ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY ON NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR
As a parent, you play a special role in contributing to the needs and development of youngsters.
Through your encouragement and good example, you can help all the boys and girls learn good sportsmanship and self-discipline. At IUFC, young people learn to work together, to sacrifice for the good of the team, to enjoy winning and deal appropriately with defeat - all while becoming physically fit and healthy. Best of all, they have fun.
Support Your Child
Supporting your child by giving encouragement and showing interest in their team is very important. Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. Teach your child that hard work and an honest effort are often more important than victory - that way your child will always be a winner despite the outcome of the game!
Always Be Positive
Parents serve as role models for their children. Be aware of this fact and work to be a positive role model. Applaud good plays by your child's team as well as good plays by the opposing team. Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from youth sports.
Remember: Your Child Wants To Have Fun
Remember that your child is the one playing soccer, not you. It's very important to let children establish their own goals - to play the game for themselves. Take care not to impose your own standards and goals on them. Don't put too heavy a burden on your child to win games. Surveys reveal that 72% of children would rather play for a losing team than ride the bench for a winning team. Children play for the fun of playing. We are not promoting or suggesting that we are here to lose, but will not sacrifice development.
Reinforce Positive Behavior
Positive reinforcement is the best way to help your child achieve their goals and overcome their natural fear of failure. Nobody likes to make mistakes. If your child does make one, remember it's all part of learning, so encourage your child's efforts and point out the good things your child accomplished.
Don't Be A Sideline Coach Or Referee
IUFC coaches are here to help make your child's soccer experience a positive one. They need your support, too. That means refrain from coaching or refereeing from the sidelines. We encourage your support of the team and your player, but do not want them getting confusing messages with the instruction they are getting from their coaches and what you want to see them do.
To further Indiana United FC efforts to promote a positive environment for all players, coaches, referees, and spectators, to clarify our position on the subject of inappropriate behavior, to set forth guidelines for handling violations of the policy, and to specify the related complaint handling procedures. Unfortunately, unacceptable incidents of verbal and/or physical abuse occur with regularity around our country. In light of these events, IUFC has adopted this “Zero Tolerance” policy regarding referee, coach, player, and/or spectator abuse.
IUFC will not tolerate negative behavior of any type at our practices, games, and events. Verbal abuse of referees has escalated to the point that referees, particularly youth referees, are refusing to stay involved in soccer. The referees have complete authority over the conduct of the players, coaches, and spectators from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave the field. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. Just as a player or coach may be disciplined by the referee for unsportsmanlike conduct or dissent, a spectator may be asked to leave the area surrounding the field if they are harassing or heckling the referees, players, or coaches, or in any way interfering with the progress of the game. The referee is not required to issue a warning. If the offending individual refuses to leave the area, the referee may stop the game, resulting in a forfeit for the offending individual’s team. Coaches may be penalized for the inappropriate behavior of parents, players, or spectators. It is an essential requirement that all coaches, officials, players, and spectators support and promote an environment free from all forms of negative behavior and inappropriate conduct covered by this policy. Any person who has engaged in behavior covered by this policy will be disciplined and/or their involvement in the club may be terminated or asked to leave the club. Any coach, spectator, or player who is asked to leave the field will not be permitted to attend any games, practices, or events until he or she has met with the IUFC Disciplinary Committee to discuss the incident and review the expectations concerning sportsmanship and appropriate behavior at youth events. A second offense by a coach, spectator, or player will at minimum, result in a suspension for the remainder of the season, and a second appearance with the Committee, where further disciplinary action may be taken. A first offense may be enough for immediate removal from the club if the behavior is of a negative impact on the club or in front of the youth membership of the club.
✓ Making a negative comment or gesture directed toward the referee or asst. referee, coach of either team, players of either team, or any member of either club.
✓ Making comments about the referee or directing the referee (ex. “Are you blind?”, “Hand ball ref! Get in the game!”, “Offsides! Call it both ways!”); or
✓ Refusing to follow the instructions of the referee.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU EXPERIENCE NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR
If you believe you have seen or experienced any form of negative behavior, or other conduct covered by this policy, whether directed to you or another person, please report it to IUFC Administration as soon as possible. Do not allow an inappropriate situation to continue by not reporting it, regardless of who is creating that situation. You should report conduct prohibited by this policy immediately to one of the IUFC representative listed below:
WHAT Indiana United FC WILL DO WITH YOUR REPORT
IUFC will promptly conduct a complete investigation of your report. We will:
✓ Contact you to get the details of your report.
✓ Keep you informed of the status of the investigation as it proceeds; and
✓ Advise you of the outcome of the investigation and any resulting discipline.
IUFC will not tolerate any acts of retaliation against you for making a report. If you feel that someone is retaliating against you for making a report, please tell one of the club representatives listed above so that Fusion can investigate your concerns and take appropriate corrective action.
IUFC has zero tolerance for negative behavior.
IUFC will not stand for it and you should not either. Please help IUFC make our club free from inappropriate behavior by treating everyone with the respect they deserve, and by reporting any incidents to IUFC . Let us remember, the game is for the kids.
Like all of us, referees will make mistakes. You are entitled to be disappointed when you think a referee is not doing a good job, but these feelings should not interfere with the game. We need to accept the fact that everyone makes mistakes and move on. It is the coach’s responsibility to contact [email protected].
Making negative comments about the referees, or even the skill level of players or decisions of coaches for that matter, is never welcome. Regardless of how slight you feel your comment may be, you need to keep in mind that your child’s self-esteem and game performance is at stake. To perform at the best of his or her abilities, a player needs to focus on the game, such as their own decision-making, skill, positioning, and fitness. If he or she becomes distracted by side-coaching, too many people giving direction, or negative comments directed at him or her, or the referees, it diverts his or her attention away from the task at hand.
By registering for our wonderful IUFC program, you agree and understand this zero tolerance for negative behavior policy.
Indiana United FC Code of Conduct
A positive environment is key to the players development and overall enjoyment of the sport.
Our program has a no tolerance policy for negative behavior that impacts the environment for our administration and coaches to work and the players to play.
PARENTS/SPECTATORS:
• Must adhere to IUFC rules. I will encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating
positive support for all players, coaches, game officials, and administrators at all times.
• I will place the emotional and physical wellbeing of all players ahead of any personal desire to
win.
• I will support the coaches, officials, and administrators working with my child, in order to
encourage a positive and enjoyable experience for all.
• I will remember that the game is for the players, not for the adults.
• I will ask my child to treat other players, coaches, game officials, administrators, and fans with
respect.
• I will always be positive.
• I will always allow the coach to be the only coach, by refraining from coaching from the
sidelines.
• I will not enter into arguments with the other team’s parents, players, or coaches.
• I will not enter the field of play for any reason during the game.
• I will not criticize game officials.
We have received and read the IUFC Code of Ethics as printed
above, and agree to abide by the requirements. I will act in a manner of respect at all practices,
games, travel, etc., and serve as role models to others to maintain the integrity of ourselves, our
team and all players. Players will conduct themselves in accordance with
IUFC, ISL, USYSA, USSF, and FIFA rules at all times, or will be
subject to disciplinary action. IUFC has the right at any point throughout the
season to release the player if the Director of Coaching and Director of Soccer Operations see that the player/parents are disruptive to the program.
Due process:
Head coach provides the parent with the decision based off their actions.
Parent accepts the decision or can escalate to the club’s disciplinary committee. At that point,
parent and head coach provide all the information to the committee.
The committee which consists of Owner, Director Of Soccer Operations, and
Director of Coaching, will make the final decision. The decision applies for all the programs
including our competitive and tournament teams. If a parent/player is released from our
program then they can’t attend any of our programs without approval from the Committee.
By registering for any IUFC program, you agree and understand this zero tolerance for negative behavior policy.