CODE OF CONDUCT
To: All presidents, coaches and
players served by the ASA Umpires Assn, District 11
From: President of the Umpires Association
Subject: Code
of Conduct for Players, Coaches and Bystanders of the game
The game of softball, which is
played in this area, is considered recreational and amateur. It is for fun, recreation and in some cases
instructional. We as any person
connected with the game should understand this and impress upon others that
good sportsmanship and respect for umpires, opposing players and fellow coaches
are also part of the game. We should
not accept or allow anything less than the highest or moral standards to
prevail at the game.
Due to the ever-increasing
amount of bad sportsmanship, constant badgering of umpires and in some cases
threats of violence towards the umpire it is now apparent that a
code of conduct is necessary.
Coaches are leaders of their
respective teams and should display the utmost courtesy and sportsmanship. They should hold the umpire and the opposing
team in highest of respect. It is this
that I base the following conditions on them.
- You are the leaders of your team and will be
held accountable for the players of your team, your fellow coaches and
also parents and other bystanders of the game.
- The umpire when addressed by the head coach
shall only answer any questions concerning a rule. At this moment it is easier for the
umpire to address the question and the situation when speaking to one
person than to the whole team.
- Coaches, players, parents and bystanders are
accountable for their actions before, during and immediately after the
game. If the umpire in his or her
best judgment feels that in the spirit of the game that one or more
persons is not or has not shown proper respect or good sportsmanship, the
game will be stopped and the person or persons will be ejected from the
game site.
- There is no rule that states that any coach,
player, parent or bystander is to be given a warning before
ejections. If anyone of these
persons feels that a warning is to be given consider this the
warning. All umpires will
be instructed to handle the situation in a proper and professional
manner. The player, coach, parent
or bystander will tell coaches of the infraction at which time they will
instruct that person to leave.
- It is requested that all presidents of all the
leagues read this to their coaches so that there is no misunderstanding
between the coaches and the umpires.