PARTICIPANT CODE OF CONDUCT MANAGERS – COACHES - PLAYERS – PARENTS
Murrieta Valley Pony Baseball prides itself on providing a great place for local youth to play and enjoy the game of baseball. In order to ensure a fun positive experience for all players, fans and parents of MVPB are required to adhere to the following code of conduct:
• Understand and accept the rules and regulations of the game. Let the umpires run the game. The manager is the only person on the field who can dispute a call.
• All adults should conduct their behavior in a positive fashion. Adults are role models for our MVPB players.
Emphasize good sportsmanship. Be a good example and respect the play of others. Parents will engage in positive cheering, limiting comments during the game to encouraging their child and all players on the field. Negative cheering from the stands toward anyone is grounds for immediate removal from the field.
• All adults (Managers/Coaches/Players) will use a self-control routine to avoid losing composure when things go wrong. Always demonstrate friendly and courteous attitudes toward opponents, fans and umpires. Parents can take a deep breath, turn away form the game to refocus, count backwards from 100 or use self-talk to regain composure. These games are not life and death. They are meant to be fun so please treat them that way. Failure to follow this rule may result in being removed from the game and possible suspension.
• Respect the integrity and judgment of the umpires. Do not yell at or insult an umpire. They are the officials of the game and they are there to do their job. A parent’s job is to encourage their child and their teammates. If you would like to make the calls, you may want to consider signing up for an umpire class-we can always use good umpires. Failure to follow this rule may result in being removed from the game, as well as future games.
• Berating an umpire (junior or adult), under any circumstances is grounds for immediate suspension and possible ban from coaching. There is no excuse for yelling at an umpire no matter how bad you think the call might be. Failure to follow this rule may result in being removed from the game and possible suspension.
• Absolutely no foul language is permitted at any time during practices or games. Failure to follow this rule may result in being removed from the game and possible suspension.
No acholic beverages, smoking or drugs permitted at any time during practices or games. Failure to follow this rule will result in being removed from the game and suspension.
• Any player, manager, coach or parent that is ejected from a game must leave the property immediately. They are also automatically suspended for the next scheduled game. The MVPB Grievance Committee will determine if any additional sanctions should be levied against an individual for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Create an enjoyable atmosphere for all visitors and guests during all games.
• Encourage fair play and honesty, leadership, the use of initiative and good judgment.
• Play for the love of the game - win with humility, lose without excuses, maintain dignity and never quit.
Please find a Board Member if any problems arise rather than trying to handle it yourself.
• Grievance Process: 1. Discuss with your manager 2. Manager takes issue to Division Director. 3. If the Division Director can’t handle the issue, the Division Director can take it to the Board. Appeals of any penalty can be made to the President and will be heard by an appeals sub-committee of the board of directors.
• Have Fun! That’s what it’s all about. And remember, it’s just a game.
• MVPB employs fair play rules. If you feel your player is not being treated fairly by a manager, please discuss with your issue with the Division Director. Division Director contact information can be found on the website at www.mvpb.org. All play is governed by MLB Rules except where augmented by local PONY Rules. The MVPB Board of Directors is the sole arbitrator of the rules and all decision made by the board are final. Failure to operate within the rules as established by MVPB is grounds for removal from the league. Any individual removed from the league is not entitled to a refund of any amount.
As a registrant of the Murrieta Valley Pony Baseball program, I understand that both myself, and my family agree to the above.