a er a game. If it’s necessary to speak up, help your kid have that conversa on. That said, if you just can’t help yourself, do it kindly and respec ully, in person or on the phone, not in an angry email copied to a dozen people.
NEVER yell at referees. They are trying. How would you like it if someone came to your job and screamed at you? Not. So. Much. If you have a real issue, work through appropriate channels the next day, and keep your cool.
Do NOT coach your kid from the sideline. Your job is to BE A CHEERLEADER, not a coach. If you wanted to coach, you should have volunteered.
It is EXTREMELY UNLIKELY you are raising a professional athlete. Relax, let them have a good me and learn the lessons they are supposed to be learning in sports.
Pursue LONG‐TERM wins so that sports helps kids learn to live well, make good decisions, be a moral person, live faith, and value honesty and good character way more than points scored and short‐term wins.
If you have NOTHING POSITIVE to say, sit down and be quiet. Think about it: you really don't want to be "that" parent, do you?
If you are LOSING YOUR MIND on the sideline of a game, it’s me to look in the mirror and figure out why. It’s not healthy to care that much about sports. Put that energy into something more produc ve, like making sure every player feels like a million bucks a er making a solid effort.
Let them FAIL. Forgo en equipment, not working out, not prac cing at home? Let them experience the consequences. It will make them be er people AND be er at sports AND be er at life.
Your kids are WATCHING YOU. And so are everyone else’s kids. Make them proud, not embarrassed. Show them how grown‐ups are supposed to act.
Archdiocese of Cincinnati Charter on Catholic Youth Athletics Code of Conduct
Spirit of Catholic Youth Athletics
Demonstrate good sportsmanship, patience, manners and an attitude indicative of the spirit and mission of the Catholic
Church.
Adherence to Laws, Rules and Policies
Catholic canon law and Archdiocesan laws and policies including, but not limited to, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Decree on Child Protection.
Federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.
The mission, goals, principles, and policies of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Charter on Catholic Youth Athletics, and those of the Organizational Documents of participating athletics organizations and leagues.
Specific Violations
Eligibility: Violation of the eligibility policies of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Youth Athletics Charter, including using an ineligible player.
Recruiting: No recruiting for athletic purposes or to enhance a team’s competitive advantage is permitted.
Leaving the field of play: No team may leave the field, floor, game or tournament because of dissatisfaction with the officials, or their decisions.
Losing control: Coaches are expected to control their own conduct and the conduct of their players and report to the league and Commission instances where opponents, officials, parents, or fans have failed to control their own conduct.
Running up the score: It is not permitted to humiliate an opposing team by playing in such a way so as to intentionally run up the score after the outcome of the game is no longer in question.
Inappropriate communication and behavior: The use of inappropriate, insulting, disrespectful, bullying and demeaning language or behavior before, during or after meetings, practices or games by players, coaches, officials, parents, fans, site personnel, volunteers, or others involved in any parish athletics program is prohibited. Also prohibited are physical intimidation and the use of profane, vulgar, abusive or sexually‐oriented language, in oral, written or electronic forms of communication (such as texting or email), by players, coaches, officials, parents, site personnel, volunteers, or fans.
Escalating behaviors: Behaviors that incite others to act in ways that are in direct conflict with the spirit of Catholic Youth Athletics are prohibited.
Vandalism and theft: There will be no vandalism, theft, or destruction of property at any athletics venue.
Alcohol, tobacco, illegal controlled substances: No alcohol, tobacco, or any illegal controlled substance is permitted at practices, league competitions, or tournaments where children are present (such as “tailgating” where alcohol is present). Athletics organizations are expected to establish and communicate zero tolerance policies regarding alcohol, tobacco, and illegal controlled substances at competitions, tournaments and gatherings where children are present.
General Violations
Activities that are contrary to the mission, goals, principles, values, provisions or spirit of Catholic Youth Athletics as described in the Charter are prohibited.
Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Youth Athletics Charter
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Promulgated on March 1, 2014 www.catholiccincinnati.org/ayatf