Howland Athletic Club (HAC) CODE OF CONDUCT

The Howland Athletic Club (HAC) sports programs play an important role in promoting the physical, social, and emotional development of children. It is therefore essential for parents, coaches, officials, players, and all others associated with the HAC to embrace the values of good sportsmanship and demonstrate fairness, respect, self-control, and social responsibility before, during, and after all HAC events.  HAC uses social media as a communication and promotion tool.  This form of media is also used by most personally and is subject to HAC’s Code of Conduct.   

Examples of DOS and DON’TS:

1. No person shall engage in, or encourage any child, or any other person, to engage in, unsportsmanlike conduct, the use of profanity, to make verbal or physical threats, or endanger the health, safety, or well-being of any coach, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee. 

2. No person shall use or permit any child, or encourage any other person, to use drugs or alcohol while at a youth sports event and will not attend, coach, officiate or participate in a youth sports event while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

3. All persons shall treat all coaches, parents, players, participants, officials and any other attendees with respect regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or ability. 

4. No person shall fight or scuffle, or encourage any child, or any other person, to fight or scuffle with any coach, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.

5. Social media can be fun, helpful, and dangerous.  Photos and comments posted on social medial are normally positive and constructive.  Do not post negative comments, images, bullying, criticism, and sexist comments.  They can be dangerous and harmful to people’s wellbeing and reputation along with the HAC.

6. Do not use social media to be critical of parents, coaches, officials, players, and all others associated with the HAC.  Any comment you make on social media has the potential to be seen by millions of people. 

7. Do not tolerate or condone poor social media behavior or actions.  If you are aware of or observe poor social media behavior or actions, do not accept it.  You should remind people of their responsibilities when using social media and warn that action can be taken against them.   

8. When using social media….When in doubt leave it out!

If any parent, coach, official, player, or all others associated with the HAC fails to comply with the HAC Code of Conduct before, during, and after all HAC event, they will be subjected to disciplinary action, including but not limited to, the following; in any order and/or combination: 

1.  Verbal warning; 

2.  Written warning; 

3.  Suspension or immediate ejection; 

4.  Suspension from multiple games;  

5.  Forfeiture of the privilege of attending games; 

6.  Season suspension or multiple season suspension.  

*Suspensions and forfeiture of privileges may carry over to the following season, regardless of sport

Effective:  1/1/2020