Purpose:

The Chili Soccer Association was established to promote the game of soccer and to provide a safe, healthy environment in which the game can be learned and enjoyed. To support these goals, the Board of Directors has developed the following Code of Conduct. By registering for and participating in our programs, all players, coaches, officials, and parents agree to abide by the standards set forth in this document. Failure to comply with these standards may result in the suspension or termination of participation privileges.

Players:

It is the expectation that PLAYERS will:

• Represent the Chili Soccer Association at all times in a positive way
• Be respectful of your teammates, team, club and coach
• Maintain a positive attitude
• Be considerate of your health by eating healthy, getting enough sleep and exercise
• Recognize the importance of practices
• Take full responsibility for attending team events, which includes being prepared and on time
• Notify the coach if unable to attend a team event with as much notice as possible
• Display good sportsmanship regardless of game outcome
• Show respect for teammates, opponents, coaches and officials at all times
• Play by the rules of soccer and in the spirit of the game
• Accept the decisions made by coaches and game officials
• Refrain from all forms of Bullying including verbal, social, and physical
• Respect all indoor, outdoor, home, away, tournament fields
• Understand that serious infractions may result in disciplinary action
• Not use, possess or distribute illegal drugs, controlled substances and/or alcohol

Player Conduct During Game:

Players are expected to conduct themselves in a sporting fashion at all times and at all levels of play while representing Chili Soccer Association or while participating in a Chili Soccer Association sponsored event. Violence and/or repeated demonstrations or conduct that are in direct violation of the laws of the game and result in an ejection from any contest, including the combination of yellow card offenses by individual league rules that causes a player to sit out of a game, or violate the code of conduct, will be dealt with severely and according to the following format:

1st Ejection:   Automatic minimum 1 game suspension.

2nd Ejection:  Automatic minimum 3 game suspension, plus a hearing before the Judiciary Committee.

3rd Ejection:  Minimum suspension for the remainder of the season, plus a hearing before the Judiciary Committee to determine future ability to participate in Chili Soccer Association programs.

Coaches:

It is the expectation that COACHES will:

• Learn the rules of the game, leagues and policies of New York State West Youth Soccer and Chili Soccer Association.
• Coach with positivity.
• Arrive prepared for practices and games, ready to start and end on time
• Care for the mental and physical well-being of every player
• Never ask a player to perform any actions that knowingly puts them in harm's way
• Help players understand the team objectives and goals as it relates to development
• Support all players on the team, at all times
• Recognize that each player develops at a unique pace and provide continued opportunities to learn and grow.
• Foster an environment where players and their parents feel comfortable and able to communicate with coaches.
• Show respect to players, parents and opponents
• Never use vulgar or profane language around the players or parents
• Never ridicule or verbally abuse any player, parent, opponent, coach or official
• Be a positive role model for the players by maintaining professionalism and integrity
• Never use tobacco, alcohol, or illegal substances before, during or at practices and games
• Respect referees and all officials of the game
• Avoid direct interaction with any child via phone, text message or social media
• Be positive about all teams and the club on Social Media platforms.

Coaches and assistant coaches are charged with the responsibility of controlling their players and parents at all times during a contest. Continual chiding of a referee, failure to maintain order on the touchlines, failure to control his/her players willful violation of any league of association rules are examples of unacceptable behavior. Repeat offenders will appear before the Judiciary Committee. Coaches who are ejected from a contest will be disciplined in the following way:

1st Ejection:   Automatic minimum 1 game suspension.

2nd Ejection:  Automatic minimum 3 game suspension, plus a hearing before the Judiciary Committee.

3rd Ejection:  Minimum suspension for the remainder of the season, plus a hearing before the Judiciary Committee to determine future ability to participate in Chili Soccer Association programs.

Parents:

It is the expectation that PARENTS will:

• Be positive, with and about, your child’s teammates, team, club, coach. If you have concerns, address them through the correct organizational channels.
• Make sure players arrive for scheduled games and practices at the time designated by the coach
• Inform the coach of any injury, mental or physical disability that may affect the safety of any player
• Understand team objectives and goals as it relates to development
• Set a positive example for all players with how they behave at team events
• Encourage players to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without intimidation or violence
• Encourage open player and coach communication
• Respect the coach’s role and instruct the players to do the same
• Never ridicule or verbally abuse any player, coach or official
• Be responsible for any punishment earned through poor behavior (including guests behavior)
• Respect any request by a coach or referee to leave the vicinity of the field
• Respect referees and all officials of the game
• Respect all indoor, outdoor, home, away, tournament fields
• Support a drug and alcohol free club, report any suspect behavior to the President of the Board of Directors
• Be positive about your child’s team and club on Social Media (SM) platforms. (1) If you would not say it to your child, the team, the coach or your child’s potential college coach, do not put it on social media. (2) If you might be unhappy at someone saying it about you, or a family member of yours, do not put it on social media. Remember, everything you put out there on SM is out there for good, for the most part.

Parents & Spectators During Games and/or Tournaments:

Parents can be very positive influences on the game of soccer and are encouraged to attend as many contests as possible to support their children. Being a spectator of a soccer game does carry with it some major responsibilities. Just as a parent can be positive and encouraging, so can he/she be a negative force. A child will normally respond to a greater extent to his or her parents than to coaches, officials, or other players.

• Applaud good plays- don’t dwell on bad plays. Children play sports to have fun, make new friends, and learn new skills.
• Children imitate their parents. If you are disruptive or act inappropriately, your child, and possibly others, will act in a similar fashion.
• The sidelines are not a place to shout personal instructions. Encouraging from the sidelines is appreciated, coaching from the sidelines is forbidden. A good rule to follow when you cheer/yell/shout from the sidelines is "No Verbs!"
• Respect the coach. Don’t force your child to decide whether to listen to you or to the coach.
• Stress fair and sensible play. Soccer is a contact sport, let the officials determine fair or foul plays
• Never lose sight of the fact that you are a role model.
• The other team and their spectators are the opponent, not the enemy. Treat all with respect.
• Mistakes are a part of the learning process for everyone. Positive reinforcement goes a long way.

Continued demonstrations of negative behavior at soccer games will result in the following actions:

1st Offense:   Letter from the Board of Directors (may include a 1-2 game suspension if the infraction is deemed severe enough).

2nd Offense:  Minimum 3-game suspension; up to 6-game suspension depending on severity of the infraction.

3rd Offense:  Suspension for the remainder of the season; potential future bans (up to lifetime) depending on the severity of the infraction.

The Board of Directors reserves the right to suspend individuals from attending games/team events during an ongoing investigation. Games/team events missed during an investigation may be counted, in part or in full, towards fulfilling a suspension that results from the investigation, but only if explicitly recommended by the Board of Directors. Otherwise, the suspension will be served in full once the investigation has been completed. The above listed enforcement actions are only a guideline, and the Board of Directors reserves the right to issue penalties that are more or less severe than those listed based on the nature and severity of the infraction. Failure to comply with Board issued sanctions will constitute an additional offense and lead to additional enforcement actions.

Appeals:

Anyone subject to enforcement actions from the club may appeal the Board's decision in writing (email is acceptable) to the President of CSA. Appeals will be brought forth to the Executive Board for review and consideration in a timely manner. Any enforcement actions or penalties will remain in place while the appeal is being considered. The appellant may be asked to appear at a hearing (virtual or in person) to discuss their appeal with the Executive Board.

Penalties from Outside Entities:

Enforcement actions from an outside entity (e.g., RDYSL, Thruway League, Indoor Training Facility), are not appealable to the Board of Directors, and may lead to further actions on behalf of the club. These may be served concurrently or consecutively depending on the Board's recommendation. Failure to adhere to enforcement actions put forth by an outside entity will constitute a violation of club policies and result in additional enforcement actions from CSA.

Fines:

Any fines resulting from the actions of an individual are the financial responsibility of that individual and cannot be paid using team funds. CSA reserves the right to place financial holds on accounts until outstanding fines are paid.

Officials:

Officials of Chili Soccer including board members, who perform as referees, must demonstrate conduct beyond reproach when attending or officiating soccer games. Individuals found to be conducting themselves in a detrimental way or causing embarrassment to the Chili Soccer Association will be asked to refrain from such conduct. If such action continues, he/she will be asked to resign from office and take no further part in the program.

Social Media:

As a soccer club committed to the teaching and enjoyment of youth soccer, Chili Soccer Association seeks to promote the highest standards of social media use with courtesy, sportsmanship and positive behavior among its board members, officials, players, coaches and parents before, during, and after the games.

Social Media Guidelines:

1. Be positive, respectful, and civil, and always take the high road. When disagreeing with others’ opinions, remain appropriate and polite without getting personal.
2. Do not post content that would harm or be disrespectful to players, coaches, referees, board members, or spectators. Remember even while you are on your own personal time, you are a representative of your soccer team, club and league.
3. Use good judgment when posting comments on any sites. Bear in mind that your comments can create liability for you (personally and professionally) and possibly your organization. If you are unsure whether a comment is appropriate to post, do not post. Common sense prevails.
4. Be smart about what you publish. Once something is posted, it exists online forever. Ask yourself, "Would I want to see this published in the newspaper or posted on a billboard tomorrow or ten years from now?" If the answer is "no," do not post.
5. Encourage others to engage in positive interactions on social media.
6. Personally identifiable information (information, such as a name and date of birth and/or a street address or picture which, when taken together, can identify a particular individual) should not be disclosed in any manner.
7. As a parent/guardian/coach/adult please discuss this policy and guidelines with your players and monitor their social media usage to ensure they are following the guidelines and/or are not falling victim to cyber bullying.

Violations

Chili Soccer Association opposes bullying, harassment, and threats on social media. Any person experiencing cyber harassment should report this problem to the social media company if a reporting mechanism is available. Otherwise, a victim of social media should contact their coach or a CSA Board Member for further guidance.

If a member of the CSA community is found to be in violation of these ethics, the club will take appropriate tiered action ranging from verbal warning up to not excluding lawful prosecution with the associated player/team/parent/club.

Appeals:

Appeals by any player, coach, parent or official to a CSA disciplinary action must be in writing, stating the circumstances surrounding the appeal and presented to the chairperson of the Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee will then meet and render a final determination within 5 days of the appeal. All decisions of the Judiciary Committee will be final.

Fields:

No smoking or alcohol will be allowed at any time at the soccer fields. Excessive and disruptive noisemakers will not be tolerated.

This code of conduct has been developed to promote a feeling of fair play and sportsmanship in the CSA programs

Download the CSA Code of conduct