Belmont Little League -  Zero Tolerance Policy

Belmont Little League's brand of baseball/softball is meant to be a fun and rewarding experience for all involved (players, coaches, umpires, family and friends). To ensure the appropriate atmosphere for these activities to be achieved, the league has adopted a Zero Tolerance Policy. The following policy has been approved by the Belmont Little League Board Members.

ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

In an effort to make Little League a desirable and rewarding experience for all participants, Belmont Little League has instructed the umpires and officials, to adhere to points of emphasis relating to sportsmanship and conduct for managers, coaches, players, and spectators. This campaign is designed to require all players, coaches, parents/spectators, umpires, and Board Members to maintain a sportsmanlike and educational atmosphere before, during, and after all Little League games. Thus, the following points of emphasis will be implemented and monitored by all umpires and board members.

PLAYERS/MANAGERS/COACHES/FAMILY/FRIENDS/SPECTATORS

  Unsportsmanlike or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated from any player, manager, coach, family, friend, and/or spectator.  Unsportsmanlike or disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to:

• Verbal and/or physical abuse of an Umpire, player, opposing manager/coach, other parents, or spectators and League Representatives for any reason.

• Physical, Verbal, Emotional, Social, and Cyber bullying

• Harassment

• Hazing

• Inciting or encouraging abusive and dangerous actions by the players both on and off the fields.

• Baiting and ridiculing and/or threatening another player or person.

• Abuse of playing equipment and/or facilities.

• Use of offensive language (language that does not offend some people may offend others.)

• No manager, coach, player, or spectator shall at any time lay a hand upon, push, shove, strike, or threaten to strike an official or physically attack any board member, official, manager, coach, player, or spectator.

• The use of unnecessary rough tactics in the play of a game against the body of an opposing player.

• As a manger or coach, mingling in an unprofessional manner or fraternizing with spectators during the game.

• Challenge an umpire’s authority.  The umpires shall have the authority and discretion during a game to penalize the offender according to the infraction up to and including expulsion from the game.

CONSEQUENCES OF INFRACTIONS:

ANY PHYSICAL ALTERCATION BY A PLAYER, MANAGER, OR COACH WILL BE SUBJECT TO REMOVAL FROM GAME/PRACTICE AND WILL BE DISMISSED FROM THE CURRENT LITTLE LEAGUE SEASON.  IF ANY FAMILY, FRIEND, OR SPECTATOR IS INVOLVED IN ANY PHYSICAL ALTERCATION THEY WILL BE REMOVED FROM GAME/PRACTICE AND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON BELMONT LITTLE LEAGUE PROPERTY FOR THAT SEASON.

**If a player, manager, coach, family, friend, spectator involved in a non-physical violation, Belmont Little League has a range of possible actions that may be taken:

• WARNING

• PROBATION

• SUSPENSION

• REMOVAL FROM THE PROGRAM

***Any infraction or alleged infraction should be reported immediately to the Safety Officer, Player Agent, VP of the league, or the President of the Board.  All Players are expected to abide by anti-bullying rules outside of any Belmont Little League games, practices, or activities.  The League Official receiving the report shall notify the President of the Board, immediately.  Infractions will either be major or minor depending on the frequency and severity of the violation.