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Code of Conduct & Disciplinary Guidelines

Central to the success of the HYA on the playing field is that all parties - coaches, officials, parents and players alike - abide by the code of conduct and disciplinary guidelines. No party is above the set-forth rules displayed and we ask that everyone familiarize themselves and behave properly while participating in HYA programs and events.

If you see something...say something!


DID YOU WITNESS A CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATION?

Please submit through our online portal OR fill out the provided PDF form and send it to admin@hyasports.org. The HYA Board of Trustees will receive any communication.


I. CONDUCT

1.   Coaches, players, officials and spectators SHALL NOT:

(a) Use foul, abusive, derogatory, or offensive language.  No exact standard exists nor will the association attempt to list every word or phrase that would be considered a violation of this provision. The HYA Board of Directors and Commissioners reserve complete discretion in determining a violation of this provision. They will consider the context and circumstances the violative words or phrase used relative to any disciplinary action, if any.

(b) Taunt, verbally harass, threaten, or degrade any other player, coach, manager, official and spectator. The Commissioner and the HYA Board reserves complete discretion in determining a violation of this provision.

(c) Hit, strike, kick, assault, or offensively touch any other player, coach, official or spectator regardless of the intent to injure. Players would be considered violative of this provision if the contact were considered outside the normal contact of the game.  Due to unforeseen circumstances and the context of the contact, the HYA board and the Commissioner reserves complete discretion in determining if the contact is violative of this provision.

(d) Engage in any conduct that would be considered unbecoming, unsportsmanlike, or offensive including, but not limited to, spitting, throwing equipment or other objects, offensive and/or threatening gestures, kicking dirt, and "getting into the face" of another person.  The HYA Board and the Commissioners cannot contemplate every scenario or act that would be considered violative of this provision. Therefore, they reserve complete discretion in determining any violations.

(e) The use or possession of alcohol, drugs, weapons, (guns, knives, or any other designed device that could cause bodily harm) or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at any HYA event or function by ANY participant or person is strictly prohibited by the HYA. The use of tobacco products at any HYA activities by youth participants is strictly prohibited.  Use of tobacco products by coaches is prohibited when in the presence of youth participants at HYA activities.  The HYA has adopted a "zero tolerance" policy toward any participant or person who violates this provision which will result in an automatic suspension from the association.

(f) Cause intentional damage to equipment, athletic grounds, or facilities utilized in HYA activities.  Abuse or misuse of equipment or facilities is strictly prohibited.  Players, coaches, parents, officials and spectators are also expected to abide and respect the authority of field and building maintenance personnel.

2. The game official is given complete control of the game and the field or area of the game from the time the players and coaches enter the area of the game and until the players and coaches leave the area of the game following the end of the event.

(a) The official has complete control to eject any player, coach or spectator from the area of the game and surrounding area in his/her discretion if the player, coach or spectator is in violation of 1 a), b), c), d), e), or f) of this Code with or without any prior warning.

(b) If any coach, player or spectator of any given team refuses to leave the facilities after being ejected and told to leave the area of the game and surrounding area, then his/her team will forfeit the game and the official will immediately leave the area of the game without further discussion.

(c) The game official shall, upon completion of the game, submit a written Code of Conduct Violation Report to the respective Commissioners or representatives of the HYA Board of any violation of 1. (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) of the Code by any player, coach, official or spectator if that violation should require further action by the Commissioners and/or the HYA Board.

3. Any violation of this Code can be reported by anyone with information of any violation of this Code verbally or preferably in writing to any Division Coordinator, Commissioner, or the HYA Board (admin@hyasports.org). The Commissioner shall diligently investigate any complaints and determine what action, if any, should be taken against the respective player, coach, official or spectator.

4. The Commissioner will be responsible for written notification to the HYA Board of a Code of Conduct Violation report submitted by any official or participant regarding the violation of the Code of Conduct.  This report includes information describing the incident, any witnesses to the violation, any action taken, the date and time of the incident, and the nature of the violation. The Commissioner shall forward this Report to the HYA Board of Trustees upon completion.

5. Any alleged violation of the Code of Conduct should be reported to the Division Coordinator and Commissioner along with any incident report for evaluation and further action, if necessary.

II. PROCESS FOR CONSIDERING DISCIPLINARY ACTION

1. The Commissioners shall consider all reports of any participant's violation of the Code of Conduct. A quorum of the HYA Board shall meet as soon as reasonably possible to consider any reports and determine by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board whether disciplinary action may be warranted. All Board members shall be noticed for any meeting to consider any alleged violation.

2. If a majority vote of a quorum of the Board votes that disciplinary action is warranted, then the participant shall be contacted immediately by certified letter of the alleged violation which should include, but not be limited to, the specific alleged violation of the Code the participant is accused of violating and informing the participant of his option to request a fact finding hearing before the HYA Board to dispute the allegations.

3. Any participant who receives a letter describing a violation of the Code of Conduct shall have 72 hours to request a hearing upon receipt of the letter. The participant's failure to respond will be deemed as an admission to the allegations and the Board shall then consider the appropriate disciplinary action under Section III of the guidelines.

4. A requested hearing by any participant after receiving a violation letter shall be conducted by a quorum of the HYA Board no later than 10 days after a requested hearing by a participant. The hearing date and time shall be set with the coordination of the accused participant. The hearing will be conducted by the president of the HYA Board who will set time limits for witness testimony, the number of witnesses to be called, and any statement to be made by the participant or his/her representative.

5. A quorum of the Board shall vote at the conclusion of the hearing to determine if disciplinary action is warranted against the participant pursuant to Section III. A majority vote of a quorum of the Board shall decide what action, if any, will be taken.

6. The participant shall be given written notice (by certified mail) of the outcome of the hearing within 72 hours after the hearing. Minutes of the hearing shall be recorded and maintained as a permanent HYA record.

7. No disciplinary action shall be taken against any participant until the participant is afforded the opportunity of a hearing. However, the Commissioner and/or the HYA President shall have discretion to temporarily suspend any participant pending a hearing depending on the nature of the violation, safety of other participants and whether the participant has violated the Code of Conduct in the past.

8. The HYA Board may, by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board, elect to have the HYA Board conduct a hearing pursuant to these provisions for any reason including, but not limited to, conflicts of interest.

III. DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES

1. The HYA Board has the sole discretion with these as minimum guidelines to discipline any participant for a violation of the Code of Conduct as follows:

(a) Use of foul, abusive, derogatory or offensive language by a coach, official or spectator.

i. Warning, ejection from game/location and/or up to a two (2) game suspension following the violation.

ii. Two (2) violations shall be an automatic suspension from the HYA for one (1) year.

(b) Use of foul, abusive, derogatory or offensive language by a player.

i. Warning, ejection from game/location and/or up to a two (2) game suspension following the violation.

ii. Repeat violators are subject to season suspensions at the discretion of the Board.

iii. Three (3) violations shall be an automatic suspension from the HYA for one (1) year.

(c) Taunt, verbally harass, threaten or degrade any player, coach, official or spectator by a coach, official or spectator.

i. Warning, ejection from game/location and/or up to a five (5) game suspension following the violation.

ii. Two (2) violations shall be an automatic suspension for one (1) year and/or lifetime HYA expulsion at the discretion of the Board.

(d) Taunt, verbally harass, threaten or degrade any player, coach, official or spectator by a player.

i. Warning, ejection from game/location and/or up to a five (5) game suspension following the violation.

ii. Repeat violators are subject to season(s) suspensions at the discretion of the Board.

iii. Three (3) violations shall be an automatic suspension from the HYA for one (1) year.

(e) Hit, strike, kick, assault, or offensively touch any player, coach, official or spectator by a coach, official or spectator.

i. Automatic one (1) year suspension from the HYA.

ii. Depending on severity of incident, the Board may consider lifetime expulsion from association.

(f) Hit, strike, kick, assault, or offensively touch any player, coach, official or spectator by a player.

i. Three (3) game suspension up to season suspension.

ii. Repeat violators are subject to one (1) year suspension from the HYA. 

iii. Depending on severity of incident(s), the Board may consider lifetime expulsion from association.

(g) Unbecoming behavior, unsportsmanlike, or offensive conduct by a player, coach, official and spectator.

i. Warning, ejection from game/location and/or up to five (5) game suspension following the violation at the discretion fo the Board.

ii. Repeat violators subject to season suspension or lifetime HYA expulsion at the discretion of the Board.

(h) Under the influence of/possession of alcohol, drugs, tobacco or weapons by any HYA participant.

i. Automatic suspension from the HYA for one (1) year and/or up to a lifetime expulsion from the association at the discretion of the Board.

(i) Cause intentional damage to equipment, athletic grounds, or facilities utilized in HYA activities. Abuse or misuse of equipment or facilities is strictly prohibited. 

i. Warning, ejection from game/location and/or up to a lifetime suspension depending on severity. Board discretion.

THE HYA BOARD MAY DETERMINE THAT A VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT MAY WARRANT ADDITIONAL OR HARSHER PENALTIES, AS WELL AS, DETERMINE THAT A PENALTY BE REDUCED BASED ON GOOD BEHAVIOR.


Hampton Youth Association - P.O. Box 81, Hampton, NH 03843

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