Code of Conduct

CNR Basketball League
Codes of Conduct for Players, Parents, Officials and CoachesIntroduction

The CNR Basketball League sponsors basketball games with the goal of providing our children an opportunity to develop superior life skills through team play, sportsmanship, top competition, and hard work. Our mission is to provide the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level possible with their individual ability, potential, and interest. An emphasis on fair play and respect for all participants is a primary element of our club’s mission. To better achieve that mission, we provide the following Codes of Conduct for all CNR players, parents, officials and coaches.

These Codes of Conduct are a covenant between CNR players, parents, officials and coaches to abide by the rules and regulations of the game, as well as to maintain a cooperative attitude and uphold the ideals of fair play and sportsmanship. These Codes express our core values and goals. It is essential they be honored and followed.

The Codes of Conduct can be summarized in the following three principles: (1) Demonstrating a positive attitude; (2) setting a good example; and (3) Maintaining good relationships with all basketball participants – including officials, opponents, and our own teams’ players, parents, and coaches.

1. Demonstrating a positive attitude

Players, parents, officials and coaches are expected to show a positive, respectful attitude for everyone involved in the sport. Criticism and disrespect for officials, opponents, coaches or fans undermine the purpose of sport and encourage behavior contrary to the spirit of the game and the mission of CnR.

2. Setting a good example

Each person associated with CnR is accountable for his/her behavior at all times on or off the court. Parents, coaches, officials and other adults should remember that children learn by example – it is up to the adults to set good examples.

CNR will not tolerate conduct that is detrimental to the sport, the participants, or the community. Such conduct includes: Vulgarity by coaches, players, officials or parents; harassment or belittling of officials, coaches or players; verbal abuse, threats or physical violence toward anyone before, during or after a game; and the taunting of opposing players, coaches, officials or parents.  CNR prohibits the use of any racist or discriminatory language by players, coaches, fans or officials. 

We require thorough self-restraint by all participants – both players and adults. Teams and Coaches must exercise appropriate control over those who fail to control themselves, including their spectators.

3. Maintaining good relationships

Officials

The referee’s job is a difficult one. All referees are human and they do make mistakes. Parents or players who believe their team has been treated unfairly by the referee should speak to their coach after the game. Coaches should fill out a complaint, in written form, explaining the situation, and hand it to the supervisor on duty of that facility. The supervisor must scan and email the written complaint to Bill Reitz, the assignor of officials, and the league’s officials; Alison Todd and Monica Tritz, within twenty four hours, to inform them of the complaint. All three administrators will confer about the incident and determine an appropriate course of action. If they find the situation is beyond their control, they will contact their authorities and all will conduct a meeting to determine the outcome.

In accordance with MSHAA laws, verbal abuse from a player, coach or parent toward a referee can result in a technical foul. Any technical foul given by a referee, MUST be reported by that referee to Bill Reitz by email. The person receiving the technical will be given a “warning” from the league and the incident will be documented. If other incidents occur from the same individual or team, the administration will determine what action will be taken at that time. If a coach or a player receives two technical fouls, within the same game, it could lead to a one game suspension, which would be determined by the league administrators. If a coach does not control his players and/or parents, the referee has the authority to suspend play until the site supervisor is present to determine the course of action.

*Area of Emphasis*– At no time is it permissible for parents, spectators or fans to approach an Official after a game. Should a parent or fan approach an official after a game the parent or fan will be removed from the site. Additionally, not only will the parent and fan be suspended from future CNR games, but the related or associated player may also be removed from CNR related activities.

On the flipside, if an official has a complaint about a coach, parent or player and feels that he/she has been treated unfairly, he should fill out a complaint, in written form, explaining the situation, and hand it to the supervisor on duty. The same course of action will be taken as stated above.

Opponents- Players and coaches are required to maintain a sense of fair play and be respectful of opposing players, coaches, and fans at all times. Sportsmanship begins with respect. Without it, the positive competitive environment, which should be a perfect classroom for learning the values of basketball, is completely undermined. Occasionally we will encounter opponents who do not share our values and high standards. If we allow ourselves to be drawn down to their level, we will have lost regardless of the final score.

Our Own Team

In an environment where our teams are competing not only against other teams but also frequently against each other, it can be difficult to control jealousies and rivalries. A successful team resembles a family in that members put their own needs second, behind the greater good of the team. Great care must be taken not to undermine the coaches’ authority. As in most cases, parental example is all- important.

Interscholastic and sports programs play an important role in promoting the physical, social and emotional development of children. It is therefore essential for parents, coaches and officials to encourage young athletes to embrace the values of good sportsmanship. Moreover, adults involved in children’s sports events should be models of good sportsmanship and should lead by example by demonstrating fairness, respect and self-control.

Playing within divisions

A player from the same organization may be allowed to play up, from the B team to the A team. This usually happens when the A team does not have enough players to field a team on a particular day. However, an A player may NOTplay on a B team, unless, prior to the start of the game, the opposing coach agrees to allow the A player to play.If an A player is found to have played in a B level game, and it was not approved by the opposing coach prior to the start of the game, then after the game, the opposing coach must bring this to the attention of the league official/s: Alison Todd at atodd@micds.orgor Monica Tritz at monitaylor@yahoo.comor cnrmonica@gmail.com. If the official/s find this to be true, the team that violated the policy will forfeit that game. 

I therefore pledge to be responsible for my words and actions while attending, coaching, officiating, or participating in a CnR event and shall conform my behavior to the following code of conduct:

1. I will not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct with any coach, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
2. I will not engage in any behavior which would endanger the health, safety or well- being of any coach, parent, player, participant, official or any attendee.
3. I will not engage in the use of profanity
4. I will treat any coach, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee with respect regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or ability.
5. I will not engage in any verbal or physical threats or abuse aimed at a coach, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
6. I will not initiate a fight or scuffle with any coach, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.

I hereby agree that if I fail to conform my conduct to the foregoing while attending, coaching, officiating, or participating in a CnR event I will be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to the following in any order or combination:

1. Verbal warning issued by the league or the league officials.
2. Written warning issued by the league or the league officials.
3. Suspension or immediate ejection from the CnR event issued by the league, or the league officials, who are authorized to issue such suspension or ejection by the CnR organization.
4. Suspension from multiple CnR events issued by the league or the league officials.
5. Season suspension or multiple season suspensions issued by the league or the league officials.