Mercer Basketball League Code of Conduct 6.0. CODES OF CONDUCT This League is designed to be an instructional league, one that will benefit all the players and parents not just a select few. The following codes of conduct will be strictly enforced throughout the season. 6.1 PLAYERS CODE OF CONDUCT In order to ensure that theprinciples of sportsmanship, fair play, skill development, and mutual respect among players, coaches, officials and spectators are the primary considerations governing competition in the Mercer Basketball League, the following Code of Conduct has been established and adopted. Each player will ensure thathis/her playing conduct is that of a young lady or gentleman fairly competing to the limit of his/her ability. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities,the player is expected to: 1. Know therules and abide by them. 2. Respect the game officials and refrain from addressing them or commenting on their decisions during the play of the game. The game captain or designate may address the officials during the game but only within the provisions of therules and in a courteous, respectful manner. 3. Maintain control of his/her emotions, avoiding the use of abusive language or profanity,humiliating remarks, and/or gestures of ill temper, and physical assault uponanother player at any time. 4. Respect the coaches and players of the opposing team and demonstrate appropriategestures of sportsmanship at the conclusion of game. Be humble and generous invictory. Be proud and courteous in defeat. 5. Followall building rules and regulations, respecting at all times the property of others. Be aware that there is to be no shooting at baskets during time outs or intermission of games that are in progress. Before each game only the teams warming up for the next game should be shooting at the baskets. 6. Realize,accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability but also on the sportsmanship, courtesy and manners of each individual player. 6.2 COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT 6.2.1 THE COACH – DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES a. Coaches are responsible for providing instruction in basketball skills and sportsmanship, and serve as the point of contact for their team and its players with the MBL. b. Coaches are expected to adhere to and enforce the Articles in the “Code of Conduct”. c. Coaches will attend all required meetings and/or training as proscribed by the Commissioner and/or BOD. d. The Commissioner and/or the BOD must approve both House League coaches and Travel League coaches In order to ensure that theprinciples of sportsmanship, fair play, skill development, and mutual respect among players, coaches, officials and spectators are the primary considerations governing competition in the Mercer Basketball League, the following Code ofConduct has been established and adopted. Each coach will ensure thathis/her playing conduct is that of a young lady or gentleman fairly competing to the limit of his/her ability. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities,the coach is expected to: 1. Know the rules and abide by them. 2. Instruct team members in the rules and coach his/her team in such a way as to motivate each player to compete according to the rules at all times. 3. Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions in a disrespectful or abusive manner. Ensure that players, spectators/fans do not shoot at the baskets during timeouts or intermissions. 4. Ensure that all-building rules and regulations are followed by the players and spectators. 5. Ensure that fans of his/her team conduct themselves with sportsmanship and maturity atall times while in attendance at game sites; assist the game officials inmaintaining control of spectators during the games. 6. Respect the coaches and players of the opposing team both during the play of the game and at its conclusion, win or lose. 7. Teach each player, especially through personal example, to be humble and generous invictory and proud and courteous in defeat. 8. Maintain control of his/her emotions and avoid actions, language, and/or gestures that may be interpreted as hostile and humiliating. 9. Instruct team support personnel (e.g. assistant coaches, scorebook keepers, andtimekeepers) in their responsibilities in accordance with established rules and procedures. 10. Realize, accept, and practice the principal that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability, but also on its sportsmanship, courtesy, and manner. 11. Coaches should refrain from making comments from the bench during an opponents shot from the free throw line. 12. Coaches are responsible for all equipment issued to them. 13. Playing or coaching to win is acceptable; however, coaches must remember that this is a recreational league. Deliberately running up the score is prohibited. Coaches shall attempt to create a competitive game. Techniques such as substitutions, position assignments, type of defense played, assigning players to work on their weaker hand, and encouraging better players to work for an assist rather than a shot, etc. shall be employed to provide a fun, educational, and recreational environment for all participants on both teams. Coaches shall employ these techniques intermittently during the game in order to maintain the score within fifteen points. 14. Only the Head Coach may stand during the game andverbally address the players while they are playing on the court. The Assistant Coach and Manager are allowed on the bench, but may neither stand during the game nor verbally address the players while they are playing on the court. Any violation of this rule may result in the Assistant Coach or Manager being removed from the bench. 6.3 SPECTATORS CODE OF CONDUCT In order to ensure that the principles of sportsmanship, fair play, skill development, and mutual respect among players, coaches, officials and spectators are the primary considerations governing competition in the Mercer Basketball League, the following Code ofConduct has been established and adopted. Each spectator will ensurethat his/her playing conduct is that of a young lady or gentleman fairlycompeting to the limit of his/her ability. To satisfactorily meet theseresponsibilities, the spectator is expected to: 1. Respect the rules of the game. 2. Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions or from addressing them in a loud, disrespectful or abusive manner 3. Cheer for their team in a positive, supportive manner, refraining at all times from making hostile, negative, or abusive remarks about the opposing team. 4. Enter a gym quietly; remain seated during play of the game. Refrain at all times from coming onto the floor or from throwing objects or other foreign materials on to the floor, and exit in an orderly manner at the conclusion of the game. 5. Follow all building rules and regulations, respecting at all times the property of others. Be aware that there is to be no shooting at baskets during time outs or intermission of games that are in progress- Before each game only the teams warming up for the next game should be shooting at the baskets. SPECTATORS SHOULD NEVER BRING BALLS INTO ANY GAME SITE GYM 6. Demonstrate appropriate gestures of sportsmanship at the conclusion of a game, win or lose. 7. Realize, accept, and practice the principal that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability, but also on the sportsmanship, courtesy, and citizenship of its fans. 6.4 RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONDUCT Each club is responsible to see that their coaches, players and spectators abide by the respective CODE of CONDUCT. All coaches, players and parents or guardians of players will be provided copies of the appropriate CODE of CONDUCT Acknowledgment forms prior to the start of the season. 6.5 CODE OF CONDUCT REQUIREMENTS CODE of CONDUCT for spectators and players should bethoroughly discussed at a pre-season joint meeting between coaches, players and parent/guardians of players. All sponsors, coaches, parents/guardians and players are required to sign the CODE of CONDUCT Acknowledgment form indicating they understand and accept their responsibilities as stated in the code. This form, with the required signatures, is to be filed with the appropriate Basketball League President on or before the filing deadline date(s). 6.6 IMPROPER CONDUCT ADJUDICATED BY BOARD Conduct of sponsors, coaches, players or spectators detrimental and contrary to the MBL CODE of CONDUCT can result in suspension from further participation for whatever period of time deemed reasonable and appropriate by the Board. 6.7 IMPROPER CONDUCT PENALTIES Improper conduct on the part of coaches, players orspectators may result in but is not limited to the following: suspension from practices, games, functions or the rest of the season; expulsion from the gym; forfeiture of the game; or expulsion from the league. 6.8 OFFENSIVE ACTIONS DEFINITIONS OF OFFENSIVE ACTIONS No coach, player, parent/guardian or spectator is to: 1. refuse to abide by an official's decision; or 2. be guilty of objectionable demonstration by throwing equipment or any other forceful action: or 3. be guilty of heaping verbal abuseupon an official for any real or imaginary wrong decision or judgment; or 4. be guilty of an abusive verbal attack upon a player, an opposing coach, official or spectator; or 5. at any time, lay hands upon,push, shove or strike an official; or 6. be guilty of physical attack asan aggressor upon any player, opposing coach, official, spectator, Recreation Building Director or school staff. 6.9 PENALTIES FOR EJECTION FROM GAMES All ejections will be considered CODE of CONDUCT violations,and the player or coach is automatically suspended for at least ONE (1) game.The Board or Board appointed Code of Conduct Committee, will define any appropriate penalties and must approve permission for any suspended player or coach to participate in games subsequent to the incident for which they were ejected. All rulings of the Board or its Code of Conduct Committee/DisciplinaryCommittee will be expedient provided that both coaches report the facts relative to the ejection promptly. A player or coach ejected from a game shouldbe notified at the time as to the cause of the ejection; both coaches are still required to notify the League President when an ejection occurs. A writtenreport by the ejecting official explaining the reason(s) for the ejectionshould be made in all situations involving ejection. Any player, coach or team representative striking or shoving an official will be suspended for the remainder of the season. 6.10 SUBMISSION OF APPEALS A written appeal may be made to the Basketball League President within TWENTY-FOUR (24) hours of the penalty decision. The decisionof the League's Board of Directors will be final. 6.11 CODE OF CONDUCT COMMITTEE JURISDICTION When penalties for rule violations are not specified, they will be decided by the Code of Conduct Committee/Disciplinary Committee withapproval from the full Board of Directors. | 
