Follow us on

Player/Parent Code of Conduct Agreement

The Kinsmen Minor Football League is a not-for-profit organization, run strictly by volunteers who work countless hours each year to provide a safe and organized league for youth to play football.

This player/parent code of conduct is not intended to be an all‐inclusive list of rules concerning player/parent behavior. All players and parents registered to play on a Kinsmen Minor Football League (KMFL) team are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is above and beyond respectful of others and reflects positively on the KMFL and the Peterborough and Area community.

Sportsmanship: All players and parents must learn and display a sense of fair play. Be humble in victory, gracious in defeat. Players and parents must represent your team and the KMFL by showing good sportsmanship at all times, win or lose.

Respect, Integrity and Pursuit of Excellence: All players and parents must treat all others as you expect to be treated. Strive to perform each aspect of the game to the highest level of your ability and with the highest level of integrity and fair play. Support your team and teammates at all times. Respect all opponents’ players and parents at all times. Strive to excellence.

Player Conduct: Each player will agree to the following:

  1. Respect your Coaches, Teammates, Parents, Opponents, Spectators, and Referees.
  2. Never argue with an referee’s call or decision.
  3. No swearing, harassment, or inappropriate behavior or language will be tolerated.
  4. Always have a positive attitude, win or lose.
  5. Teamwork is not a preference, it is a requirement‐ Encourage one another.
  6. Always support your team and teammates. Be the first to praise others and the last to brag or draw attention to yourself.
  7. Be the first to lead by example and the last to violate team standards or rules.
  8. Attend every practice and every game, and agree to notify your coach if you cannot be there.
  9. Be responsible to help clean up the field and bench area after all practices and games.
  10. No use of Tobacco, Alcohol, Drugs will be Tolerated
  11. No defaming of coaches, teammates VIA any electronic or social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) text messages, etc.
  12. Work at home to improve your skills. Always pay attention to your coach’s instructions.
  13. Always give your best effort in practices and games. When you fail, do your best again.
  14. HAVE FUN…

 

Parent/ Guardian Responsibility: Each parent will agree to the following:

  1. ​Respect your Athlete’s Coaches, Teammates, Parents, Opponents, Spectators, and Referee’s
  2. Be respectful of your coach’s decisions. Remember they are the ones that are putting in the extra time and effort.
  3. Ask how you can help your coaches out at practices, and games.
  4. Encourage your child to play by the rules. Remember that children learn best by example, be supportive of both teams when good plays are made.
  5. Do not embarrass your team by yelling at players, coaches, referees or spectators. By showing a positive attitude toward the game and all of its participants your son or daughter will benefit. Any parent that cannot refrain from such behavior will be asked to leave.
  6. I will have my player at practices and games on time. If there are circumstances that will prevent this, I will communicate this to the coach in a timely manner.
  7. I will spend time with my son or daughter at home on skill development.
  8. Use positive encouragement to your player, his or her teammates, and coaches. All people perform at their best when they feel they are supported.
  9. No defaming of coaches, players, or other parents VIA any electronic or social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) text messages, etc.
  10. Allow for a 24 hour “COOL DOWN, be OBJECTIVE” period before you discuss any serious concerns you have with a coach before communicating with that coach in a constructive and adult manner.
  11. Allow for a 24 hour “COOL DOWN, be OBJECTIVE” period before you contact any KMFL Board members..

Anti‐Harassment Policy: Each player/parent will agree to the following: No player or parent shall engage in violent behavior toward another player or parent because of his/her race, religion, sex, or ethnic origin. No player or parent shall engage in verbal conduct related to another player or parent because of his/her race, religion, sex, or ethnic origin when the conduct:

  • Creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive team environment.
  • Substantially or reasonably interferes with a player’s team participation.
  • Adversely affects a player’s team opportunities.

Any player or parent found to have engaged in such prohibited conduct shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including, immediate dismissal and/or a formal apology to the offended individual.

Harassment Definitions

 a) Harassment takes many forms but can generally be defined as comment, conduct or gesture directed toward an individual or group of individuals, which is insulting, intimidating, humiliating, malicious, degrading or offensive.

 b) Types of behavior which constitute harassment include but are not limited to: 

- Written or verbal abuse or threats. 

- The display of visual material which is offensive or which one ought to know is offensive. 

- Unwelcome remarks, jokes, comments, innuendo, or taunting about a person’s looks, body, attire, age, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. 

- Leering or other suggestive or obscene gestures; 

- Condescending, paternalistic, or patronizing behavior which undermines self-esteem, practical jokes which cause awkwardness or embarrassment, endanger a person’s safety, or negatively affect performance; 

- Unwanted physical contact including touching, petting, pinching or kissing;

 - Unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, requests or invitations;

 - Physical or sexual assault. 

c) For the purposes of this policy, sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: 

- Submitting to or rejecting this conduct is used as the basis for making decisions which affect the individual; or

 - Such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s performance; or 

- Such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. 

d) Although sexual harassment most commonly occurs in the form of behavior by males towards females, sexual harassment can also occur between males, between females or as behavior by females toward males.  Regardless of the gender, the KMFL prohibits sexual harassment in all forms. 

e) For the purposes of this Policy, retaliation against an individual;

 - For having filed a complaint under this policy; or

 - For having participated in any procedure under this Policy.   or 

- For having been associated with a person, who files a complaint or participated in any procedure under this Policy, will be treated as harassment, and will not be tolerated. 

Discipline Policy/Consequences: Each player and parent is advised of the following discipline policy and consequences for any and all inappropriate conduct.

  1. Any and all Disciplinary action shall be reviewed by the KMFL Board of Directors.
  2. Any and all actions may include, but are not limited to, the following repercussions:
    1. Verbal warning
    2. Suspension
    3. Dismissal