The Pike County YMCA and all the leaders affiliated with the soccer program are concerned about the conduct of all coaches and referees within our youth league.  We want to ensure that games are fair, positive and enjoyable experiences for all the children and adults involved.  A soccer game should be friendly and unifying – a spirited social and athletic occasion for players, coaches, referees, and spectators.

To clarify expectation of coach conduct, we jointly expect all coaches to conform to this code of conduct:

·        Before, during, and after the game, be an example of dignity, patience and a positive spirit.

·        Before a game, introduce yourself to the opposing coach and to the referee.

·        During the game, you are responsible for the sportsmanship of your players.  If one of your players is disrespectful, irresponsible or overly aggressive, take the player out of the game at least long enough for him\her to calm down.

·        During the game, you are responsible for the conduct of the parents of your players.  It is imperative to explain acceptable player and parent behavior in a preseason meeting and to review the parent code of conduct.

·        Encourage them to applaud and cheer for good plays from either team.  Discourage them, and you may need to be forceful and direct, from yelling at players and the referee.

·        During the game, do not address the referee at all.  If you have an issue calmly talk to them at half time or after the game. 

·        If you have a major complaint, or if you think the referee was unfair, biased, unfit or incompetent, report your opinion to the league.  Your reactions will be taken seriously if they are presented objectively and formally.

·        After the game, ALWAYS thank the referee and ask your players to do the same.

We stress two points:  Referees – especially young and inexperienced ones – are like your players and yourself, in that they need time to develop.  You can play an important role in helping them to improve by letting them concentrate on the game.  You can help by encouraging them, by accepting their occasional mistakes and be offering constructive post-game comments.  On the other hand, you could discourage and demoralize the referees by criticizing their decisions, by verbally abusing them and inciting – or even accepting – your own players’ overly aggressive behavior.  Your example is powerful, for better or worse.  If you insist on fair play, if you concentrate on your players’ enjoyment of the game and their overall, long term development, and if you support the referee, your players and parents will notice.  If you’re overly concerned about the results, and if you criticize the referee harshly, your players and parents will also notice. 

Think about what you’re doing during the game! Uphold the Spirit of the Game! If you follow the expectations described above, the spirit of the game will be alive and well within Pike County and will continue to grow!

Coaches who do not follow the expectations described above will be either disciplined or removed.