CODE OF ETHICS | COACHES
MYBL Code of Ethics
Proper sportsmanship and ethical conduct in Manoa Youth Baseball League (MYBL) is about respect, tradition, and fostering a love for the sport of baseball.
PREAMBLE: We want to demonstrate and develop virtues that represent a community that values HONESTY, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, DISCIPLINE, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND FAIRNESS. These values will be supported and nurtured through collaboration between players, families, coaches, and the MYBL Board.
PURPOSE: The Code of Ethics has been written to protect and promote the best interests of the game of baseball, players, families, and coaches. To ensure that MYBL continues its reputation for being one of the most competitive leagues for youth baseball in Hawai’i.
The code defines what are the right and ethical practices and which practices are wrong and detrimental to all who are part of the MYBL 'Ohana.
Players, families, coaches and the Board of MYBL are all accountable for the success of the principles and MYBL code of conduct.
COACHES’ RESPONSIBILITY
PRINCIPLE I: Players; Officials; Parents; Fans
ARTICLE A: Players
Always place the academic, emotional, physical and moral well-being of your players above desires and pressures to win.
The rules of baseball are clear. Any attempt to circumvent these rules to take unfair advantage of an opponent, or teach deliberate unsportsmanlike conduct has no place in coaching baseball. The coach shall set the example for example for winning without boasting and losing without bitterness and thus earn the respect of his players.
The coach shall discourage and disallow the use of illegal or performance enhancing drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
The coach shall not, and shall not permit any player, to make unsportsmanlike or uncomplimentary remarks to opponents, umpires, or spectators. Taunting, boasting, and fighting demean individuals and the sport of baseball.
The coach shall not, and shall not permit any player, to make unsportsmanlike or uncomplimentary remarks to opponents, umpires, or spectators. Taunting, boasting, and fighting demean individuals and the sport of baseball.
The coach shall advocate and promote the value of education over and beyond the desire for professional stardom.
The coach shall not make demands on his/ her players that will interfere with the players’ opportunities for achieving academic success.
The coach shall recognize, address, and educate against harmful personal practices that may involve the players, e.g., drug, alcohol and tobacco addiction; unwise friends and places; misuse of power; and physical and mental abuse.
The coach shall take immediate disciplinary action when a player’s on or off the field behavior is considered egregious. The integrity and reputation of the team, institution, and the sport of baseball must be protected.
ARTICLE B: Officials
The coach shall respect and support the umpires, scorers, public address announcers and others charged with conducting the game. On and off the record criticism of officials to players of the public is unethical.
The coach shall not permit anyone on his/ her team to address uncomplimentary remarks to any official during a game, or to indulge in conduct which might incite players or spectators against the officials.
ARTICLE C: Parents
The coach shall treat the parents and family of his/ her players with respect; be clear about your expectations, goals and policies and maintain open communication.
The coach shall be candid with players and parents about the likelihood of getting a scholarship or playing on a professional level.
ARTICLE D: Fans
The coach shall strive to educate the home fans to be respectful and courteous to the opponents while still maintaining enthusiasm and support for their team.
The coach shall be responsible, within reason, for the conduct of his/ her team’s fans and refrain form arousing the crowd by his conduct.
PRINCIPLE II: Responsibility to the Institution
ARTICLE A: Institutional Integrity
The coach shall conduct herself/ himself so as to uphold and maintain the integrity and dignity of his institution.
The coach shall discuss problems with his/ her general manager and/or other members of MYBL in a professional manner, and then accept and support decisions that have been reached.
ARTICLE B: Academic Integrity
The coach shall not exert pressure on other coaches to give players consideration they do not deserve. The coach shall not exert pressure on the MYBL Board to admit players who are not eligible.
PRINCIPLE III: Responsibility to the Rules and Integrity of Baseball
ARTICLE A:
Rules The coach shall maintain a thorough knowledge of the rules of the game and assure that his/ her players know and understand the rules.
The coach shall require his/ her players to know and abide by the letter and the spirit of all baseball rules and those relating to eligibility, recruitment, transfers, practices and other provisions regulating their competition.
ARTICLE B:
Integrity of the Game Communicate to your players a respect and reverence for the grand history of baseball.
PRINCIPLE IV: Professional Responsibility
ARTICLE A: Recruiting
The coach shall strictly observe all league rules and policies.
Do not attempt to recruit a player registered in another league unless properly authorized according to league rules.
Do not attempt to recruit players from another youth baseball organized team during the season or without approval from MYBL and the player’s affiliated league.
Do not participate in negative recruiting against another coach or its players. Derogatory statements toward other coaches, players, or leagues are considered unethical.
ARTICLE B: Relationships
Maintain appropriate professional relationships with players, managers, and trainers and respect proper coach/player boundaries.
Treat news media with courtesy, honesty, and respect.
Teach his/ her players how to conduct themselves in interviews in the best interest of the team and the game.
Instruct his/ her players that any disciplinary, academic, or personal problems are “family affairs” and not to be made public.
Do not be associated in any way with professional gamblers and should not be present where gambling on team sports is encouraged or permitted.
Act toward other coaches in a manner characterized by courtesy, good faith, and respect. Help develop the baseball coaching profession by exchanging knowledge and experiences with colleagues, players and families.
Uphold his or her responsibility to coaching by bringing inconsistent or unethical behavior of others to the attention of appropriate regulatory committees in a manner consistent with this code, but only if informal resolution or correcting the situation is not appropriate or possible.
PRINCIPLE V: Personal Responsibility
ARTICLE A: Trustworthiness
Model high ideals of sportsmanship and always pursue victory with honor while teaching and advocating good character.
Strive to be himself or herself worthy of trust while teaching his/ her players the importance of integrity, honesty, and reliability.
ARTICLE B: Respect
Treat all people with respect at all times and require the same of the players. Do not engage in, or permit, profanity, vulgarities, obscene gestures, trash talking, taunting, boastful celebration, or other actions that demean individuals, or the sport of baseball, or reflect badly on the team and league.
Use positive coaching methods to increase players’ self-esteem and enjoyment, and to foster a love and appreciation for baseball. He/ She shall refrain from physical or psychological intimidation, verbal abuse, and any conduct that is demeaning to players.
Treat the field and the league’s equipment with dignity; storing league property securely if possible, cleaning up after games and practices and raking and dragging the field after each use.
ARTICLE C: Conduct
Be mindful that he/ she is a role model with high visibility great influence, and consistently conduct himself/ herself in private and coaching situations in a manner that exemplifies what he/ she expects from his/ her players.
Do accurately represent his/her academic and coaching qualifications, experience, and past affiliations.
ARTICLE D: Fairness and Caring
Be fair in selecting a team, competitive situations, disciplinary issues, and all other matters, and be open-minded and willing to listen and learn.
Demonstrate concern for his/ her players as individuals and encourage them to look out for one another.
Put safety and health considerations above the desire to win, and never permit players to intentionally injure an opponent or engage in reckless behavior that might cause injury to themselves or others.
MYBL STATEMENT ON SPORTSMANSHIP, VALUES, AND IDEALS
Whereas: We believe that coaches are among the strongest influences on a young person’s moral and ethical development; and
Whereas: We believe that the highest calling of a baseball coach is to teach and model the character traits of honesty, integrity, respect, and personal responsibility; and
Whereas: We believe that honorable athletic competition in baseball provides rigid and voluntary rules of right and wrong that can lead to strong character development among our players; and
Whereas: We believe that a baseball coach’s moral and ethical conduct, on and off the field (i.e., recruiting, academic, fairness to all team personnel) will deeply influence his players;
Whereas: We believe that coaching MYBL is a privilege
THEREFORE: We strongly encourage all members of the Manoa Youth Baseball League to place the highest priority on teaching and modeling the moral and ethical values of HONESTY, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, DISCIPLINE, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND FAIRNESS.
The MYBL Code of Ethics was unanimously approved by the MYBL Board on January 23th, 2021, in Honolulu, HI.