, without limitation:
1) Any report or allegation of inappropriate physical contact, violence, or threatened violence against any player, coach, official, parent, spectator, or Oak Hills Local School District staff.
2) Any observed or reported use of drugs or alcohol by any player, coach, official, parent, or spectator during any OHYA event.
3) Any situation where a player, coach, parent, or spectator is ejected from a game or removed from the premises.
iv. Coaches are encouraged to keep the Disciplinary Committee informed of any improper conduct and the steps taken by the coach to address the misconduct, even if the coach is not required to report the misconduct to the Disciplinary Committee.
v. Coaches shall promptly respond to any request by the Disciplinary Committee for information relating to any incident or violation of the Code of Conduct.
b. Reporting by Parents and Spectators
i. Parents and spectators are encouraged to report any improper conduct to the coach and/or the Disciplinary Committee.
ii. If a parent or spectator reports misconduct to the coach and feels that the misconduct is not appropriately addressed, the parent or spectator is encouraged to contact the Disciplinary Committee through the OHYA website.
a. Coaches and Officials
i. Coaches and officials shall promptly address any misconduct that is observed or brought to the attention of the coach or official during an OHYA event.
ii. Coaches and officials have the absolute authority, in their sole discretion, to issue verbal warnings and/or eject any player, parent, or spectator from any game or match if the player, parent, or spectator violates the Code of Conduct or engages in any Offensive Action.
iii. Officials have the absolute authority to issue verbal warnings and/or eject any coach from any game or match if the coach violates the Code of Conduct or engages in any Offensive Action.
b. OHYA Disciplinary Committee
i. The OHYA Disciplinary Committee will conduct a timely and reasonable investigation into any misconduct reported to the Disciplinary Committee. The scope of any investigation will be determined by the Disciplinary Committee in its sole discretion, provided, however, that the Committee will provide any person accused of misconduct a reasonable opportunity to be heard.
ii. After a reasonable investigation, the Disciplinary Committee will determine the appropriate penalty for any violation of this Code of Conduct and any Offensive Action.
1) Penalties will be based on the nature and severity of the violation.
2) The Disciplinary Committee will strive to treat all similar offenses in a similar manner, while taking into account the individual facts and circumstances of each violation.
3) The Disciplinary Committee will not discriminate in any manner in determining whether to impose a penalty or in determining which penalty to impose.
iii. The Disciplinary Committee will keep reasonable and appropriate records of each reported violation, and shall document each penalty and the reasons for imposing the penalty.
All decisions of the Disciplinary Committee are final and cannot be appealed.
1. Penalties
The Disciplinary Committee shall determine the appropriate penalty for any violation of the Code of Conduct and any Offensive Actions. Penalties may include any one or more of the following:
a. Verbal Warning
b. Written Warning
c. Suspension:
i. One game suspension
ii. Multiple game suspension, or
iii. Indefinite suspension
d. Expulsion from OHYA
2. Additional Considerations
a. If a coach or parent is expelled from the league, any child associated with that person is also expelled from the league.
b. If a player is suspended from the Oak Hills Local School District, they cannot participate in OHYA for the duration of their suspension. If a player is expelled from the Oak Hills Local School District, they cannot participate in OHYA. If they are currently on a team, they will be removed from that team.
c. Behavior of players may also subject them to discipline under the Oak Hills Local School District student code of conduct.
d. There are no refunds as a result of any person being removed from the league.
