Youth Coaches Agreement

The Collegedale Recreation Association (CRA) Youth Coaches Agreement has been adopted by the CRA Executive Board. This Agreement is enforced by the CRA’s Chairman, Commissioner, and Board Members. All CRA Youth Coaches and Assistant Coaches are required to abide by this Agreement. Based on input and feedback the CRA Commissioner will suggest revisions or modifications to this Agreement from year to year, as necessary. In 2017 a Parent and Player agreement was established which is mandatory for registration. In 2018 this Youth Coaches Agreement was also established. Both are mandatory for Coaches and Assistant Coaches to sign.  

PHILOSOPHY  

 The CRA provides a Christian community softball program aimed at educating our youth on the basic skills and rules of softball.  The CRA’s primary interest is the development of each player, including improvement in technical skills and increased knowledge of the game, as well as, personal and social growth as a team member. Our goal is to encourage sportsmanship within a competitive environment. Parents and players must understand this and should conduct themselves in a manner that enables a healthy team environment. Playing only to win can sometimes have adverse effects on player development and team dynamics.  

RULES AND POLICIES  

Coaches’ Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of the coaching staff is to strive to develop the fundamental skills of each player on his/her team. The coach should also foster an environment of sportsmanship within the team as well as encourage sportsmanship with opponents and officials.  

Primary goals:  
● Select the team 
● Determine the style and philosophy of play 
● Teach at practice sessions 
● Assigns all playing positions and roster spots
● Determine who starts at playing time
● Establish and enforce team policies
● Always make sure safety and the athletes' welfare comes first
● Maintain communication with the players and the parents throughout the season 

A coach will be held accountable for his/her actions, the actions of their assistants, and their dugout. Un-sportsman like behavior and repeated violation of the rules will not be tolerated.  

Coach-Officials Relationship
● Officials are necessary to the game
● They are bound by the USA Softball rulebook and CRA local rules, which makes them rigidly impartial
● Coaches and their teams should never harass or taunt officials
● Only the coaching staff should discuss questions of rules/calls with the Officiating Crew 

Sportsmanship  
● Coaches should consistently demonstrate good sportsmanship, with parents and coaches serving as positive role models to the players 
● No vulgar or inappropriate language 
● Taunting and trash talking will not be tolerated 
● Outsiders must never intrude upon the field during a game, nor will it be permitted they interfere with the game from the stands or dugout 
● Cheerleading should always be for your team, never against the opponents
● Keep comments to a positive nature 

General Rules 
● Do not allow children or players to climb fences or backstops 
● Alcohol is not permitted near any CRA field, common area, or parking lot of any of the locations used by the CRA
● No tobacco product use by anyone at any time on the field, in the dugout, or around the common areas within any venue
● After each game, each team must clean up trash in the dugout and around stands.  

Ejection Policy  

When a player or a member of the coaching staff is ejected from a game, they shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in the game. They MAY NOT sit in the stands and may not be recalled. A member of the coaching staff ejected from a game MUST NOT be present at the game site for the remainder of that game. As an enrolled league participant, any player or member of the coaching staff ejected from a game is automatically suspended for his/her team's next physically played game and MAY NOT be in attendance at the game site. 

Any player or member of the coaching staff ejected from a game MUST also appear before the League's Disciplinary Committee, who may recommend no further action, or make recommendations to the full board for further disciplinary action. Players or a member of the coaching staff with more than one ejection will not be allowed to finish coaching or playing the season with their team. 

Coaching staff are also responsible for communicating the expected behavior to the team’s parents and relatives. In the event that a team’s parent or relative is ejected, they will be ordered to leave the complex immediately. If they refuse to go and continue to cause a problem, the umpire will halt the game and ask the manager of the team to handle the problem. 

If any ejected person doesn’t comply within the ejection policy, disrupting the game, the game will be suspended immediately and subject to forfeiture. 

 The disciplinary committee has the right to adjudicate ejections on a case by case basis.