CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE PARENTS

OF INTERSCHOLASTIC STUDENT-ATHLETES

 

             We believe that interscholastic athletic competition should demonstrate high standards of ethics and sportsmanship and promote the development of good character and other important life skills.  We also believe that the highest potential of sports is achieved when participants are committed to pursuing victory with honor.

TRUSTWORTHINES

Trustworthiness – be worthy of trust in all you do.

Integrity – live up to high ideals of ethics and sportsmanship; do what’s right even when it’s unpopular or personally costly.

Honesty - live and act honorable; don’t allow your children to lie, cheat, steal or engage in any other dishonest of unsportsmanlike conduct.

Reliability – fulfill commitments; do what you say you will do; be on timely when you tell your children you will attend an event, be sure to do so.

RESPECT

Respect – treat people with respect all the time and require the same of your children.

Class – live and cheer with class; be gracious in victory and accept defeat with dignity; compliment extraordinary performance; and show respect for all competitors.

Disrespectful Conduct – don’t engage in disrespectful conduct of any sort including profanity, obscene gestures, offensive remarks of sexual nature, trash-talking, taunting, boastful celebrations, or other actions that demean individuals or the sport.

Respect Officials – treat contest officials with respect; don’t complain about or argue with official calls or decisions during or after an athletic event.

Respect Coaches – treat coaches with respect at all times; recognize that they have team goals beyond those of your child.  Don’t shout instructions to players from the stands; let the coaches coach.

RESPONSIBILITY

Importance of Education – stress that student-athletes are students first.  Be honest with your children about the likelihood of getting an athletic scholarship or playing on professional level.  Place the academic, emotional, physical and more will-being of your children above desires and pressures to win.

Role-modeling – Consistently exhibit good character and conduct yourself as a role model for your children.

Self – Control – exercise self-control don’t fight or show excessive display of anger or frustration; have the strength to overcome the temptation to demean others.

Integrity of the game – Protect the integrity of the game don’t gamble on your children’s games.

Privilege to Compete – Assure that you and your child understand that participation in interscholastic sports is a privilege, not a right, and that they are expected to represent their team, school and family with honor, on and off the field.

FAIRNESS

Be Fair – treat all competitors fairly; be open-minded; always be willing to listen and learn.

CARING

Encouragement – encourage your children regardless of their play; offer positive reinforcement.  Demonstrate sincere interest in your child’s play.

Concern for Others – demonstrate concern for others; never encourage the injury of any player, officials or follow spectator.

Empathy – consider the needs and desires of your child’s teammates in addition to your own; help promote the team concept by encouraging all team members, understand ding that the coach is responsible for determining playing time.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS OF SPECTATORS

             Remember that you are at the contest to support and yell for your team, and to enjoy the skill and competition not to intimidate or ridicule the other team or its fans.

                 Remember that the school athletics are a learning experience for students and that mistakes are sometimes made.  Praise student-athletes in their attempt to improve themselves as students, as athletes, and as people, just as you would praise a student working in the classroom.

                 A Ticket is a privilege to observe the contest, not a license to verbally assault others or be generally obnoxious.

                 Learn the rules of the game, so that you may understand and appreciate why certain situations take place.

                 Show respect for the opposing players, coaches, spectators and a support groups.

                 Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials.  Understand that they are doing their best to help promote the student-athlete, and admire their willingness to participate in full view of the public,

                 Recognize and show appreciation for an outstanding play by either team.

                 Refrain from the use of any controlled substances (alcohol, drugs, etc.) before, during, and after the game on or near the site of the event (i.e. tailgating).

                 Use only cheers that support and uplift the teams involved.

                 Be positive role model at events through your own actions and by censuring those around you whose behavior in unbecoming.

                 Parents and spectators should be aware that the school can (and should) remove them from the premises and can prohibit them form attending future contest due to undesirable behaviors.

                 Game officials can ask that school administrators have unruly fans removed from a contest facility.

                 These are no such thing as “right” to attend interscholastic athletics.  Interscholastic athletics are considered a “privilege” and spectator who avails themselves of it is expected to conduct himself or herself accordingly.

                 Keep in mind that you are a guest of the school, and that while winning is certainly an admirable goal; it is hollow if it comes at the expense of morals, ethics, and just plan common sense.

                 The school is responsible for the behavior of their spectators.  The school district can be and will be punished for actions of patrons in violation of UIL standards and rules.

                 I/We have read the Parents Code of Conduct and will abide by the standards and rules set forth by the University Interscholastic League.  I understand that any unsportsmanlike behavior displayed at any extracurricular event can result in penalties issued by the UIL back to the sports program, school and school district.  Failure to abide by this Parent Code of Conduct will result in losing all privileges to attend the sport contest.

 

Parent Signature: ____________________________

 

Parent Signature: ____________________________              

Year:  _________