Little League Code of Ethics

Little League Baseball requires parents to sign a code of ethics in hopes of keeping the game fun for the kids.

In an ongoing effort to control the environment in which young people learn the game of baseball, Little League Baseball has crafted an official code of ethics. Little League calls it a Sport Parent Code of Conduct and it requires each parent and coach to sign a document at the start of each season asserting their willingness to live by it. The code of ethics is an attempt to remind the adults of their responsibility to behave responsibly and teach kids to do the same. Little League parents who violate the code are subject to removal from watching their kids' games.

Core Principles

Little League has as its primary goal the teaching of sportsmanship to its competitors, and its code of ethics stresses six core principles - trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good citizenship. In asking parents to sign off on its code of ethics each season, the local leagues seek to engage parents in modeling those behaviors.

Parent-Child Relationship

The code of ethics includes a number of items that address parents' relationships with their own child. Little League stresses that player participation be voluntary on the part of the child and not something that a parent requires them to do. The code also deals with the way in which parents talk to their kids, encouraging them to avoid yelling at their kids or other kids. One reminder to parents is that they remember that the game is for the kids.

Sportsmanship

The code of conduct addresses proper sportsmanship, mandating that parents avoid improper conduct with relation to kids, other parents, coaches or game officials. It also suggests that they learn the rules so that they will understand what is happening on the field in front of them. Positive support is the goal for Little League parents, who are expected to be good examples of what it means to be a good sport.

Physical Health and Well-Being

Communicating with the coaches and game officials about injuries or other conditions that might cause a concern regarding their own kids or other players is a critical part of the code. Little League does not want parents to mask injuries to the detriment of the players on the field. The code of ethics puts the focus on the development of healthy practices and stresses healthy participation over winning games. Parents agree to maintain an alcohol, tobacco and drug-free environment around games and practices.

Parent-Coach Relationship

The respect for the team's coach is one of the areas addressed by the code of ethics. Parents agree that they will not contradict the things being taught by their child's coach, particularly during games or practices. They also agree to maintain a professional relationship with the coach in terms of discussing issues like strategy and playing time, keeping those discussions for an appropriate time and place.

References

• Sport Parent Code of Conduct