Code of Conduct
All Programs

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of New Jersey adopted N.J.S.A. 5:17-1 et seq., finding that interscholastic and youth athletic programs play an important role in promoting the physical, social and emotional development of children; that it is essential for parents, coaches and officials to encourage youth athletes to embrace the values of good sportsmanship; and that adults involved in youth sports events should be models of good sportsmanship and should lead by example by demonstrating fairness, respect, and self-control;

WHEREAS, the Governing Body of the Borough of Rutherford agrees that it is essential that all coaches, umpires, parents, participants, and attendees, who are participating in or watching athletic programs, events or activities of the Recreation Department of the Borough of Rutherford, or who are playing or watching any athletic program, event or activity upon any public property owned by the Borough of Rutherford, shall conduct themselves with fairness, respect, and self-control at all times;

WHEREAS, the Governing Body of the Borough of Rutherford has resolved that each such coach, umpire, parent, participant, and attendee shall govern themselves in accordance with the following Code of Conduct;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Rutherford as follows:

A. All coaches, umpires, parents, participants, players, spectators, and attendees who participate in or watch athletic programs, events or activities of the Recreation Department of the Borough of Rutherford, or who are playing or watching any athletic program, event or activity upon any public property owned by the Borough of Rutherford, shall be responsible for his or her own words and actions, and each such person shall conform his or her behavior to the following Athletic Code of Conduct:

1. Each person shall demonstrate fairness, respect, and self-control at all times;
2. Each person shall encourage his or her child or children to demonstrate fairness, respect, and self-control at all times;
3. Each person shall treat any coach, umpire, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee with respect, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or ability.
4. Each person shall encourage his or her child or children to treat any coach, umpire, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee with respect, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or ability.
5. Each person shall not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct with any coach, umpire, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
6. Each person shall not encourage his or her child or children, or any other person, to engage in unsportsmanlike conduct with any coach, umpire, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
7. Each person shall not engage in any behavior which would endanger the health, safety or well being of any coach, umpire, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
8. Each person shall not encourage his or her child or children, or any other person, to engage in any behavior which would endanger the health, safety or well being of any coach, umpire, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
9. Each person shall not use or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at a youth sports event or at Borough property, and shall not attend, coach, officiate or participate in an athletic event or activity while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
10. Each person shall not permit his or her child or children, or encourage any other person, to use or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at a youth sports event or upon any Borough property, and shall not permit his or her child, or encourage any other person, to attend, coach, officiate or participate in any athletic event or activity while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
11. Each person shall not engage in the use of profanity.
12. Each person shall not encourage his or her child or children, or any other person, to engage in the use of profanity.
13. Each person shall not engage in verbal or physical threats or abuse aimed at any coach, umpire, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
14. Each person shall not encourage his or her child or children, or any other person, to engage in verbal or physical threats or abuse aimed at any coach, umpire, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
15. Each person shall not initiate a fight or scuffle with any coach, umpire, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
16. Each person shall not encourage his or her child or children, or any other person, to initiate a fight or scuffle with any coach, umpire, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee.

B. The Borough of Rutherford Recreation Department shall distribute and disseminate this Resolution and the Athletic Code of Conduct to its coaches, umpires, parents, and participants. The Recreation Department shall require that each coach, umpire, parent, and parent on behalf of his or her child or children, agree in writing to abide by and obey the Athletic Code of Conduct. The Borough of Rutherford and its Recreation Superintendent, using fairness and acting in a non-arbitrary or capricious manner, may impose penalties in any order or in any combination, suitable to the matter at hand and in consideration of past relevant conduct of the coach, umpire, parent, participant, or attendee being disciplined. The Borough of Rutherford Recreation Department shall include the following acknowledgement of penalties with each such written agreement:

I hereby agree that if I fail to conform to the Borough of Rutherford Recreation Department’s Athletic Code of Conduct, I will be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to the following. I understand that penalties may be imposed in any order or in any combination.

1. Verbal warning issued by the Recreation Department, or by a properly-authorized league, organization, or school official.
2. Written warning issued by the Recreation Department, or by a properly authorized league, organization, or school official.
3. Suspension or immediate ejection from an athletic event or activity issued by the Recreation Department, or by a properly-authorized league, organization, or school official.
4. Suspension from multiple athletic events or activities events issued by the Recreation Department, or by a properly-authorized league, organization, or school official.
5. Season suspension or multiple season suspension issued by the Recreation Department, or by a properly-authorized league, organization, or school official.

C. The Borough of Rutherford shall post this Athletic Code of Conduct on the Borough website and at its athletic facilities.

D. Nothing herein is intended to supersede any ordinance or statute imposing criminal or civil penalties. This Resolution shall be read in para materia with other Borough Ordinances.

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(Print) Parent\Guardian Full Name

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Parent\Guardian Signature

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Date

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