OZ PARK BASEBALL ASSOCIATION CODE OF CONDUCT

The Oz Park Baseball Association, at times referred to as the “OPBA,” is a parent and family run, private baseball and softball league.  The OPBA mission is to provide high-quality baseball and softball instruction and competition for boys and girls in the Oz Park area. 

The focus of the OPBA will be teamwork, sportsmanship, physical fitness, and fun, while teaching its players skills needed to continue to progress and enjoy the games of baseball and softball.  In order to ensure the enjoyment of all players and families associated with the OPBA, certain expectations are placed on the coaches, volunteers, players, and families to support the efforts of the OPBA to create a fun and family-focused environment for the enjoyment of the players. 

General Provisions

1.       The OPBA Code of Conduct, at times referred to as the “Code,” shall remain in effect during all OPBA events, including but not limited to team practices, games, fundraising events, and parent meetings.  This will include any events that take place after completion of each season.

2.       If the Code is amended, an updated version of the Code shall be made available (electronically, via the OPBA website, and/or via other means) to participants and/or their parents or other representatives. 

3.       An electronic copy of the Code will be provided to participants and/or their parents or other representatives in connection with the registration process at the beginning of each season.  Any player, parent, coach or volunteer who desires a paper copy of the Code will be provided one upon request.  A player and/or their family’s continued involvement in any OPBA season serves as their acknowledgment and acceptance of the Code in its entirety. 

4.       Any questions or concerns regarding the Code should be directed to either a player’s coach or division commissioner where appropriate.  Further clarification of the Code, if needed, will be provided by the OPBA Dispute Resolution Committee and/or the OPBA Board of Directors.

Player Attendance  

1.       Player attendance at all practices and games is expected. 

2.       Players are expected to arrive at least 20 minutes before a scheduled game time and at least 10 minutes before any scheduled practices.  Punctual attendance at games and practices will facilitate the most efficient use of the limited field time available to the OPBA and provide all players with enough time to prepare for games and practices. 

3.       The OPBA recognizes that families may at times have conflicts that preclude a player’s attendance at a game or practice.  Any anticipated absences must be communicated to the player’s head coach prior to the scheduled event.  Failure to notify the team’s head coach of an anticipate absence will consequently be considered an unexcused absence. 

4.       If a player has 3 consecutive unexcused absences prior to the second scheduled game at the outset of the season, the team’s head coach must contact their division commissioner or the OPBA Director of Dispute Resolution.  The head coach must inform the division commissioner of all efforts made to contact the player’s family.  The division commissioner or OPBA Director of Dispute Resolution will then attempt to contact the family.  If the division commissioner or a member of the Dispute Resolution Committee is unable to make contact with the family, the player’s roster spot will be forfeited and the player will be replaced by the next player on the appropriate waiting list.  If contact with the family is made, it will be within the OPBA’s discretion to remove and/or reassign that player’s roster spot.  Any player whose roster spot is forfeited, removed, or reassigned for lack of attendance will not be provided a refund.   

5.       After the second scheduled game of the season, a player shall only be allowed one unexcused absence for a practice and one unexcused absence for a game.  If a player has more than two unexcused absences after the second game of the season, the head coach may decide to restrict the player’s playing time in the next game.  Continued absence may also result in a forfeiture of a player’s roster spot to be filled by the next player in the appropriate waiting list.   

6.       If a player has more than 4 unexcused absences after the second scheduled game of the season, the head coach must inform their division commissioner or the OPBA Director of Dispute Resolution.   The OPBA may decide to decide to remove the players from the OPBA and may decide not to allow the player or their siblings to re-enter the OPBA the following year. 

7.       It will be the responsibility of the parent or guardian of the player to transport the player to and from any OPBA game, practice, or event.  Team coaches and the OPBA are not responsible to ensure a player is transported to and from any OPBA game, practice, or event.  It is also expected that a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult shall remain nearby at all times when their child is attending an OPBA game, practice, or other event.  Among other things, this policy will help ensure that someone is available to approve the administration of basic first aid if needed and to ensure that all players are accounted for immediately after an OPBA game, practice, or event.  Neither the OPBA nor its coaches shall be obligated to wait with a player at the conclusion of an OPBA game, practice, or event. 

8.       If for any reason a parent, guardian, or responsible adult is not immediately available during an OPBA game, practice or event, the OPBA and its coaches shall be entitled to presume they have the authorization to provide basic first aid if needed.  

Player Conduct 

1.       The OPBA strives to provide quality instruction to all players.  The OPBA recognizes and welcomes players of varying ability.  It is expected that all OPBA players will be supportive, encouraging, and exhibit teamwork and overall team spirit.

2.       Bullying, laughing at, yelling at, using abusive language toward, taunting, or attempting to embarrass other players, whether on an opposing team or on a participant’s own team, will not be tolerated.  Any player exhibiting such behavior will be warned by their coach and instructed about what would be appropriate behavior.  If the behavior persists, the player will be subject to removal from the game or practice.  If any player is removed from a game or practice due to behavioral issues exhibited on the field, the head coach must inform the OPBA Director of Dispute Resolution of the incident.  A continued behavioral pattern exhibited by a player may result in further disciplinary action taken by the OPBA, up to and including removal from the league. 

3.       Players are not permitted to argue or dispute calls made by any umpires during the game under any circumstances. 

4.       All players are expected to congratulate their opponents and teammates after each game.  Any act of unsportsmanlike behavior at any time will not be tolerated. 

5.       Any actions by any player violating the Player Conduct section of the Code

will be reviewed by the OPBA Director of Dispute Resolution.  The OPBA reserves the right to impose discipline as necessary to maintain its goals of teamwork, sportsmanship, physical fitness, and fun.  Discipline can include dismissal from the league without refund. 

Coach Conduct

1.       It is imperative that all coaches provide examples of good sportsmanship to all players in the OPBA at all times. 

2.       Coaches may not yell at or act disrespectfully toward umpires.  If a coach has a question or dispute about a call, any discussions with the umpire must take place between innings, in a calm and conversational tone, outside the presence of their team or the players’ families.  Failure of any coach to adhere to this section of the Code may result in ejection from the game at the discretion of the umpire. 

3.       Any coach ejected from a game for any reason must submit a formal explanation in writing to the OPBA Director of Dispute Resolution explaining the circumstances surrounding the ejection.  The OPBA may at its own discretion inquire of others witnessing the incident to provide their recollection of the event, including parents, opposing coaches, or the umpire involved. 

4.       The OPBA may decide to suspend or remove a coach from their team after review of an ejection or other violation.

5.       Any coach involved in any physical altercation with anyone during an OPBA event will subject to automatic review by the OPBA and may result in permanent banishment from the OPBA for both the coach and possibly his children.  Any fights or threats may result in prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. 

6.       Coaches are expected to encourage and facilitate appropriate behavior of their players and parents. 

7.       The OPBA reserves the right to impose discipline as it sees fit after review of any complaint or incident regarding the actions of a coach.  Decisions regarding coach discipline are final.  

Parent Conduct

1.       It is equally imperative that all parents (whether present as a coach, volunteer, or spectator) exemplify good sportsmanship to all players in the OPBA, and not just their own children or players.

2.       Parents may not argue with umpires during the game under any circumstances.  Any parent arguing or commenting on an umpire’s calls creates an impression with the players that such actions are acceptable, when they are not.  Parents must also remember that most umpires are either volunteers or earning very small stipends for their involvement.  Any parent violating this section of the Code is subject to ejection from the game and the park.

3.       Any parent ejected from a game for any reason may be subject to a review by the OPBA.  The OPBA may at its own discretion inquire of others witnessing the incident to provide their recollection of the event, including parents, coaches, or the umpire involved. 

4.       The OPBA may decide to prohibit a parent from attending future OPBA events after review of an ejection or other violation.

5.       Parents should refrain from yelling instructions to players from the sidelines.  The coaches who have volunteered their time to work with the players at practices and at games should be the ones instructing the players during the games.  Parents yelling instructions from the sidelines create confusion for the player, not only about how to play but also about who is in control of the team.

6.       Parents should encourage their players and their teams for their efforts on the field, regardless of the results.  Great plays should not be unduly praised, and errors or mistakes should not be unduly criticized.

7.       Parents should remember that the mission of the OPBA is to teach the players sportsmanship, teamwork, and the fundamentals of baseball and softball -- not to make the players ready for the major leagues. 

8.       Parents should familiarize themselves with the applicable rules, including the OPBA rules of play for their player’s age division, and help the coaches re-enforce those rules.  Parents who are not familiar with the rules of play can create confusion for the players. 

9.       Parents should also pay close attention to the Player Conduct section of the Code, and review those provisions with their players to ensure that they understand what is expected of them.    

10.     Any parent involved in any physical altercation with anyone during an OPBA event will subject to automatic review by the OPBA and may result in permanent banishment from the league for both the parent and possibly his children.  Any fights or threats may result in prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. 

11.     Any parent using rude, profane, obscene or violent language or behavior toward anyone during an OPBA event is subject to ejection from the game and the park.  

12.     Any parent observing another parent exhibiting behavior contrary to the Parent Conduct section of the Code is expected to notify the OPBA of the incident. 

13.     The OPBA reserves the right to impose discipline as it sees fit after review of the incident.  Decisions regarding parent discipline are final.  

Parent Participation

1.       The OPBA is an all-volunteer organization, and its success is only possible through the support and participation of all OPBA families.

2.       It will be expected that all parents will be willing to assist their children’s teams to help ensure the success of the season and the OPBA. 

3.       Parents or guardians are expected to ensure that their players will adhere to the attendance schedule as set forth in the Code.

4.       Parents or guardians are also expected to ensure that their players adhere to the Player Conduct section of the Code and to re-enforce the goals of the OPBA.  

5.       Parents are also expected to volunteer time to ensure the fields are properly prepared for their players’ games and for any games following their players’ games.  As such, parents may be assigned a specific day to ready the field as instructed by the OPBA Director of Field Maintenance and the Fields Committee. 

6.       Additionally, all parents are expected to ensure that the fields are cleaned up after completion of a game.  This will also entail garbage collection.  To assist in limiting the amount of waste, and therefore garbage collection needed, all parents are instructed to provide a metal or plastic, non-disposable water bottles for their players, to avoid accumulation of plastic disposable water bottles at the parks. 

7.       Parents are strongly encouraged to participate in any OPBA fundraising events.  These events are designed to ensure the financial viability of the OPBA and assist in keeping the league affordable. 

8.       All parents are expected to provide volunteer hours to their children’s respective teams.  This may include assisting the team, division, league or OPBA with the numerous tasks required to run the OPBA.  Each parent MUST VOLUNTEER A MINIMUM OF TWO HOURS for each of their children enrolled in the OPBA.  Assistance in placing a volunteer can be arranged through the OPBA.