1. This is a GAME- it’s supposed to be fun.
2. Coaches are volunteers
3. Referees are human and sometimes players on your local high school team. Be kind.
4. These are kids. Be a good example.
Section 101. Introduction, Purpose, and Applicability
(a) The Code of Conduct Policy of US Youth Soccer establishes the ethical standards for governance and committee volunteers and staff of US Youth Soccer (collectively referred to as “Representatives”) in addition to all members and participants within any and all sanctioned programs, events, activities and competitions.
(b) The Code of Conduct Policy applies to all staff, volunteers, members and participants who are involved or engage with any sanctioned US Youth Soccer program, event, activity or competition.
(c) The purposes of the Code of Conduct Policy is to provide evidence of US Youth Soccer’s commitment to the lawful and ethical conduct of its Representatives, members and participants and to protect those who report violations of the Code of Conduct Policy consistent with US Youth Soccer’s Whistleblower Policy.
(d) The Code of Conduct Policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state or federal laws governing behavior.
(e) Representatives, members and participants must respect and comply with US Youth Soccerrules and regulations, observe high standards of conduct, and participate in establishing and maintaining such high standards.
Section 102. Zero Tolerance
(a) US Youth Soccer maintains a zero tolerance regarding abuse.
(b) The US Youth Soccer Zero Tolerance for abuse extends to all representatives, members and participants in any and all US Youth Soccer sanctioned programs, events, activities and competitions.
(c) US Youth Soccer requires every representative, coach and volunteer to assist in creating a safe environment for participants at and during any and all sanctioned US Youth Soccer programs, events, activities and competitions.
Section 103. Prohibited Substances
(a) US Youth Soccer prohibits the use and possession of illegal drugs, alcohol, or, in the case of minors, tobacco for any and all coaches and participants at any and all sanctioned programs, events, activities and competitions.
Section 104. Prohibited Activities
(a) US Youth Soccer prohibits nudity and any indecent exposure by any representative, member or participant at any sanctioned programs, events, activities and competitions.
(b) US Youth Soccer prohibits any representative, member or participant from engaging in sexually oriented conversations what at any sanctioned programs, events, activities and competitions. This includes sharing information about one’s own personal relationships, 3 dating or sexual activities.
(c) US Youth Soccer prohibits the possession of any sexually oriented materials to include magazines and videos while participating at any sanctioned program, event, activity and competition.
Section 105. Physical Contact
(a) While appropriate physical contact taking place in public where the contact is designed for the benefit of the athlete and does not meet an emotional or other need of an adult while also not having the potential of creating a physical or sexual intimacy is common within sport, US Youth Soccer prohibits representatives, members and participants from engaging in any other form of physical contact with and or between athletes.
1. An example of prohibited physical contact include a coach asking a minor athlete to sit in their lap or cuddling during training or while on an overnight trip.
Section 106. Bullying
(a) US Youth Soccer prohibits representatives, members and participants from engaging in any unwanted, aggressive behavior designed to intimidate or harm another through one’s superior physical strength, access to embarrassing information, popularity or influence.
Section 107. Harassment
(a) US Youth Soccer prohibits representatives, members and participants from engaging in any activity designed to cause fear or humiliation, reflect discriminatory bias, offend or degrade through physical or non-physical actions towards any other representatives, members or participants at any sanctioned program, event, activity or competition.
Section 108. Hazing
(a) US Youth Soccer prohibits representatives, members and participants from engaging in any activity that could be defined as hazing at any sanctioned program, event, activity or competition.
Section 109. Mandatory Reporting
(a) US Youth Soccer requires all representatives, members and participants to immediately report any violations or suspected violations of the US Youth Soccer Code of Conduct Policy during any sanctioned programs, events, activities and competitions to a team official, sanctioned program, event, activity or competition official or US Youth Soccer representative.
(b) US Youth Soccer takes any and all reports of inappropriate behavior or suspicions of abuse seriously.
(c) US Youth Soccer complies with all laws requiring a person to make a report to appropriate law enforcement agencies and requires all representatives, members and participants to either notify an official as indicated in Section 109. a. or report directly to law enforcement authorities.