COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT

Coaches Code of Conduct

Operate your team within the established policies and guidelines of VMSA.
Develop a set of rules for the team, which are clear and enforced equally for all players.
Hold a Parents Meeting at the outset of the season. Be sensitive to parent concerns and establish regular communication.
Keep lines of communication open with your players and parents. Let them know that you are available should they have any concerns regarding the way the season is going.
Ensure proper supervision of your team before, during, and after games and practices, and accept reasonable responsibility for their conduct and safety.
Physical abuse, verbal abuse, or profanity is not tolerated under any circumstances. Always be respectful towards players, parents, officials, and others. Coaches that are in contravention can be suspended immediately.
Any coach or other team official found to be under the influence of alcohol while in their capacity with the team will be suspended.
Remember that children need a coach that they can respect. Be generous with praise when it is deserved, and set a good, positive example.
Encourage players to strive to do their best.
Make every effort to ensure that every player in the soccer program is given an equal amount of playing time regardless of gender, skill and ability level, race, or age, with the only exceptions being sickness or injury or in the event of a discipline issue. If a team has only one designated goalkeeper, that goalkeeper will be allowed to play the entire game.
In situations where there is no assigned referee, both coaches must agree upon a substitute (coach or parent) and this person shall be considered the game official. Both coaches and the substitution official must sign the game sheet prior to the commencement of the game, acknowledging their consent to having the substitute referee act as the game official.
The referee is the sole judge of whether a game shall be suspended prematurely. It is not acceptable for a coach to withdraw his/her team from the field without the referee’s permission.
No one can enter the field of play without the referee’s permission under any circumstances, including player injury. This applies to any team officials, players, or spectators. This applies whether or not there has been a stoppage in play.
If you knowingly play an ineligible or illegal player, you will be subject to discipline from VMSA.
Be reasonable in your demands of the player’s time and energy and recognize that players have other interests. Other issues may take precedence over soccer; including homework, and important family matters. A parent may decide to not allow their child to participate in a soccer event due to a poor performance at school or some other discipline issue at home. Let the players know that you will support their parents.
Teach the players that the rules of the game are mutual agreements which no one should evade or break.
Remember that children play for fun and enjoyment while learning to improve their skills. Winning is only part of the game and this should be taken into perspective.
Remember that your players are children, not miniature professional athletes.
Inspect the field and equipment prior to practices or games to make sure the field is clear of debris.
Remember that you are a coach for the VMSA first and your own team second. Cooperate with other coaches and officials for the benefit of all children in our league.
As the coach you have the ultimate personal responsibility for your team and this includes the behavior and actions of the players, parents, team officials or any other person.
Uphold the bylaws, policies, and philosophy of the VMSA.
Make a personal commitment to keep yourself informed of sound coaching principles and the principles of growth and development of the players.
The VMSA reserves the right to select the Coaches from season to season and year to year. The VMSA also has the right to remove any Coach in the soccer program at any time.