Township of Neptune, NJ Youth Sports Code of Conduct

Shall mean a written specification of the behavior of parents, guardians, coaches, and officials adopted and implemented by each youth sports organization which must at a minimum incorporate this chapter, which must be agreed to in writing by the parents or legal guardians of the minor participants of each youth sports team and/or organization, prior to such minor participants' participation in the youth sports activity.

PARTICIPATING LEAGUE

Shall mean any sports organization having games organized between one (1) or more youth sports teams, whether affiliated within or without the Township of Neptune, which has its own rules, regulations and/or Code of Conduct pursuant to its organizing charter. Examples of participating leagues are Pop Warner Football, Little League, AAU Basketball, and Monmouth Ocean Soccer Association.

YOUTH SPORTS EVENT

Shall mean any competition, practice, clinic, or instructional event involving one (1) or more youth sports teams or organization.

YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATION

Shall mean any sports association or club which is affiliated with, or received monetary or other support from, Neptune Township or the Neptune Township Recreation Department, or regularly utilizes any facilities owned, operated, or maintained by Neptune Township, and which has minors participating in the sporting activities conducted by such association or club. Sometimes "youth sports organization" may also be referred to as "sports organization" or "sports team."

§ 26-2 REQUIRED.

[Ord. No. 05-12 § II]

Every youth sports organization shall be required to adopt and implement a Code of Conduct incorporating, at a minimum, the provisions of this chapter.

§ 26-3 REQUIREMENTS FOR PARENTS AND/OR GUARDIANS OF PARTICIPANTS.

[Ord. No. 05-12 § III]

The parents or guardians of each child participating in a youth sports organization shall be required by such organization to sign an agreement acknowledging that they have received and read the youth sports organization's Code of Conduct and that they agree to be bound thereby. The form of acknowledgment shall be as indicated on the attached form designated as Schedule A.[1] The Township Committee encourages each parent or guardian to review the Code of Conduct with the child participant, as it is expected that the child participant shall also abide by the Code of Conduct.

[1]

Editor's Note: Schedule A and Schedule B may be found at the end of this chapter.

§ 26-4 REQUIREMENTS FOR COACHES.

[Ord. No. 05-12 § IV]

Any parent, guardian or other citizen who desires to coach or instruct any youth sport governed by this chapter shall be required by the youth sports organization to execute an agreement acknowledging receipt of the sports organization's Code of Conduct and agreeing to be bound thereby. The form of acknowledgment shall be as indicated on the attached form as Schedule B.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Schedule A and Schedule B may be found at the end of this chapter.

§ 26-5 VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES.

[Ord. No. 05-12 § V]

Any parent, guest, spectator, coach, participant or official at any youth sports event shall violate the provisions of this chapter if such person:

Verbally abuses officials, players, coaches or spectators, including, but not limited to, the use of obscene or profane language or gestures, or racial, ethnic, or sexual slurs;

Enters the field of play, court, rink, or other playing surface during any youth sporting event for the purpose of physically or verbally abusing or confronting coaches, players or officials;

Initiates a fight, scuffle, or any type of physical abuse or threat of physical abuse toward any player, coach, official, parent, guest or spectator; or

Throws or causes to be deposited any object on the field of play, court, rink or other playing surface during any youth sports event.

Any person violating this chapter may be banned from attendance at all youth sports events for a period to be determined by the youth sports organization, but for a first violation not more than twelve (12) months from the date of the incident. If it is determined that such person has a subsequent offense for violating this chapter, such person shall be banned from attendance at all youth sports events within Neptune Township for at least twelve (12) months, up to and including permanent banishment from all youth sports events, from the date of each subsequent incident. Such time period may be determined by the youth sports organization. Any individual violating this chapter may also be subject to any other discipline as provided for by the applicable youth sports organization's bylaws, organizing documents, rules, regulations or Code of Conduct, or by any participating leagues' Code of Conduct or rules and regulations.

In addition, for any violation of this chapter, the youth sports organization may also require that such person attend anger management counseling before the violator is permitted to attend any youth sports events, but penalties of twelve (12) months or more shall require that such person attend at least twelve (12) hours of anger management counseling. The youth sports organization may require additional hours of anger management counseling, in its discretion. The chapter violator shall pay for the cost of anger management counseling.

§ 26-6 AUTHORITY OF FIELD OFFICIALS.

[Ord. No. 05-12 § VI]

Any parent, official, coach or spectator at any youth sporting event shall be subject to the authority of all field officials including umpires, referees, and elected league officials of the youth sports organization, or the teams sponsoring the youth sporting event, or in the absence of such persons at a practice or instructional event, to the authority of the coach or coaches on the premises. Such authority shall include the authorization to direct any person or persons involved in any incident in violation of this chapter or the applicable sports organization's Code of Conduct to immediately remove themselves from the premises.

§ 26-7 CODE OF CONDUCT COMMITTEE.

[Ord. No. 05-12 § VII]

The Township of Neptune hereby establishes a Code of Conduct Committee, which shall be authorized to review any appeals for penalties imposed by any youth sports organization for violations of this chapter. The Code of Conduct Committee shall be made up of at least three (3) but not more than seven (7) persons, who shall be appointed by the Neptune Township Recreation Committee. Members of the Committee must be Neptune Township residents or employed by the Township of Neptune. A Committee quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Committee, and decisions by the Committee must be supported by greater than a majority of the quorum present to hear appeals. The Committee may also consist of up to two (2) alternate members in the event of any conflict of interest or unavailability of a Committee member.

§ 26-8 VIOLATION PROCEDURES AND HEARINGS.

[Ord. No. 05-12 § VIII]

When it is determined that a person has violated this chapter after a hearing before the youth sports organization's officers, or the organization's Committee to hear Code of Conduct violations, the organization shall forward a letter to such violator notifying him or her of the date, location, and nature of the violation, as well as the period of banning and/or other action taken in response to such violation. The letter shall be delivered via regular and certified mail, or by personal delivery, and if mailed, the effective date shall be the date of mailing. Personal delivery shall be effective on delivery.

Any person receiving such a violation notice who wishes to contest a penalty shall appeal to the Neptune Township Code of Conduct Committee within seven (7) calendar days of the mailing or personal delivery date of the violation notice from the youth sports organization. The appeal shall consist of a written request for appeal specifically setting forth the basis of such person's contest of the notice of violation. The request for appeal shall be delivered personally or by regular and certified mail to the Chairperson of the Township Code of Conduct Committee at 25 Neptune Boulevard, Neptune, New Jersey 07753. If mailed, the effective date of such notice shall be the date of mailing.

Upon receipt of such an appeal, the Code of Conduct Committee shall convene within seven (7) days and provide an opportunity for said person and any interested persons to appear and be heard with respect to the occurrence of any violation and the action taken by the youth sports organization. The youth sports organization issuing any violation must be notified of the date and time of the hearing.

The Code of Conduct Committee shall be authorized to hear testimony under oath, review affidavits and such other information or documentation relevant to the violation. The Code of Conduct Committee, by a greater than majority vote, may sustain, overturn, or modify the penalties imposed by the youth sports organization. The decision made by the Township Code of Conduct Committee shall be final.

All notices of violation and banning by any youth sports organization shall remain in effect until overturned or modified by the Code of Conduct Committee.

In the event any notice of violation is not appealed within seven (7) days of the effective date of such notice, the penalties imposed by the youth sports organization shall become final.

§ 26-9 ADDITIONAL PENALTIES.

[Ord. No. 05-12 § IX]

Nothing in this chapter shall prevent any person from filing any municipal, criminal or civil action against any individual for a violation of this chapter, nor shall it impair the ability of any participating league from imposing any penalties it shall deem appropriate. Such penalties imposed by the participating league may be considered by the sports organization's Code of Conduct Committee or the Neptune Township Code of Conduct Committee when imposing any penalty under this chapter.