Long Valley Basketball Association Code of Conduct
The Long Valley Basketball Association uses two agreements - a Sportsmanship Agreement and Parent Operational Agreement - to ensure EVERYONE involved in our programs is committed to promoting the physical, social and emotional development of our youth while maintaining a fair, fun atmosphere.
Simply put, the Sportsmanship Agreement holds everyone accountable to appropriate behavior and good sportsmanship. And the Parent Operational Agreement allows each season to run smoothly by ensuring parents are engaged, have clear expectations about what they can expect from coaching staff, and have a clear process for resolving concerns and issues.
The texts of each agreement, which are executed during the registration process, are below. If you have any questions about these, please do not hesitate to contact the Long Valley Basketball Association Leadership Team.
Sportsmanship Agreement
The following is agreed to by all adults (and teens who have not reached the age of majority but whose participation requires them to act in an “adult” capacity) participating with the Long Valley Basketball Association, be they parents/legal guardians, coaches, officials, volunteers, etc. Breach of any part of this agreement for any reason by a signatory, spouse or partner of a signatory, or child under the signatory’s direct supervision, can result in immediate penalties up to and including a permanent ban from participating with the Long Valley Basketball Association for the offender and, as warranted, the offender’s children.
Youth sports programs play an important role in promoting the physical, social and emotional development of children. It is therefore essential for parents/legal guardians, coaches, officials and other adults to encourage youth players to embrace the values of good sportsmanship. Moreover, adults involved in youth sports events should be models of good sportsmanship and should lead by example by demonstrating fairness, respect and self-control.
I therefore pledge to be responsible for my words and actions while attending, coaching, officiating or otherwise participating in a youth sports event and shall conform my behavior to the following code of conduct:
- I will not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct with any coach, parent/legal guardian, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
- I will not encourage or permit my child, or any other person, to engage in unsportsmanlike conduct with any coach, parent/legal guardian, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
- I will not engage in any behavior which would endanger the health, safety or well-being of any coach, parent/legal guardian, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
- I will not encourage or permit my child, or any other person, to engage in any behavior which would endanger the health, safety or well-being of any coach, parent/legal guardian, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
- I will not use drugs or alcohol while at a youth sports event and will not attend, coach, officiate or otherwise participate in a youth sports event while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- I will not encourage or permit my child, or encourage any other person, to use drugs or alcohol at a youth sports event and will not encourage or permit my child, or encourage any other person, to attend, coach, officiate or otherwise participate in a youth sports event while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- I will not engage in the use of profanity.
- I will not encourage or permit my child, or any other person, to engage in the use of profanity.
- I will treat any coach, parent/legal guardian, player, participant, official or any other attendee with respect regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or ability.
- I will encourage my child to treat any coach, parent/legal guardian, player, participant, official or any other attendee with respect regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or ability.
- I will not engage in verbal or physical threats or abuse aimed at any coach, parent/legal guardian, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
- I will not encourage or permit my child, or any other person, to engage in verbal or physical threats or abuse aimed at any coach, parent/legal guardian, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
- I will not initiate a fight or scuffle with any coach, parent/legal guardian, player, participant or official
- I will not encourage or permit my child, or any other person, to initiate a fight or scuffle with any coach, parent/legal guardian, player, participant, official or any other attendee.
Parent Operational Agreement
I. Parent Commitment
- Supportive Environment:
- I will encourage my child and their teammates with positivity and refrain from criticizing coaching staff, parents/legal guardians, players, participants, officials or any other attendees.
- Sideline Conduct:
- I will not "coach from the stands" or provide instructions that may conflict with the coaching staff’s direction, as this undermines the coaching staff's authority and confuses the players.
- Punctuality:
- I will ensure my child arrives on time to practices and games, and will do my best to accommodate coach requests for reasonable early arrivals to facilitate stretching, warm ups, etc.
- The 24-Hour Rule:
- I agree to wait 24 hours after a game before contacting a coach to discuss any concerns.
II. Playing Time & Tactical Decisions
- Coaching Staff’s Discretion:
- I acknowledge that, within the flexibility afforded to coaching staff by the rules of the game, playing time, player positions and tactical decisions are at the sole discretion of the coaching staff.
III. Coach Commitments to Parents
- Safety & Welfare:
- As a coach, I will prioritize the physical and emotional well-being of every player.
- Professionalism:
- As a coach, I will be a positive role model pursuant to the Sportsmanship Agreement I committed to and refrain from using abusive language or berating players, officials or anyone else.
- Open Dialogue:
- As a coach, I will be approachable for fair discussions with players and parents/legal guardians and provide encouraging but honest feedback on areas where a player can improve.
IV. Issue Resolution and Communication Protocol
- Player-Coach First:
- I will encourage my child to advocate for themselves by speaking directly to the coaching staff about their role or development.
- Private Meetings:
- If an issue remains, I will schedule a private meeting with the coaching staff. I will never confront coaching staff in a public environment.
- Comparison Ban:
- During any meeting with coaching staff, I will not discuss or compare my child to other players on the team.
- Escalation:
- If the coaching staff and I cannot reach a resolution, I will contact the Long Valley Basketball Association Leadership Team.
V. Travel Program Addendum (does not apply to Clinic or Rec programs)
- Playing Time Policy (Merit-Based):
- No Minimum Guaranteed: Unlike recreational leagues, playing time in this travel program is not guaranteed. Playing time and substitution policies are determined by the Jersey Basketball League and will be implemented by the coaching staff accordingly. For more details, please see the Jersey Basketball League rules page.
- Earned Minutes: Coaches allocate minutes based on objective and subjective criteria, including:
- Practice Performance: Intensity, focus, and mastery of team concepts.
- Attendance: Unexcused absences from practice will directly reduce game minutes.
- Game Situations: Strategic needs, such as specific defensive matchups or late-game "crunch time" lineups.
- Communication: If a player's time is significantly reduced for disciplinary reasons, the coach will notify the parent/player prior to or immediately following the game.
