Intent: The Newtown Youth Basketball Association promotes good conduct by all participants including players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators. Appropriate conduct will provide a safe athletic environment, good role models and a sense of community spirit throughout the league. NYBA participants are to maintain and promote the highest standards of conduct at all times.

Everyone will:

1. Respect all players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators.
2. Respect the property of others including all gym facilities.
3. Not taunt, boo, or make negative comments about any players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators.
4. Remember that sports for children should be about having fun.

Players will:

1. Play for fun.
2. Work hard to improve skills, learn the game and play by the rules.
3. Follow coaches directions and instructions.
4. Always respect teammates, opponents, coaches and referees.
5. Support teammates at all times.
6. Shake hands with opponents after the game.

Parents & Spectators will:

1. Remember that children participate in athletics to have fun.
2. Remember that the game is for the children, not for the adults.
3. Remember that they are not the coach and will refrain from yelling instructions out onto the court.
4. Speak to the coach in private with any concerns and never in front of the children or on the court.
5. Be a positive role model by respecting all players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators at all times.
6. Value skills development, fair competition and good effort. Recognize that the efforts of all children, your own team and opponents, is more important than the outcome of the game.
7. Cheer for all children on the team in a positive fashion, not just your own child.
8. Refrain from rude or obnoxious behavior or comments toward the opposing team and officials, and never confront referees or other game personnel.
9. Not encourage any behaviors or tactics that would endanger the health and well being of anyone.

Coaches will:

1. Make skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, fun and learning the game…the goals of the team.
2. Be a positive role model by respecting all players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators at all times.
3. Learn and play by the rules of the game.
4. Be as respectful and restrained as possible in response to calls by officials.
5. Never lose their temper.
6. Be generous in their praise, emphasizing the efforts of players over the outcome of the game.
7. Be fair, honest and consistent in coaching philosophies and practices.
8. Recognize that children learn differently… and adapt coaching to each child’s needs accordingly.
9. Communicate clearly to players and parents about goals for the team and what behavior is appropriate.
10. Provide a safe environment for the children to play.

Referees: While NYBA has a limited relationship with the Referees of FCBL (Travel) games, it has established the following guidelines for ethical standards of conduct for all officials both Adult and Youth. It is expected that Referees will:

1. Exercise a high level of self-discipline, independence and responsibility. Master both the rules of the game and the mechanics necessary to enforce the rules, and shall exercise authority in an impartial, firm and controlled manner.
2. Work with each other in a constructive and cooperative manner.
3. Uphold the honor and dignity of the profession in all interactions with players, coaches, parents,
   colleagues and the public at large.
4. Prepare themselves both physically and mentally, shall dress neatly and appropriately, and shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the high standards of the profession.
5. Be punctual and professional in the fulfillment of all obligations.
6. While enforcing the rules of play, remain aware of the inherent risk of injury that competition poses to the players and      where appropriate, they shall inform the coaches and the league of situations that appear unreasonably hazardous.

Important NYBA Policy Note:
Unfortunately, inappropriate adult behavior has become an all too common in youth sports.
As a practical matter, it is impossible for the NYBA to police the hundreds of adults that attend the number of NYBA league games that occur in any a given season. So instead, the NYBA takes a number of alternative measures in its attempt to create proper decorum at its games:

1. The NYBA Board considers it the primary responsibility of its members to police their own spectators. Accordingly, the NYBA requires those members to have all of their players' parents acknowledge and agree to abide by the Code of Conduct during the registration process. As well parents are expected to ensure that their child/children understand and abide by the Code of Conduct.
2. Should the NYBA Board receive continuing reports of misconduct from the attending crowds, coaches, referees or other observers or participants, we reserve the right to remove the offending party (player, coach, referee, etc) from any activity including that as a spectator for any NYB activities.
3. The NYBA does not promise to devote the resources to thoroughly investigate these incidents, nor does the NYBA promise to provide a "fair trial" before choosing to sanction a person that has developed a reputation of misconduct. It is simply more administratively efficient for the NYBA to sever its relationship with the individual or individuals.
4. Accordingly, the NYBA Board would encourage any responsible spectator to approach any misbehaving spectator and explain to them that their behavior is not only inappropriate, but it is also interfering with the other spectators enjoyment of the game.