There is an AAU organization in our area that has recently come out with a Coaches Code of Conduct. Their document captures the spirit of the Every Player, Every Game idea and puts it into a document that their coaches have to read and sign! The document has been edited to remove their name, but you can still understand the text. This organization should be applauded for their efforts!
Coaches Code of Conduct
The function of a coach is to encourage, develop, and educate all players participating in
THE _____ _____ AAU. Skills, sportsmanship, and teamwork should be taught and
promoted. Each player should be treated with the belief that the welfare of the player is the
coach's uppermost concern. To promote these ideals THE _____ _____ AAU has
adopted the following Code of Conduct that all coaches must adhere to.
• THE _____ _____ AAU Coach shall be aware that he or she has a
tremendous influence - both positive and negative - on the development of the
player.
• THE _____ _____ AAU Coach shall never place the value of winning above
that of instilling the highest ideals of character.
• THE _____ _____ AAU Coach shall uphold the honor and dignity of the
sport, organization, and league in all personal contact with participating players,
parents, coaches, officials, administrators, league officials, spectators and public.
• THE _____ _____ AAU Coach shall strive to set an example of the highest
moral and ethical conduct.
• THE _____ _____ AAU Coach shall avoid the use of alcohol and tobacco
products when coaching players.
• THE _____ _____ AAU Coach will select a Team Mom if they are a male and
do not have a female Assistant Coach.
• THE _____ _____ AAU Coach will encourage the parents to provide feedback
via our website WWW._____
• THE _____ _____ AAU Coach shall strive to master the sport of ______
rules and shall teach these rules to his/her team members. The coach shall not seek
an advantage by circumvention of the spirit or letter of the rules.
• THE _____ _____ AAU Coach shall exert his/her influence to encourage
sportsmanship by spectators.
• THE _____ _____ Coach shall respect and support officials. The
_____ _____ AAU Coach shall not indulge in conduct which would incite
players or spectators against the officials.
• THE _____ _____ AAU Coach shall initiate an exchange of cordial greetings
between competing teams.
I acknowledge that I am an extension of THE _____ _____ AAU organization and
agree to conduct myself in a fashion that will bring pride to THE _____ _____ AAU. I
will abide by the Code of Conduct.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Board of Education meeting
We attended our first Board of Education meeting and made our statement during the Public Comment section of the meeting. Being that it was our first BOE meeting, it did not go as smoothly as we would have liked but the Board listened attentively and asked a question or two after the presentation. The Athletic Director was present as well. We are still awaiting a response from the BOE and/or the Athletic Director.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The next step
We've sent letters to our local high school athletic director and our high school's board of education. We have also sent a letter to Nina Van Erk, the Executive Director at the NYSPHSAA. We are still waiting for responses from them.
Next up, we will be sending letters to the Executive Staff, Association Officers, and the Central and Executive Committee Members of NYSPHSAA. All of this in hopes of finding an advocate within the system that can help change the current policies.
Next up, we will be sending letters to the Executive Staff, Association Officers, and the Central and Executive Committee Members of NYSPHSAA. All of this in hopes of finding an advocate within the system that can help change the current policies.
Feedback
We have received a lot of positive feedback from parents, players, and coaches. Thank you to everyone who has shown their support in verbal conversation and by e-mail. We have changed the comments setting so you can leave an anonymous comment on the blog. The following comments are copied from e-mails we received but the senders names have been removed:
-"What a beautiful letter. As a (person) who works with troubled juveniles I second your call for athletics to be run for the benefit of the kids as opposed to adult coaching or spectating interests. Putting the interests of our children above the "winning at all costs" philosophy of coaches and spectators is long overdue. As a parent whose daughter was involved in year-round sports for about 5 years I have seen some atrocious displays by coaches, spectators , and even referees. The coaches and referees that I admired during this period were the ones who were sensitive to the children's needs. [I have often wondered what would happen in women's school sports if only women coached and refereed. Perhaps its time to float the idea. I would guess that the male coaches would be a bit more sensitive as a result]. Your call is well overdue and I support your efforts. Let me know if there is any assistance I can provide."
-"WOW!!!! I was totally blown away by your letter. I think you've touched on every point there was to touch on, and if this doesn't change things for players all across the board in every sport, I truly don't know what will. In my wildest imagine I never could have written anything so powerful yet so basic and simple.
Being one of the many parents who have suffered through watching their child sit the bench and cry afterwards, I thank you so much for taking the time and caring enough to appeal to the "higher ups". If it changes nothing then that says alot about the real ideals and goals of our athletic department/coaches. I will be very surprised though if that is the case."
-"Well done. If there is anything I can do to help support your initiative please let me know.
.....Your proposed plan is sound and I believe that AAU basketball has proven that. Every player, every game...."
-"What a beautiful letter. As a (person) who works with troubled juveniles I second your call for athletics to be run for the benefit of the kids as opposed to adult coaching or spectating interests. Putting the interests of our children above the "winning at all costs" philosophy of coaches and spectators is long overdue. As a parent whose daughter was involved in year-round sports for about 5 years I have seen some atrocious displays by coaches, spectators , and even referees. The coaches and referees that I admired during this period were the ones who were sensitive to the children's needs. [I have often wondered what would happen in women's school sports if only women coached and refereed. Perhaps its time to float the idea. I would guess that the male coaches would be a bit more sensitive as a result]. Your call is well overdue and I support your efforts. Let me know if there is any assistance I can provide."
-"WOW!!!! I was totally blown away by your letter. I think you've touched on every point there was to touch on, and if this doesn't change things for players all across the board in every sport, I truly don't know what will. In my wildest imagine I never could have written anything so powerful yet so basic and simple.
Being one of the many parents who have suffered through watching their child sit the bench and cry afterwards, I thank you so much for taking the time and caring enough to appeal to the "higher ups". If it changes nothing then that says alot about the real ideals and goals of our athletic department/coaches. I will be very surprised though if that is the case."
-"Well done. If there is anything I can do to help support your initiative please let me know.
.....Your proposed plan is sound and I believe that AAU basketball has proven that. Every player, every game...."
Monday, February 23, 2009
The original idea
Many parents and fans sit and watch a high school sporting event and wonder why some players are left on the bench while others are shown more playing time. Parents and players are afraid to ask those types of questions to coaches or Athletic Directors because they are afraid to have a negative influence on their child’s playing time. So they sit there each game and become more frustrated, feeling that there is nothing they can do about it, or just accept it as “the way it has always been done.” We are beginning a grass roots effort to change the way high school sports are played and coached.
The ‘Every Player, Every Game’ campaign has as its’ basic premise that every player, in every sports program, should get the opportunity to play in every game. We would like to establish a minimum playing requirement that would require all coaches, on all teams to get ALL of their players in the game for a preset minimum amount of playing time. Teams are formed for the players, and each player should be rewarded for their hard work in practice and contributions to the team. Therefore, every player on every team should be allowed to play.
Coaches too often feel that their job is to provide a winning program for their school and they are often judged by that standard. But the NYSPHSAA Code of Ethics clearly states “that an athletic contest is only a game........not a matter of life or death for player, coach, school, official, fan, community, state or nation.” Coaches can be influenced by external factors, just like anyone else. Sometimes those outside influences lead to bad decisions about players and their time in the game. If there are minimum playing time standards, then coaches will have to give every player the opportunity to play. It will make coaches responsible for coaching the entire team, not just a select few. It will mean that coaches must learn to more effectively manage their players during each game and play them when each player could be most productive.
We encourage you to contact your school’s Athletic Director and tell them that you support the idea of “Every Player, Every Game”. Furthermore, you can also contact the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) board members, whose email addresses are listed on their website cited below, and let them know you want Every Player in Every Game. The NYSPHSAA board sets all the rules for all high school sports programs in New York State. They have the ability to change the way high school sports operate and can help us to get the rules changed. Please read the attached 2008-2009 Code of Ethics from the NYSPHSAA website, http://www.nysphsaa.org/, and see how well your high school athletics program meets these ideals. Comments can also be sent to the board’s executive director, Nina Van Erk at nvanerk@nysphsaa.org
Your high school athlete will thank you for it.
The following is the introductory paragraph from the NYSPHSAA Handbook.
“We are pleased to present you with the 2008-2010 edition of the HANDBOOK of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Inc. Clarification of, and changes in, the regulations and standards are indicated by shading.
We encourage you to supply copies of the HANDBOOK to all your coaches. Knowing only the game rules of a sport is not enough to protect student eligibility. We also recommend again that rule reprints be made available at preseason meetings for athletes and their parents to ensure knowledge of the rules.
We cannot emphasize enough that the rules and regulations in the HANDBOOK are your standards, developed as the result of your input. We ask your support in the partnership of enforcing these rules and regulations. Each of us must take that responsibility seriously. We know that by working together we can ensure that our students will experience equitable and safe athletic participation.”
Listed below is the Code of Ethics from the NYSPHSAA Handbook.
CODE OF ETHICS
IT IS THE DUTY OF ALL CONCERNED WITH
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS:
1. To emphasize the proper ideals of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and
fair play.
2. To eliminate all possibilities which tend to destroy the best values of
the game.
3. To stress the values derived from playing the game fairly.
4. To show cordial courtesy to visiting teams and officials.
5. To establish a happy relationship between visitors and hosts.
6. To respect the integrity and judgment of the sports officials.
7. To achieve a thorough understanding and acceptance of the rules of the
game and standards of eligibility.
8. To encourage leadership, use of incentive, and good judgment by the
players on the team.
9. To recognize that the purpose of athletics is to promote the physical,
mental, moral, social, and emotional well-being of the individual players.
10. To remember that an athletic contest is only a game........not a matter
of life or death for player, coach, school, official, fan, community, state
or nation.
The ‘Every Player, Every Game’ campaign has as its’ basic premise that every player, in every sports program, should get the opportunity to play in every game. We would like to establish a minimum playing requirement that would require all coaches, on all teams to get ALL of their players in the game for a preset minimum amount of playing time. Teams are formed for the players, and each player should be rewarded for their hard work in practice and contributions to the team. Therefore, every player on every team should be allowed to play.
Coaches too often feel that their job is to provide a winning program for their school and they are often judged by that standard. But the NYSPHSAA Code of Ethics clearly states “that an athletic contest is only a game........not a matter of life or death for player, coach, school, official, fan, community, state or nation.” Coaches can be influenced by external factors, just like anyone else. Sometimes those outside influences lead to bad decisions about players and their time in the game. If there are minimum playing time standards, then coaches will have to give every player the opportunity to play. It will make coaches responsible for coaching the entire team, not just a select few. It will mean that coaches must learn to more effectively manage their players during each game and play them when each player could be most productive.
We encourage you to contact your school’s Athletic Director and tell them that you support the idea of “Every Player, Every Game”. Furthermore, you can also contact the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) board members, whose email addresses are listed on their website cited below, and let them know you want Every Player in Every Game. The NYSPHSAA board sets all the rules for all high school sports programs in New York State. They have the ability to change the way high school sports operate and can help us to get the rules changed. Please read the attached 2008-2009 Code of Ethics from the NYSPHSAA website, http://www.nysphsaa.org/, and see how well your high school athletics program meets these ideals. Comments can also be sent to the board’s executive director, Nina Van Erk at nvanerk@nysphsaa.org
Your high school athlete will thank you for it.
The following is the introductory paragraph from the NYSPHSAA Handbook.
“We are pleased to present you with the 2008-2010 edition of the HANDBOOK of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Inc. Clarification of, and changes in, the regulations and standards are indicated by shading.
We encourage you to supply copies of the HANDBOOK to all your coaches. Knowing only the game rules of a sport is not enough to protect student eligibility. We also recommend again that rule reprints be made available at preseason meetings for athletes and their parents to ensure knowledge of the rules.
We cannot emphasize enough that the rules and regulations in the HANDBOOK are your standards, developed as the result of your input. We ask your support in the partnership of enforcing these rules and regulations. Each of us must take that responsibility seriously. We know that by working together we can ensure that our students will experience equitable and safe athletic participation.”
Listed below is the Code of Ethics from the NYSPHSAA Handbook.
CODE OF ETHICS
IT IS THE DUTY OF ALL CONCERNED WITH
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS:
1. To emphasize the proper ideals of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and
fair play.
2. To eliminate all possibilities which tend to destroy the best values of
the game.
3. To stress the values derived from playing the game fairly.
4. To show cordial courtesy to visiting teams and officials.
5. To establish a happy relationship between visitors and hosts.
6. To respect the integrity and judgment of the sports officials.
7. To achieve a thorough understanding and acceptance of the rules of the
game and standards of eligibility.
8. To encourage leadership, use of incentive, and good judgment by the
players on the team.
9. To recognize that the purpose of athletics is to promote the physical,
mental, moral, social, and emotional well-being of the individual players.
10. To remember that an athletic contest is only a game........not a matter
of life or death for player, coach, school, official, fan, community, state
or nation.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
that's the way it's always been
Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, one of the monkeys will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water.
After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result, that all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, none of the monkeys will try to climb the stairs. Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his suprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, and then a fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not?
BECAUSE AS FAR AS THEY KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE AROUND HERE!!!!
After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result, that all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, none of the monkeys will try to climb the stairs. Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his suprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, and then a fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not?
BECAUSE AS FAR AS THEY KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE AROUND HERE!!!!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
more contact info
If you live in NYSPHSAA Section 2 area, you can follow this link to their website. It provides contact information for every league, sub league, and council in Section 2. Then you can send a letter to those people that you feel will have the most influence for your sport.
http://www.section2athletics.org/content/directory-2008-2009
http://www.section2athletics.org/content/directory-2008-2009
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