Overview:
Team managers work to make sure that we have 100% compliance to our Code of Conduct. We, as parents, are concerned with both fair play and safety, and we realize there have been times that the safety of the kids may be at risk based on aggressive play and the lack of correction taken by the officials. We should not act out, but rather take the appropriate action to ensure the situation is corrected promptly and respectfully.
The following is the process that we will take within Great Falls Soccer Club:
Safety
If you feel that the play has gotten to the point where you are concerned about our children’s safety, you should immediately report the situation to the team manager who in turn will inform the coach. The coach will be responsible to address the situation with the referee. A parent should never interfere with the play of the game by directly discussing the issue with the referee or coming on the field.
Fair Play
The responsibility of the referee is to call the game and at no time should a call be made from a parent. A parent should never argue about a call. And a parent should never speak to a referee. We should give all referees the respect of the position. We should show the same level of respect, as we expect our kids to show to the referee and the game. All referees are not equal and they do make mistakes (we all do). As observers, we should expect to see some missed calls and wrong calls. We all have different perspectives, experiences, vantage points and judgments. For situations where the referee has missed an extraordinary number of calls or appears to have a major difference in our understanding of the rules, it is important that the referees receive this feedback in a positive way, so they too can improve. In these cases, we ask that the parent take the time to provide feedback (via email) to the team manager with the details of the game and of the situation. The team manager will work with you to understand the issue and present it to our league representative.
League Rules:
- Outbursts or misconduct from parents will result in a coach removed from the current match with a suspension of future matches. The result of our misconduct is unfair to the players and the coach.
- If there is a injury to your child on the field, allow the referee and the coach to handle. Rules prohibit parents from stepping onto the field without permission from the Referee. Misconduct in dealing with injuries can also get the coach red carded and suspended for future games.
Our expectation is that we have full compliance to the code of conduct and we will support each other to accomplish the high level support of the kids, referees, coaches, opposing parents and the game itself.
We welcome all feedback and input that will help the leadership provide a positive, safe, and competitive soccer development program for our kids. Our reputation is a very valuable asset. The kids, coaches, parents, managers working as a community establish our reputation and we want to thank everyone who has and continues to contribute and volunteer to make GFSC the premier club in Northern Virginia.
Code of Conduct
In order to ensure that the principles of sportsmanship, fair play, and mutual respect among players, coaches, officials, and spectators characterize all competition sponsored by the Great Falls Soccer Club, the following Code of Conduct has been established by the Great Falls Soccer Club Steering Committee.
It is the obligation of all program officials, coaches, parents, and players to create an environment that promotes this objective. Those who willfully violate this code jeopardize their participation in the GFSC soccer program, which reserves the right to expel violators without prior warning. If you have questions, or need to report a violation, contact the Great Falls Director of Rules and Regulations.
Parents and Spectators
The parents’ role is one of support to the players and coaches. Parents should NOT engage in “coaching” from the sidelines; criticizing players, coaches or game officials; or trying to influence the makeup of the team at any time.
Every parent and spectator is expected to:
- Learn and respect the rules of soccer, and the rules of our League. Show respect and courtesy to game officials, coaches, and players at all times.
- Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions or from addressing them in a loud, disrespectful, or abusive manner.
- Cheer for your child’s team in a positive manner, refraining at all times from making negative or abusive remarks about the opposing team.
- Maintain control of your emotions and avoid actions, language, and/or gestures that may be interpreted as hostile and humiliating.
- Ensure that your child is at all games and practices at the required time or provide the coach with an appropriate excuse beforehand.
- Demonstrate appropriate gestures of sportsmanship at the conclusion of a game, win or lose.
- Teach and practice good sportsmanship and fair play by personally demonstrating commitment to these virtues.
- Promote the concept that soccer is merely a game, and that players and coaches on other teams are opponents, not enemies.