Smithsburg Youth Football Association

Anti Bullying Policy

            Smithsburg Youth Football Association {SYFA} is committed to providing players a fun, positive, and secure environment in which to learn and enjoy football and cheer. We do not tolerate bullying at any practice, game, or other SYFA/ league sanctioned event and encourage players who know that bullying is taking place to report the incident. Players and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported. Definition of Bullying, Bullying is defined as conduct, gestures or comments which are insulting, intimidating, humiliating, hurtful, malicious, degrading or otherwise offensive to a player, group of players and/or teammates, and which create a hostile or intimidating environment, or which negatively affects a player’s physical and/or emotional well-being. Bullying is any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it is a single incident or a series of incidents that results in intentional, physical, emotional pain, and/or causes distress to the victim.

Procedures for Parents, Coaches, and the Executive Board:

1. Parents should report bullying incidents to the team coach. If the problem persists, reach out to the SYFA Football Director, Cheer Coordinator, or Executive Board Member.

2. In all cases of reported bullying, parents of the player who was bullied shall be informed immediately and may be asked to meet with the respective team coach and/or Executive Board Member to discuss the incident. In all cases, strict confidentiality shall be maintained. It is not our goal to make a public example of reported incidents.

 3. The negative  behavior must be investigated and the bullying stopped immediately. The parents of any player who is reported to be bullying will be contacted immediately by the respective team coach, Football Director, Cheer Coordinator, or SYFA Executive Board and asked to meet to discuss the incident to help the bully or bullies change their behavior.

Consequences of Bullying                                                                                                                             

1.          In a first offense situation involving bullying, an attempt will be made to

encourage the bully (or bullies) to modify their behavior for their benefit, for the benefit of the person bullied, and for the team. An attempt will be made by the coaching staff and Executive Board Member(s) and parent(s) to reconcile the situation between players (age and level of maturity and or severity of offense must be considered).

2.         If the bullying persists, disciplinary action against a player may be taken by the team coach and/or SYFA  Executive Board Member(s), which may include, but is not limited to, immediate suspension from participation in practices, game(s), and other league events for a period of time.

3.         After the incident/incidents have been investigated and addressed, the situation will continue to be monitored by the respective team coach, executive board member(s), and players’ parents to ensure the problem is resolved. In the event that the bullying continues, SYFA reserves the right to remove a player from participating on the team/ within the organization for the remainder of the season.