CMLC’s Guiding Principles, Codes of Conduct & Disciplinary Procedures

MISSION STATEMENT

Cheyenne Mountain Lacrosse Club's mission is to promote self-esteem, self-respect, and self-confidence through youth lacrosse.  Specifically, the Club is committed to providing opportunities, through competitive amateur lacrosse, for players to develop skills and attitudes that will enhance their lifelong enjoyment of the game and develop confidence, discipline, and teamwork that will be of benefit in all aspects of the player's life.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

These principles are written to ensure a balanced blend of sportsmanship, recreation, skill development, and competitive activity in keeping with the Cheyenne Mountain Lacrosse Club (CMLC) Mission Statement. 

 Principles

• All players, coaches, officials, parents, and spectators will be treated fairly and with respect.
• Retention of athletes is a key measure of success.
• Players will be provided with the highest quality training and coaching that CMLC can supply.
• Players should be evaluated periodically to gauge their success in meeting targets for skills development.  The results of these evaluations will be shared with both the player and the parent.
• Parents play an extremely important role in the development of young athletes.
• All activities and actions sanctioned by CMLC will be conducted openly and transparently.
• CMLC will openly accept feedback, including suggestions, criticism, and complaints, and will effectively and fairly resolve these issues consistent with our Mission Statement.
• CMLC has a goal of continuous improvement.  As deviations from our mission are noted, we will look for the underlying problem and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that we are living up to the standards and goals of our Mission Statement.

PURPOSE OF CODE OF CONDUCT

Cheyenne Mountain Lacrosse Club values sportsmanship, fair play, skill development, and mutual respect among all players, coaches, officials, and spectators.  This Code of Conduct has been established and adopted to ensure the guiding principles of CMLC are understood and met by all individuals associated with this organization. 

The Code of Conduct applies to all activities hosted by CMLC. These activities include but are not limited to, signup sessions, tryouts, practices, games, and any activities attended under the CMLC banner. 

The Code of Conduct for coaches, players, and spectators will be thoroughly discussed at the pre-season meetings. The following codes of conduct will be strictly enforced. 
 

CODE OF CONDUCT

Cheyenne Mountain Lacrosse Club (CMLC) being a member club of US Lacrosse (USL) and Arapahoe Youth League (AYL) abide by both the USL “Code of Conduct” and the AYL General Principles of Operation to help to preserve the “Honor of the Game” for all who are involved in the sport of lacrosse. In addition, CMLC has developed its Code of Conduct for all our participating members (players, coaches, parents, spectators, officials, and board members). The development of the CMLC’s specific Code of Conduct aligns with the Colorado High School Activities Association or CHSAA where applicable. *see below sited code(s) of conduct. 

Code of Conduct (All)

Players, coaches, spectators, and parents are to conduct themselves in a manner that "Honors the Game" and demonstrates respect to other players, coaches, officials, and spectators. In becoming a member of the CMLC and the greater lacrosse community an individual assumes certain obligations and responsibilities to the game of lacrosse and it's participants. The essential elements in this "Code of Conduct" are HONESTY and INTEGRITY. Those who conduct themselves in a manner that reflects these elements will bring credit to the sport of lacrosse, themselves, their team, and their organization. It is only through such conduct that our sport can earn and maintain a positive image and make its full contribution to youth sports in our community, state, country, and around the world. 

Sportsmanship and teaching the concepts of fair play are essential to the game and must be taught and developed both at home and on the field during practices and games. 

Knowledge of the rules of lacrosse must be respected and adhered to by all who participate in the game, both in the letter and spirit of the game. Attempts to manipulate rules in an effort to take unfair advantage of an opponent, or to teach deliberate unsportsmanlike conduct, are considered unacceptable conduct. 

Eligibility requirements, such as age and previous level of participation, must be followed. They have been established to encourage and maximize participation, as well as promote safety. 

Player's Code of Conduct

Each player will ensure that his/her playing conduct is that of a young lady or gentleman fairly competing to the limit of his/her ability. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, the player is expected to:

• Know the rules and abide by them.
• Respect the game officials and refrain from addressing them or commenting on their decisions during the play of the game.
• Maintain control of his/her emotions, avoiding the use of abusive language or profanity, humiliating remarks, gestures of ill temper, and physical harm upon another player at any time.
• Respect the coaches and players of the opposing team and demonstrate appropriate gestures of sportsmanship at the conclusion of the game.  Be humble and generous in victory and proud and courteous in defeat.
• Follow all facility rules and regulations, always respecting the property of others.
• Realize, accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability but also on the sportsmanship, courtesy, and manners of each player.
• Attend every practice and game that is reasonably possible and notify the coach in advance if the player is unable to attend.

Coaches Code of Conduct

The Head Coach will be provided with copies of the Code of Conduct before the start of the season.  Each Head Coach is responsible to see that their assistant coaches, players, and spectators abide by the respective Code of Conduct.  It is also the coach’s responsibility to review the Codes of Conduct with their assistant coaches and players.

Each coach will ensure that his/her conduct is that of a responsible adult fairly competing to the limit of his/her ability.  To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, the coach is expected to:

• Know the rules and abide by them.
• Instruct players on the rules and coach his/her team in such a way as to motivate each player to always compete according to the rules.
• Place the emotional and physical well-being of the players ahead of any personal desires.
• Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions in a disrespectful or abusive manner.
• Ensure that rules and regulations are followed by the players and spectators.
• Ensure that fans of his/her team always conduct themselves with sportsmanship and maturity while in attendance at game sites and assist the game officials in maintaining control of spectators during the games.
• Respect the coaches and players of the opposing team both during the play of the game and at its conclusion, win or lose. 
• Teach each player, especially through personal example, to be humble and generous in victory and proud and courteous in defeat.
• Maintain control of his/her emotions and avoid actions, language, and/or gestures that may be interpreted as hostile and humiliating.
• Instruct team support personnel in their responsibilities in accordance with established rules and procedures.
• Realize, accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability, but also on its sportsmanship, courtesy, and manner.

Parents and Spectators Code of Conduct

Each parent and spectator will ensure that his/her conduct is that of a responsible adult or youth who is positively encouraging all participants to the limit of his/her ability.  To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, each parent and spectator is expected to:

• Respect the rules of the game.
• Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions or from addressing them in a loud, disrespectful, or abusive manner.
• Cheer for their team in a positive, supportive manner.
• Place the emotional and physical well-being of the players ahead of any personal desire to win.
• Maintain control of his/her emotions, avoid the use of abusive language, profanity, and gestures of ill temper, and refrain always from making hostile or negative remarks about the opposing team.
• Respect all CMLC staff. Adhere to the "24-hour" rule. If there is an issue post-practice or game please allow 24 hours before contacting a coach or CMLC staff however you may submit a complaint to the CMLC Disciplinary Committee on this website at any time. 
• Demonstrate appropriate gestures of sportsmanship after a game, win or lose.  Do not interact negatively with fans, players, or coaches of the opposing team or game officials.
• Realize, accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability, but also on the sportsmanship, courtesy, and citizenship of its fans.

​

Offensive Actions 

• Respect the rules of the game.
• Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions or from addressing them in a loud, disrespectful, or abusive manner.
• Cheer for their team in a positive, supportive manner.
• Place the emotional and physical well-being of the players ahead of any personal desire to win.
• Maintain control of his/her emotions, avoid the use of abusive language, profanity, and gestures of ill temper, and refrain always from making hostile or negative remarks about the opposing team.
• Respect all CMLC staff.
• Demonstrate appropriate gestures of sportsmanship after a game, win or lose.  Do not interact negatively with fans, players, or coaches of the opposing team or game officials.
• Realize, accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability, but also on the sportsmanship, courtesy, and citizenship of its fans.
• Physically assaulting, abusing, or threatening any player, coach, official, parent, or spectator.
• Stalking, tailing, bullying, in person or online (Cyberbullying), or attempting to intimidate any player, coach, official, parent, or spectator.
• Engaging in any other type of violent behavior, such as throwing equipment or other objects.
• Engaging in any lewd or sexual behavior (in person or online), physically abusing a player, or engaging in any inappropriate physical contact with a player.
• Unless specifically allowed by the rules of the sport, pushing, shoving, or striking any player.
• Using drugs or alcohol while participating as a player or in any coaching capacity during CMLC games and/or practices.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES 

REPORTING IMPROPER CONDUCT 

CMLC provides a form on its website to allow coaches, players, parents, spectators, and officials to report to the Disciplinary Committee any issues they observe before, during, or after practices and games.  The link to report Code of Conduct violations and Offensive Actions are to be posted on the CMLC website at all times. 

Reporting By Coaches

• It is the responsibility of every coach to address improper conduct observed by the coach or brought to the coach’s attention in a timely and respectful manner.
• In the event any coach feels that the Disciplinary Committee should be involved in addressing any improper conduct, the coach is encouraged to contact the Disciplinary Committee through the CMLC website.
• Coaches must report any Offensive Actions to the Disciplinary Committee, including, without limitation:
  • Any report or allegation of inappropriate physical contact, violence, or threatened violence against any player, coach, official, parent, or spectator.
  • Any observed or reported use of drugs or alcohol by any player, coach, official, parent, or spectator during any CMLC event.
  • Any situation where a player, coach, parent, or spectator is ejected from a game or removed from the premises.
• Coaches are encouraged to keep the Disciplinary Committee informed of any improper conduct and the steps taken by the coach to address the misconduct, even if the coach is not required to report the misconduct to the Disciplinary Committee.
• Coaches shall promptly respond to any request by the Disciplinary Committee for information relating to any incident or violation of the Code of Conduct.

 Reporting by Parents and Spectators

• Parents and spectators are encouraged to report any improper conduct to the coach and/or the Disciplinary Committee.
• If a parent or spectator reports misconduct to the coach and feels that the misconduct is not appropriately addressed, the parent or spectator is encouraged to contact the Disciplinary Committee through the CMLC website.

Procedures for Addressing Improper Conduct

COACHES

• Coaches shall promptly address any misconduct that is observed or brought to the attention of the coach or official during a CMLC event.
• Coaches and officials have the absolute authority, in their sole discretion, to issue verbal warnings and/or eject any player, parent, or spectator from any game or practice if the player, parent, or spectator violates the Code of Conduct or engages in any Offensive Action.
• Officials have the absolute authority to issue verbal warnings and/or eject any coach from any game or match if the coach violates the Code of Conduct or engages in any Offensive Action.

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

• The CMLC Disciplinary Committee will conduct a timely and reasonable investigation into any misconduct reported to the Disciplinary Committee.  The scope of any investigation will be determined by the Disciplinary Committee in its sole discretion, provided, however, that the Committee will provide any person accused of misconduct a reasonable opportunity to be heard.
• After a reasonable investigation, the Disciplinary Committee will determine the appropriate penalty for any violation of this Code of Conduct and any Offensive Action.
  1. Penalties will be based on the nature and severity of the violation.
  2. The Disciplinary Committee will strive to treat all similar offenses in a similar manner while considering the individual facts and circumstances of each violation.
  3. The Disciplinary Committee will not discriminate in any manner in determining whether to impose a penalty or in determining which penalty to impose.
• The Disciplinary Committee will keep reasonable and appropriate records of each reported violation and shall document each penalty and the reasons for imposing the penalty.

All decisions of the Disciplinary Committee are final and cannot be appealed.

Penalties

The Disciplinary Committee shall determine the appropriate penalty for any violation of the Code of Conduct and any Offensive Actions.  Penalties may include any one or more of the following:

• Verbal Warning
• Written Warning
• Suspension:
  • One game suspension
  • Multiple-game suspension, or
  • Indefinite suspension
• Expulsion from CMLC

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

PLAYER

If at any time during a game, a player is ejected by an official for unsportsmanlike conduct that player will be disqualified from playing in the remainder of that game and at least one additional game (AYL RULE 19/CHSAA 2200.1). The player must remove pads but is allowed to remain on the sideline with the team. The incident is to be reported to the Disciplinary Committee for further investigation. 

If a player is ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct, he/she will be ineligible for the next scheduled game including championship games (AYL RULE 19/CHSAA 2200.1).

A second ejection during the season will result in a minimum two-game suspension. If a second ejection happens during play in the AYL league, the player is ineligible to participate in league events for the remainder of the season (AYL RULE 19).  If a player is ejected from the second game in non-AYL league play the player will be suspended at a minimum for the next two games.  A third ejection will result in a review of the player's eligibility by the Disciplinary Committee. All game ejections are to be reported to, reviewed, and documented by the Disciplinary Committee.

Additional game disqualifications may be assessed based on the severity of the conduct and will be determined by the Disciplinary Committee.

COACH

If at any time during a game as a CMLC coach, a coach is ejected by an official for unsportsmanlike conduct that coach will be disqualified from the remainder of that game as well as practice and the game (10% of regular season games CHSSA 2220.1) the following week. Upon ejection, the coach must immediately leave the premises. Additional game disqualifications may be assessed based on the severity of the conduct as decided by the Disciplinary Committee.

The coach cannot coach at any level or any other game during this time.

A coach ejected from a game is automatically placed on probation.

• A coach ejected from a game is required to complete the following courses offered online by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS): Sportsmanship; and Teaching and Modeling Behavior. These courses shall be completed before he/she/they will be removed from probation and must be finished in a reasonable amount of time during the season to be determined by the disciplinary committee. (CHSAA 2210.21) 

A coach ejected a second time during the AYL season will result in the coach being ineligible to participate in league events for the remainder of the season. (AYL Rule 19 EJECTION) 

A coach ejected from a second game during the calendar year shall be suspended for three or more (20% of regular season games CHSAA 2210.03) games and practices. Additional game disqualifications may be assessed based on the severity of the conduct as decided by the Disciplinary Committee.

A coach ejected from three contests during a five-year period shall be required to appear before the Disciplinary Committee. 

If the ejection occurs in the final game of a season, the coach shall be suspended from competition for the first game of the next season.

The head coach may also be subject to disciplinary actions due to the actions of his players, coaches, or parents. The head coach is responsible for his players, his assistant coaches, and the parents of his players.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

If a coach or parent is expelled from the league, any child associated with that person may also be expelled from the league at the discretion of the Disciplinary Committee. 

If a player is suspended from school, they cannot participate in CMLC for the duration of their suspension.  If a player is expelled from school, they cannot participate in CMLC.  If they are currently on a team, they will be removed from that team.

There are no refunds as a result of any person being removed from the league.

Sited Code(s) of Conduct

USA LACROSSE 

CHSAA CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

AYL GENERAL PRINCIPALS

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF HIGH SCHOOLS