This year, we mixed things up a bit at opening day and led with the Little League Parent Pledge, followed by the Little League Player Pledge. The Parent Pledge may be more important than the Player Pledge, as the parents set the tone for the kids. The idea of our partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance is to take these pledges and build a culture that not only teaches winning baseball, but uses baseball to teach winning life lessons to our youth.
So, in addition to abiding by the parent pledge and embracing the guidelines that the PCA provides, each parent/guardian agrees to the Code of Conduct at the time of registration. It is critical that we all adhere to this code as well as our Safety Plan and Bylaws, especially as we start interlocking with other leagues. Here are some highlights from those documents:
- Make a commitment to Honor the Game in action and language no matter what others may do.
- I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for players and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all players, managers, coaches, officials and spectators at every game, practice or other sporting event.
- I (and my guests) will not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent such as booing and taunting; refusing to shake hands; or using profane language or gestures; loud yelling (if you can be heard a field away, that’s excessive), grabbing the backstop fence or any fence.
- I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during games and practices, unless I am one of the official coaches of the team.
- As per Official Playing Rule 3.17, no one except eligible players in uniform, a manager, and not more than two coaches shall occupy the bench or dugout. In the case of Minors and Majors, the dugout includes the area the fenced off area next to the covered area where the players sit.
- Don’t give advice. Instead ask your child what he or she thought about the game and then LISTEN. Listening fills Emotional Tanks.
References:
