Have Fun

It is important for athletic experiences to be fun, satisfying and rewarding for all participants.

Sportsmanship

Foremost of all values is to learn a sense of fair play.  Be humble in victory, gracious in defeat.  We will foster friendship with teammates and opponents alike.

Respect for the Individual

Treat all others as you expect to be treated.

Integrity

We seek to foster honesty and fair play beyond mere strict interpretation of the rules and regulations of the game.

Pursuit of Excellence

Each player and coach should perform each aspect of the game to the highest level of his or her ability.

Purpose

This policy constitutes the Code of Conduct ("Code") of Earlybirds Athletics LLC ("EALLC") applicable as set forth below to all coaches, players, members, administrators, volunteers, and parents/guardians.  This Code of Conduct is intended to protect the safter and well-being of individuals who participate in EALLC activities and events, and to ensure that all individuals who associate with EALLC conduct themselves with integrity and maintain a high standard of ethical conduct.

Applicability of Policy

This code applies to all EALLC registrants, participants, coaches, employees, administrators, and anyone participating in EALLC events and activities (collectively, “Affiliated Individuals”).

The Code of Conduct

All Affiliated Individuals must:

• Adhere to the rules and policies of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, including, but not limited to, the SafeSport Code.
• In competition, compete to the best of his or her ability while being safe and sportsmanlike.
• Respect and comply with the laws of the state and/or country in which you are training, traveling, or competing, including, but not limited to laws governing the possession and use of drugs and alcohol, and providing of drugs to any person and of alcohol to minors.
• Be responsible for his or her own behavior and for reading, understanding, and abiding by all applicable policies, including those of EALLC, as well as any competitions and/or events in which one participates.
• Respect and abide by all other rules, policies, and procedures set forth by EALLC, and of the facilities and accommodations in which one trains and lives at and/or uses.
• Never engage in discrimination of any kind on whatever grounds, be it race, color, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, language, religion, national origin or other status.
• Demonstrate good sportsmanship by showing respect toward other competitors, teammates, coaches, officials, and audience members at all events and activities.
• Refrain from foul language, violence, and behavior that could reasonably be deemed dishonest, offensive, intentionally malicious, or illegal.
• Respect the property of others and not vandalize, damage, or steal any such property.
• Agree to refrain from authorizing the use of photographs, films, or videos of a player and/or coach participating in an EALLC activity or event or in any associated EALLC apparel or equipment, without the prior written consent of EALLC.
• Understand that any act, conduct, or personal appearance, even if not expressly enumerated above, that violates the spirit and intent of this Code of Conduct, or brings disrespect or dishonor to one’s self, one’s fellow athletes, EALLC, or the United States, is a Code violation.
• Understand that, if under the age of 18, his or her parents or legal guardians may be notified of all written reports of counseling or misconduct.
• Understand that any dispute or action arising from this Code of Conduct will be resolve through EALLC Bylaws and applicable policies.

Specifically, Coaches, and those functioning as Coaches, must:

• Treat all athletes with respect at all times.
• Be aware of the health and safety of all athletes at all times in regard to our sport. If the conditions are unsafe, follow best practices and not all the health and safety of the athletes to be compromised.
• Recognize the signs of injury, physical and psychological stress in themselves and in athletes, take these indicators seriously, and refer or seek out appropriate and qualified support.
• Be a positive role model to your players. Display emotional maturity and be alert to the physical safety of players.
• Be generous with your praise when it is deserved; be consistent and honest; be fair and just; do not criticize players publicly; learn to be a more effective communicator and coach.
• Be concerned with the overall development of your players. Stress god health habits and clean living.

Specifically, Parents/Guardians must:

• Not force your children to participate in sports, but support their desires to play their chosen sports.
• Encourage your child to play by the rules.
• Not yell at your child, other competitors, officials or coaches.
• Emphasize skill development and practices versus games and competition.
• Applaud a good effort in both victory and defeat, and enforce the positive points of the game.
• Recognize the important of coaches and the time and effort they spend in the development of your child(ren)—communicate with them and support them.

Specifically, Players must:

• Play for fun.
• Work hard to improve skills.
• Be at team player – get along with everyone.
• Learn teamwork, sportsmanship and discipline.
• Be on time.
• Learn the rules and play by them. Always be a good sport.
• Respect your coach(es), other competitors, teammates, parents, and officials.
• Never argue with an official’s or coach’s decision.

Reporting Obligations

No code of conduct can address every situation, nor can it take the place of good judgement and integrity.  EALLC maintains an “open door” for anyone who has questions or concerns.  EALLC will support all efforts to comply with this Code of Conduct.

If Affiliated Individuals need advice or assistance concerning the application of any aspect of these standards, consult the appropriate leadership of EALLC. 

EALLC has zero tolerance for retaliatory conduct by an Affiliated Individual against any person who comes forward with a good faith complaint or issue.  Retaliation for reporting in good faith an alleged violation of this Code of Conduct will itself constitute a violation of this Code of Conduct.

A.  Zero Tolerance

Earlybirds Athletics LLC  (“EALLC”) is committed to creating a safe and fair environment for all participants.  Respect for sports, opponents, coaches and officials is a critical part of the environment that is created.  This Zero Tolerance Policy summarizes required actions to be taken when violations occur.

All EALLC registrants, participants, coaches, employees, administrators, and anyone participating in EALLC events and activities (collectively, “Affiliated Individuals”) are required to maintain a sportsmanlike and educational atmosphere before, during and after all EALLC events and activities.  The following points of emphasis must be implemented by all Affiliated Individuals.

 

Players

A player may be asked to sit out for a defined period of time or permanently be removed from the ice for the remainder of an ice session for unsportsmanlike conduct (zero tolerance) whenever a player:

1. Openly disputes or argues with a coach or an official.
2. Taunts or incites another competitor.
3. Visually creates a disturbance during any EALLC activity or event.

If a player persists in any of these actions, the player’s action is deemed reprehensible, discriminatory, or hateful, and/or the player has multiple unsportsmanlike offenses, the EALLC leadership has total discretion to suspend the player for defined number of ice sessions, for a quarter, or permanently without refunding moneys paid on a subscription basis for future services.

Any player/coach who uses language that is hateful, or discriminatory in nature anywhere in the rink before, during or after the game shall risk being suspended or removed from duty at the discretion of the EALLC leadership.

Parents

Parents are expected to be a positive role model by treating all players, coaches, fellow spectators and anyone affiliated with EALLC events and activities with respect and support.

If a parent/spectator displays inappropriate and/or disruptive behavior that interferes with other spectators or any EALLC activity or event, he/she will be asked to leave the viewing area and premises.  EALLC will not be responsible for any lost time or replacing lost time resulting from the removal of an individual.  Violators may be subject to further disciplinary action by the local governing body.  This inappropriate and disruptive behavior is not limited to but shall include:

1. Use of obscene, profane or abusive language to anyone at any time.
2. Taunting of players, coaches, officials, other spectators or anyone associated with EALLC events and activities by means of baiting, ridiculing, threat of physical violence or physical violence.
3. Throwing of any object in the spectators viewing area, players bench, penalty box, sporting surface, directed in any manner as to create a safety hazard and/or disruption.

If a parent/spectator persists in any of these actions, the parent/spectator’s action is deemed reprehensible, discriminatory, or hateful, and/or the parent/spectator has multiple behavioral offenses, the EALLC leadership has total discretion to suspend the parent and the affiliated player for a defined number of ice sessions, for a quarter, or permanently without refunding moneys paid on a subscription basis for future services.

B.  Safe Sport

The safety of its participants is of paramount importance to EALLC.  This includes not only on-ice safety, but also off-ice safety in any part of EALLC’s programs.

EALLC has ZERO TOLERANCE for abuse and misconduct.

EALLC is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for its participants’ physical, emotional, and social development and ensuring it promotes an environment free from abuse and misconduct.  As part of this program, EALLC has adopted the policies prohibiting Sexual Misconduct and Child Abuse as set forth in the SafeSport Code, which may be found at uscenterforsafesport.org.    Any violation of the Sexual Misconduct or Child Abuse policies of the Center by a participant shall subject such person to appropriate disciplinary action by the Center and/or EALLC, including but not limited to suspension, permanent suspension, and/or referral to law enforcement authorities.

All coaches are required to be current with the Center and their SafeSport Training and refreshers.

C. Alcohol, Tobacco, Smoking Products and Drug Abuse

EALLC prohibits use by any player of alcohol, tobacco, smoking products or drugs during participation in its events and activities as follows:

1. Zero tolerance for possession or use of drugs by any participant unless participant is currently under a doctor’s care and the medication is required for treatment of an illness or injury;
2. Zero tolerance for providing or condoning the use of alcohol, tobacco, smoking products or drugs to or by a minor athlete by a coach or any other person in a position of authority over that athlete.

Violation of this policy shall subject the participant to disciplinary action up to and including suspension or permanent suspension as deemed appropriate by EALLC.

For purposes of this policy, the word “alcohol” shall include the following:

• Intoxicating beverages.

For purposes of this policy, the word “drug” shall include the following:

• Any controlled substance
• Prescription or prescribed controlled substances when used to an excess in violation of doctors’ orders, or to produce the state of intoxication in the participant.
• Any mood altering or psychoactive substance that produces a state of intoxication in the participant.

For purposes of this policy, the words, “tobacco and smoking products” shall include the following:

• Electronic smoking devices are devices that heat a chemical solution into a vaport that is inhaled into the lungs (e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pens or other similar devices).
• Smokeless Tobacco are tobacco products chewed or snuffed rather than smoked by the user, including dipping tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, snus or similar tobacco products not used for smoking.
• Tobacco smoking is the use of regular tobacco in cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, water pipes or other similar tobacco smoking products.

Further, the word “participant” shall include players, coaches, and any person affiliated with an EALLC event or activity.

D. Sports Concussion Management Protocol

EALLC will abide by the USA Hockey concussion protocol, which can be found at usahockey.com/safety-concussions.  The player/parent/guardian is responsible for reporting any symptoms, protocols initiated and/or Physician notes to EALLC.  EALLC cannot be expected to implement protocols without prior knowledge of potential concussion symptoms or diagnosis.

E.   Conflicts of Interest

Because the nature of Earlybirds Athletic LLC’s business requires trust in and respect for the reputation and integrity of EALLC and its affiliated coaches, EALLC is expected to conduct its affairs in a manner consistent with high ethical principles.  EALLC correspondingly requires Responsible Persons (as defined below) to act in the same manner.  All titled coaches or individuals compensated as a result services rendered for an EALLC event or activity must fully disclose their personal or business interests, or those of any member of his or her family or his or her employer, which could give rise to situations that would conflict or appear to conflict with the interests of EALLC.  Conflicts of Interest exist where an individual’s activities or relationships present the potential for improper personal gain or advantage, or an adverse effect on the interests of EALLC.  It is impossible to list every circumstance giving rise to a conflict of interest. 

 

A “Conflict of Interest” or “Conflict” exists when a Responsible Person’s activities or interests, whether direct or indirect, interfere with, influence, or have the potential to interfere with or influence his or her responsibilities in any material respect on behalf of EALLC or undermine the interests of EALLC; provided, however, where a Responsible Person has a financial interest (regardless of the materiality of the financial interest) in a Transaction, a potential Conflict of Interest may exist.  Conflicts of interest may also involve activities of a Family Member or close associate of a Responsible Person.  This definition of Conflict of Interest is intended to be interpreted broadly because the appearance of impropriety can be just as damaging as actual impropriety.  Therefore, a Conflict of Interest exists whenever the public may reasonably infer from the circumstances that there is or could be such a conflict.  Responsible Persons must recognize and attempt to avoid any activity or investment that constitutes or might appear to constitute a conflict of interest.

Definition

As used in this Policy, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings indicated.

“ Agent” refers to a person serving as a director, officer, agent, partner, associate, trustee, personal representative, receiver, guardian, custodian, conservator or other legal representative of an entity or individual.

“Transaction” is any contract, transaction, agreement or relationship involving the sale or purchase of goods, services, or rights of any kind, the providing or receipt of a grant or loan, or the establishment of any other financial relationship with EALLC.

“Family Member” is a spouse, parent, child or a spouse of a child, brother, sister or spouse of a brother or sister, of a Responsible Person.

“Responsible Person” is any person who acts as a coach in any capacity and/or receives compensation resulting from services performed at any EALLC event or activity.

F.   Confidentiality

Nondisclosure Policy

Each Responsible Person shall exercise care not to disclose confidential information acquired in connection with such status, the disclosure of which might be adverse to the interests of Earlybirds Athletics LLC.  No Responsible Person shall use confidential information for his or her personal gain.

For the purposes of this policy, a “Responsible Person” is any person who performs any duties of a coach and/or receives any compensation such duties for any EALLC event or activity.

Types of Confidential Information

The following types of information received by a Responsible Person in the performance of his or her responsibilities as a Responsible Person shall be treated as confidential unless otherwise determined by EALLC:

1. Player videos, evaluations and communications.
2. Intellectual property developed and provided by EALLC for the sole use in EALLC events and activities, such as on-ice and off-ice drills, evaluation forms and techniques, training program materials, player/parent surveys, etc.
3. Employee evaluations and compensation.
4. Information about contractual relationships with third parties.
5. Financial information.
6. Participant data, including any identifying or contact information for any participant of EALLC activities or events.

The foregoing is not intended to be a complete list of all the types of information that may be considered confidential.

Failure to Comply

Any Responsible Person who fails to comply with the provisions of this confidentiality policy shall be subject to such sanctions or other action by Earlybirds Athletics LLC pursuant to the bylaws.  Any other person who is subject to this policy and who fails to comply with it shall be subject to discipline, termination of employment, or such other sanction as EALLC determines is appropriate.

Each Responsible Person must also be familiar with and comply with any applicable state or federal law with respect to protection of private information.