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9) Athletics: 6.0 Codes Of Conduct

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Overview: The character of CYM Sports is revealed not only in how games are organized, but in how people behave when they compete, coach, officiate, administer, and watch. Codes of Conduct bind every member of the community—coaches, administrators, participants, and spectators—to the same core values that govern the ministry: cooperation, respect, sportsmanship, responsibility, leadership, maturity, competitiveness, fairness, courtesy, and self-control. These standards flow from Catholic moral teaching, the Ethical and Behavioral Standards of For the Sake of God’s Children, the Volunteer Covenant, and the Sportsmanship Pledge of CYM Sports. They exist so that every practice, contest, and sideline becomes a place where young people encounter Christ-like examples rather than hostility, ridicule, or indifference.

Coaches and administrators bear a particular duty. They are ministers as well as leaders: they model the conduct they expect, protect the dignity of athletes, honor officials, follow Safe Environment standards at every team activity, and accept accountability when their words or actions harm the program. Participants are expected to compete with integrity, respect teammates and opponents, accept the authority of coaches, officials and office, and represent their parish or school with courtesy. Spectators, including parents, guardians, family, and friends, represent their program as model citizens for the youth. They support from the stands, refrain from coaching, intimidation, profanity, or personal attack, keep positive and supportive environments at CYM sites, and raise concerns through the proper local channel rather than confronting officials or players in the moment. Conduct that is abusive, discriminatory, unsportsmanlike, or contrary to diocesan behavioral standards and CYM will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the site, suspension, or dismissal from the program.

This section sets forth the codes that apply to each role, the expectations that create a positive sportsmanship environment, and common consequences that protect the ministry when those expectations are broken. By naming these standards clearly, we give coaches, families, and athletes a shared language of accountability and a common vision of what it means to compete as Catholics. Codes of Conduct are not merely rules for managing conflict; they are a catechesis in action—forming disciples who carry respect, self-control, and charity from the field into their families, parishes, schools, and our local communities.

6.1 General

  • 6.1-1 Codes of Conduct are designed to promote sportsmanship, integrity, and good stewardship in the spirit of competition.
  • 6.1-2 Disciplinary Sanctions are designed to limit excess competitiveness, safety, and adherence to fair-play within respective sports and the overall mission of CYM Sports.
    • 6.1-2.1 All disciplinary Sanctions may follow 8.0 Playing Field, Mission Field or sanctioned by Diocesan CYM Sports Leadership, for corrective action to realign a program, team, or individual with the mission of the overall program.

6.2 Code Of Conduct For Administrators

  • 6.2-1 Administrators must conduct themselves within the guidelines of CYM Sports programming and the Diocese of Wilmington.
  • 6.2-2 Administrators shall take responsibility for all actions of representing participants of their parish and/or school, including communications of volunteers and conduct of volunteers and/or spectators at CYM events.

6.3 Code Of Conduct For Coaches

  • 6.3-1 It is the responsibility of all coaches to ensure that the “For Sake of God’s Children” policies for the Diocese of Wilmington are followed at all practices, games and team activities.
  • 6.3-2 If the actions or attitude of a coach are found to be detrimental to the athletes or the CYM program, that coach will be subject to review and discipline. Disciplinary action can include, but is not limited to, probation, suspension, or dismissal, depending upon the circumstances.
  • 6.3-3 Upon the completion of a period of suspension lasting more than 5 athletic contests, a coach must request reinstatement in writing to the CYM Athletic Advisory Committee (aac@cdow.org). This letter must indicate that the suspended coach has reviewed and will support the Statement of Purpose and Philosophy of CYM Athletics. The letter must also be reviewed and approved by the pastor of the parish or the principal of the school where the coach will be participating.

6.4 Code Of Conduct For Youth Participants

  • 6.4-1 All youth participants are to promote healthy life-style choices while participating in CYM Sports.
  • 6.4-2 All youth participants are subject to the rules and regulations of their respective sports.
  • 6.4-3 Violations within a youth participant’s respective sport(s) are subject to CYM regulations on a case-to-case basis and/or 8.0 Playing Field, Mission Field.

6.5 Code Of Conduct For Spectators

  • 6.5-1 Spectators may not file complaints with CYM concerning game officials, coaches, players or spectators. Only the head coach of a team may file a complaint. If a spectator has a complaint, he or she must wait 24 hours after the athletic contest and then bring the complaint to the head coach and/or AAP/AD. The head coach and AAP/AD will review the matter and decide how to proceed, including whether to bring the complaint to CYM.
  • 6.5-2 Spectators should remember that they represent their parish and/school just as much as team members and coaches. Parents, guardians, other family members and friends must be models of sportsmanship for all of our youth athletes. Adults are expected to demonstrate positive support for all players of both teams and treat all coaches, officials and spectators with respect at practices or contests.
  • 6.5-3 If a spectator attends an athletic contest when restricted from doing so, that spectator’s team will forfeit the contest (or, if the team lost, will have its playoff win count reduced by one (1). A second occurrence will result in the team’s exclusion from playoffs, or in the case of a non-playoff team, termination of the team’s season.
    • 6.5-3.1 Coaches and/or athletic associations are responsible for ensuring a spectator ban is enforced, and are expected to assist and cooperate with a referee, sports coordinator or Advisory Committee member who attends the game and acts to enforce a spectator ban.
    • 6.5-3.2 Repeated of continuous inappropriate spectator conduct may result in sanctions against the team or athletic association, including forfeits, exclusion from playoffs, or dismissal from the league.

6.6 Ejections

  • 6.6-1 If a coach or an assistant coach of a CYM team is ejected from ANY parish or CYM athletic contest, whether sponsored by CYM or not, the coach will be suspended.
    • 6.6-1.1 Head coaches will be suspended from the next athletic contest played by that team.
    • 6.6-1.2 Assistant Coaches will be suspended from the next two athletic contest played by that team.
  • 6.6-2 If an athlete is ejected, the minimum suspension will be the next athletic contest played by that team.
  • 6.6-3 If any spectator is ejected from an athletic contest, the minimum suspension will be from the next two athletic contests for that team.
  • 6.6-4 The CYM Sports Coordinator may impose additional penalties for all players, coaches and spectators that are ejected after reviewing the facts of the case.
  • 6.6-5 Suspended games will include playoffs and tournaments.
  • 6.6-7 Two ejections for the same individual in any one athletic season will minimally result in a disqualification and seasonal ban for the remainder of that athletic season, including playoffs and tournaments.
  • 6.6-8 If an ejection occurs in the last game for that team, a suspension will carry over to the playoffs, tournaments, next athletic season or next program year as determined by CYM Sports Leadership.
  • 6.6-9 It is the head coach’s responsibility to report all ejections to the CYM Sports Coordinator and to their AAP/AD within 24 hours of the athletic contest. Failure to do so may results in penalties imposed to that head coach or the team.
  • 6.6-10 A member of the parish/school Athletic Association must be present at all athletic contest during all suspensions for that team. Any violations of the suspension will result in an immediate stoppage and forfeit by that team.

6.7 Penalties and Sanctions

  • 6.7-1 Penalties, sanctions, and other disciplinary actions imposed on associations, administrators, coaches or spectators are at the sole discretion of the CYM Sports Office.
    • 6.7-2 Local associations may penalize, sanction and utilize other disciplinary actions on association members, administrators, coaches or spectators, prior-to or in-addition-to, at the local parish & school level.