Code of Conduct

Applicable to All Just Compete Sports Programs, Leagues, Events, and Activities

Including, but not limited to, NFL FLAG, Girls Play Flag Football, Young3, NHL STREET, MLS GO, camps, clinics, tournaments, partner events, and future Just Compete Sports programs.

Just Compete Sports provides youth sports leagues, camps, clinics, tournaments, and special events across multiple sports and partner programs.

Just Compete Sports values sportsmanship, fair play, skill development, participant safety, inclusion, and mutual respect among all players, coaches, officials, staff members, volunteers, parents, guardians, and spectators.

This Code of Conduct has been established and adopted to ensure the guiding principles of Just Compete Sports are understood and followed by all individuals associated with the organization.

This Code of Conduct applies to all sports, programs, events, and activities associated with Just Compete Sports. These activities include, but are not limited to, registration events, partner events, practices, camps, clinics, combines, tournaments, league games, special events, and any activity attended under the Just Compete Sports name or banner.

The following standards of conduct will be strictly enforced.

Coaches Code of Conduct

It is the responsibility of every coach to maintain the highest standards of conduct for themselves, their players, assistant coaches, team representatives, parents, guardians, and supporters.

Failure to do so may undermine the authority of officials, disrupt the integrity of the activity, and create an unsafe or hostile environment for participants, coaches, officials, staff members, volunteers, and spectators.

Coaches are role models and are expected to support and acknowledge effort, good play, sportsmanship, teamwork, improvement, and respectful behavior by all participants, regardless of team or program.

Coaches and assistant coaches must demonstrate respect for opponents, officials, staff members, volunteers, parents, guardians, and spectators at all times.

Just Compete Sports will not tolerate hostile, negative, sarcastic, threatening, abusive, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate behavior, whether expressed verbally, physically, electronically, or through gestures.

Coaches who engage in inappropriate conduct may be subject to warning, removal, suspension, or additional disciplinary action by an official, program director, league representative, tournament representative, or other authorized Just Compete Sports official.

Responsibility to the Rules of the Sport

Coaches are expected to understand and follow the official rules, philosophies, safety standards, coaching guidelines, and codes of conduct applicable to the sport and program in which they are participating.

Coaches must demonstrate a working knowledge of the applicable rules and must help their players understand both the purpose and proper application of those rules.

Coaches must comply with the letter and spirit of the applicable rules.

Coaches may not direct, encourage, or knowingly permit players to engage in conduct intended to injure, intimidate, threaten, or unfairly disadvantage another participant.

Coaches must teach safe play, good sportsmanship, teamwork, respect for opponents, and respect for officials.

Sport-specific rules, field or court restrictions, sideline procedures, roster requirements, substitutions, game procedures, and competition standards will be addressed in the applicable sport’s rulebook or program guidelines.

Responsibility to Officials and Game Administrators

Officials, referees, scorekeepers, and game administrators must have the support of coaches, players, parents, guardians, and spectators.

Coaches must refrain from criticizing officials in the presence of players, parents, guardians, or spectators.

Professional respect before, during, and after an activity must be mutual.

There must be no demeaning, abusive, threatening, sarcastic, or confrontational dialogue or gestures between coaches, officials, players, staff members, or spectators.

Coaches must not incite players or spectators or attempt to disrupt the flow of a game, contest, or activity.

Comments or concerns regarding an official should be submitted in writing through the appropriate Just Compete Sports communication channel.

Coaches should not approach officials immediately after a game to argue calls or decisions.

Coaches may address an official during an activity only when appropriate to:

Respond to an official who has initiated a conversation.
Point out an emergency or immediate safety issue.
Request a permitted substitution or administrative clarification.
Ask for time or game-status information.
Use a challenge or review process specifically permitted under the applicable sport’s rules.

A coach may question a rule interpretation only through the process permitted by the applicable sport or program rules.

Judgment calls are not subject to argument, confrontation, or prolonged discussion.

Responsibility to Players and Teams

Coaches are responsible for promoting a safe, respectful, and positive environment.

Coaches must:

Treat every participant with dignity and respect.
Provide instruction appropriate to the participant’s age and ability.
Avoid humiliating, degrading, threatening, or abusive coaching methods.
Encourage effort, development, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Address unsafe or inappropriate player behavior promptly.
Avoid favoritism based on personal relationships, financial benefit, or improper influence.
Follow applicable playing-time and participation policies.
Maintain appropriate adult-minor boundaries.
Follow all Just Compete Sports athlete-safety policies.
Report suspected abuse, misconduct, bullying, hazing, harassment, injuries, or safety concerns as required.

Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and must take reasonable steps to prevent misconduct, unsafe play, intentional injury, bullying, harassment, or retaliation.

Responsibility to Parents, Guardians, and Spectators

Coaches are expected to set clear expectations for parents, guardians, and spectators associated with their team.

Parents, guardians, and spectators must:

Support participants in a positive and appropriate manner.
Respect officials, coaches, players, staff members, and opposing teams.
Avoid coaching from the spectator area unless authorized.
Remain in designated spectator areas.
Follow facility and program rules.
Avoid entering the field, court, playing surface, bench, or team area unless authorized.
Refrain from abusive, threatening, profane, discriminatory, or confrontational behavior.
Avoid interfering with officials, coaches, or game administration.
Help maintain a safe, family-friendly environment.

Coaches are expected to assist Just Compete Sports in addressing inappropriate behavior by individuals associated with their team.

Responsibility to the Community

Coaches, players, parents, guardians, volunteers, and spectators must represent Just Compete Sports in a respectful and professional manner.

Individuals must not post or distribute abusive, threatening, discriminatory, misleading, or inappropriate content regarding another team, player, coach, official, staff member, volunteer, parent, guardian, spectator, partner, facility, or Just Compete Sports program.

Concerns should be addressed through approved Just Compete Sports communication channels, including email, phone, in-person communication, or designated reporting forms.

Just Compete Sports may suspend or remove individuals whose online or public behavior is rude, abusive, threatening, harmful, or inconsistent with this Code of Conduct.

Nothing in this section prohibits a good-faith report of abuse, misconduct, safety concerns, discrimination, or unlawful conduct.

Unsafe and Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Intentional or reckless conduct that creates an unreasonable risk of injury is prohibited.

This includes, but is not limited to:

Fighting.
Striking, punching, kicking, biting, choking, or slapping.
Illegal tackling, checking, pushing, tripping, blocking, or physical contact.
Dangerous use of sports equipment.
Throwing equipment or other objects.
Intentionally attempting to injure another person.
Retaliating physically or verbally.
Entering a playing area to confront another person.
Any conduct prohibited by the applicable sport’s rules.

Offensive, threatening, discriminatory, profane, or confrontational language is prohibited.

Officials and Just Compete Sports representatives may issue warnings, remove individuals from an activity, or impose additional discipline based on the nature and severity of the conduct.

Players, coaches, parents, guardians, and spectators may not physically or verbally abuse any opponent, teammate, official, staff member, volunteer, or spectator.

All participants must follow the safety and contact rules applicable to their sport.

Dangerous, reckless, or intentionally harmful play will not be tolerated.

Player Code of Conduct

Each player is expected to participate fairly, safely, respectfully, and to the best of their ability.

Players are expected to follow these standards:

I will treat players, coaches, officials, staff members, volunteers, parents, guardians, and spectators with dignity and respect.
I will use appropriate language and an appropriate tone when interacting with others.
I will arrive on time for practices, meetings, games, and events.
I will practice with purpose and make a genuine effort to improve.
I will accept coaching and correction respectfully.
I will win and lose graciously.
I will demonstrate good sportsmanship during practices, games, and events.
I will be honest and take responsibility for my actions.
I will not bully, intimidate, haze, harass, threaten, or discriminate against another person.
I will play for the benefit of the team and not only for myself.
I will support and encourage my teammates.
I will learn and follow the rules of my sport.
I will listen respectfully during instruction, practices, meetings, and team discussions.
I will respect fields, courts, facilities, equipment, restrooms, locker rooms, and shared spaces.
I will not damage property or leave trash behind.
I will respect the integrity and judgment of officials.
I will recognize and appreciate good play and sportsmanship by either team.
I will report injuries, unsafe conditions, bullying, abuse, or misconduct to a trusted adult.

Prohibited Conduct

The following actions are prohibited:

Refusing to follow an official’s lawful or reasonable direction.
Verbally abusing or threatening any player, coach, official, parent, guardian, spectator, staff member, or volunteer.
Physically assaulting, abusing, or threatening another person.
Stalking, following, surrounding, or attempting to intimidate another person.
Fighting or engaging in violent behavior.
Throwing equipment or objects in anger or in a dangerous manner.
Engaging in lewd, sexual, abusive, or inappropriate physical behavior.
Engaging in inappropriate physical contact with a participant.
Bullying, harassment, hazing, discrimination, or retaliation.
Using or being impaired by alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, or misused medication while coaching, attending, volunteering, or participating in a Just Compete Sports activity.
Providing alcohol, illegal drugs, or unauthorized medication to a minor.
Possessing a weapon at a Just Compete Sports activity except as permitted by law and expressly authorized by the facility or organization.
Deliberately damaging property or equipment.
Violating athlete-safety, abuse-prevention, background-screening, mandatory-reporting, concussion, injury, communication, or transportation policies.
Interfering with an investigation or discouraging another person from making a good-faith report.
Retaliating against a person who reports misconduct or a safety concern.

Disciplinary Procedures

Any individual who violates this Code of Conduct may be subject to disciplinary action.

The type of discipline will depend on the severity, frequency, intent, impact, and circumstances of the conduct.

Possible disciplinary actions include:

Verbal warning.
Written warning.
Removal from a game, practice, event, or facility.
Suspension from one or more activities.
Probation or restricted participation.
Required training or corrective action.
Removal from a team or program.
Suspension for the remainder of a season or event.
Permanent loss of coaching, volunteer, spectator, or participant privileges.
Notification to a facility, governing body, partner, insurer, law-enforcement agency, child-protection agency, or other appropriate authority.

Just Compete Sports may skip progressive discipline and impose immediate suspension or removal when conduct involves:

Violence or threats of violence.
Abuse or suspected abuse.
Sexual misconduct.
Serious harassment or discrimination.
Grooming.
Weapons.
Drugs or alcohol.
Retaliation.
Intentional injury.
Significant safety risks.
Interference with an investigation.
Other serious misconduct.

Temporary suspension or restriction may be imposed while a concern is reviewed.

Temporary protective action is not a determination of guilt.

Impact on Associated Participants

Removal or suspension of a parent, guardian, coach, or spectator does not automatically require removal of the associated participant.

Just Compete Sports may allow the participant to continue when another approved adult can assume responsibility and when continued participation can occur safely and without disruption.

The participant may be removed or suspended when:

No appropriate adult supervision arrangement is available.
The participant is directly involved in the misconduct.
Continued participation would create a safety concern.
Continued participation would cause significant disruption.
The parent, guardian, or associated adult refuses to comply with restrictions.
Removal is required by law, facility policy, governing-body rules, or another applicable requirement.

Refunds are not guaranteed when a person is removed or suspended for violating this Code of Conduct or another Just Compete Sports policy.

Appeals and Final Decisions

An individual who disagrees with a disciplinary decision may submit a written request for review through the designated Just Compete Sports process.

The request should identify:

The decision being challenged.
The reason the individual believes review is appropriate.
Any relevant facts or supporting information.

Appeals must be respectful and may not include threats, harassment, retaliation, or direct contact with officials, witnesses, or participants involved in the matter.

Just Compete Sports leadership will review the available information and issue a final organizational decision.

Nothing in the appeal process delays or replaces a legal duty to report suspected abuse, neglect, criminal conduct, or immediate safety concerns to the appropriate authority.

Acknowledgment

By participating in a Just Compete Sports program, event, league, camp, clinic, tournament, or activity, individuals agree to follow this Code of Conduct and all applicable Just Compete Sports policies, rules, procedures, and facility requirements.

Failure to follow this Code of Conduct may result in removal, suspension, restriction, or permanent loss of participation privileges.