Coach, Manager and Spectator Code of Conduct

Through baseball, Streamwood Little League (“SLL”) seeks to enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of every child that takes part. It is the league’s express goal that every player will be a better citizen, and have a greater chance for success in future endeavors, as a result of their Little League experiences. As such, Streamwood Little League expects the highest degree of sportsmanship from its members. In keeping with this philosophy, the following Code of Conduct has been adopted to better promote fairness, teamwork, good citizenship, sportsmanship, responsibility, and respect among the members of Streamwood Little League. Players will learn these values by the examples they see from those around them, and to this end, the following rules will be strictly enforced:

• Verbal abuse of an official, coach, player, or spectator, including obscene gestures, will not be tolerated. The offender may be removed from the SLL fields at the discretion of an umpire or SLL board member.

• Baseball is a game of interpretations, and as a result, disputes will occur from time to time. However, it is important that players learn respect. All disputes that are taken up with the umpire will be handled in a civil manner. Only coaches may initiate such discussions with an umpire. The coach(es) will conduct themselves with decorum and once the umpire has made his/her final ruling, the coach(es) will make no further field protest. Off-field protests may be lodged with the Player Agent at your level of play or with the Sportsmanship Committee, per league policy.

• Coaches will refrain from complaining about perceived bad calls to players and fans.

• All discussions will be held in conversational tones. Under no circumstances will a coach, fan, or player yell at an umpire, coach, fan, or player. The lone exception to this rule is when a coach or player shouts to another coach or teammate during the course of a play as part of that play.

• Profanity is expressly forbidden at all times.

• Alcoholic beverages and the use of illicit drugs are prohibited at all SLL activities.

• The use of tobacco products on the SLL fields and in the dugouts is prohibited.

Anyone removed from the SLL fields must leave all fields and the access roads to the fields. Such persons may remain in the SLL parking lot. Any infraction of the above rules will result in a report being delivered to the Streamwood Little League Board for consideration of further action, as appropriate.

Violations will Result in Consequences:

First Offense: Upon the reporting of a first offense by an individual, the Sportsmanship Committee, at a minimum, will provide a written warning to the offender, detailing the consequences of future infractions. Depending upon the severity of the infraction, nothing precludes the Sportsmanship Committee from banning a repeat offender from all Streamwood Little League activities, including, but not limited to, practices and games, for a period of time deemed appropriate by the Sportsmanship Committee.

Second Offense: The Sportsmanship Committee may institute a wide range of penalties for repeat offenders, beginning with the second offense, as deemed appropriate by the Board. Such penalties include, but are not limited to:

• Suspension from all coaching/playing/spectating activities for a prescribed period of time.

• A ban from participating in all SLL activities for a set period of time or number of games.

• Severe violations can result in suspension from all SLL activities for the remainder of the current season or tournament.

Third Offense: The Sportsmanship Committee may choose to apply any of the penalties prescribed for a second offense. In the most extreme of circumstances, the SLL Sportsmanship Committee may hold a meeting to determine whether or not the individual should be permanently banned from all future SLL activities. The individual in question must receive a certified letter of such a hearing at least one week prior to the meeting, and must be given the opportunity to speak at the meeting.

Physical Abuse or Severe Verbal Abuse: Physical abuse of an official, coach, player, or spectator will result in immediate expulsion from the SLL fields at the direction of an umpire or a SLL board member. Anyone expelled for this reason may not return to the SLL fields or participate in any SLL activity until the SLL Sportsmanship Committee approves. Any parent, coach, fan, player, or umpire who has been suspended or banned from league activities may petition, in writing, to the Sportsmanship Committee for a review of the penalty. The petition should be delivered to the league president, and the Sportsmanship Committee will meet as soon as reasonably possible to consider the petition. The aggrieved parties will have the opportunity at the meeting to present their appeal.