Lee Franconia Football League
Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Policy

All participants in Lee Franconia Football League (LFFL) activities (administrators, players, cheerleaders, coaches, officials, and spectators) are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the principles of good sportsmanship and appropriate behavior and will comply with all LFFL policies, rules, and procedures. This Code of Conduct applies at practices, games, and all other LFFL-sanctioned activities.

Participants will:

• Exemplify behavior that reflects good sportsmanship, respect, courtesy, and a positive attitude.
• Maintain self-control at all times.
• Refrain from using abusive language or profanity, making humiliating remarks, gestures of ill temper, verbal or physical threats, and/or physical assault upon another player, coach, official, or spectator.
• Not engage in any behavior which would endanger the health, safety, or well-being of any player, cheerleader, coach, official, or spectator.
• Treat players, cheerleaders, coaches, officials, and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, or ability.
• Follow field/facility rules and regulations, respecting at all times the property of others.
• Not use alcohol or illegal drugs, or carry any firearm or weapon during any event in which LFFL is a participant.
• Not smoke tobacco on the field or in the bleachers during games or practices.

Anyone who violates this Code of Conduct is subject to immediate dismissal from any LFFL event and disciplinary action up to and including being expelled from all LFFL activities. Alleged violations of the Code of Conduct shall be referred to the LFFL Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner for investigation, to include interviewing the parties involved.

In the event of a violation of the Code of Conduct, disciplinary action shall include, but not be limited to, the following, in any order or combination:

1. Verbal warning issued by an LFFL official.
2. Written warning issued by an LFFL official.
3. Should the individual fail to cease and desist in such conduct upon receipt of the warning referenced in (1) or (2) above, then, suspension or immediate ejection from a sports event issued by an LFFL Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, or Coaches’ Commissioner, or event official, with written documentation of the event kept on file.
4. Upon repeated violations of the Code of Conduct, suspension from sports events issued by an LFFL official, with written documentation of the incident kept on file.
5. One-year suspension or multiple-year suspension issued by LFFL, with written documentation of the incident kept on file.
6. Permanent suspension from all LFFL activities issued by the LFFL, with written documentation of the incident kept on file.
7. No violation shall carry a penalty greater than a one-year suspension, except in extreme circumstances or when established by precedent.

Appeals of disciplinary actions will be conducted as follows:

1. The suspended individual shall have the right to appeal any suspension from any future events to the LFFL Board of Directors.
2. Any such intention to appeal said suspension from future events shall be delivered in writing (to include e-mail) to the Club Commissioner within seven (7) days of said suspension.
3. A hearing on said appeal shall be convened within seven (7) days of receipt of the written notice of appeal before the Board of Directors, which shall be composed of the Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner, and at least two (2) other Board members.
4. Any decision made by the Board on appeal shall be appealable to the entire Membership at the next scheduled monthly LFFL meeting. Any intention to appeal shall be delivered in writing (to include e-mail) to the Commissioner within seven (7) days of the ruling by the Board.
5. Any decision by the Members and Board shall be final.
6. No violation shall carry a penalty greater than a one-year suspension except in extreme circumstances or when established by precedent.

The LFFL Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Policy will be made available to individuals and be posted on the LFFL website.

Conduct Bulletin from Commissioner David Fletcher (September 2011)

Game day conduct: Please remember that each and every coach is responsible not only for their conduct but the conduct of their players and fans. No one is to talk to the game officials other than the head coach or a coach pre-determined to be the coach who communicates with the referees. No one is to yell at, argue or harass the game referees, either before, after, or during the games. Such offenses could lead to expulsion and suspensions. Parents and fans are to show good sportsmanship at all times. Any unruliness or bad behavior will result in a warning, and if not heeded, and necessary, expulsion from the field. If called for, it may be for more than that day.

Barriers: At Lee District Park, all fans, adults or children are to stay behind the rope barriers and off the field at ALL times—not only during the game, but before and after, including halftime. We have been lenient to date, but it has gotten out of hand and will not be allowed from this date forward. Please do not lean on the rope or push forward so as to extend the rope in towards the playing field. During the game, coaches should be mindful of this and ask anybody not a league official, player or coach to get behind the barrier. Team parents should assist as well. Follow these rules at away games unless the hosting team communicates different rules.

Volunteers: If it is your team’s turn to supply volunteers, please make sure this is done. We especially need help setting up the field in the morning and taking it down at the end of the day. When we have a full day of home games, please have volunteers begin field setup no later than 7:15AM. Those who are to take it down need to be ready to start dismantling the concession stand and tent by the beginning of the 4th quarter of the last game and be ready to immediately begin taking down the barriers, gathering up the sideline markers and taking all the equipment to the shed at the end of the game. The lights are set on a timer and shut off at 10PM promptly. So, we have little time to get this done.

Respect: Please make sure that it is understood that all coaches, volunteers, game officials and club board members are to be given their due respect commensurate with their position. We are all volunteers and are not doing this other than to provide the children of our community with a safe and positive athletic experience. If a board member, coach or volunteer asks that something be done, please heed their request. Failure or refusal to act accordingly , if necessary, will result in warnings or suspensions as required.

Sideline behavior: At Lee District Park, children should be there to watch and enjoy football games. If they want to toss the football or play games, etc., that is to be done on one of the other available fields—not up at or on the sideline of the game being played. Errant footballs have been going onto the playing field, hitting bystanders and vehicles and being thrown too close to the concession stand. That sort of behavior is unacceptable, dangerous and will not be tolerated. If it happens, the child’s ball will be confiscated if necessary to end the behavior. Follow these rules at away games unless the hosting team communicates different rules.

Lee Franconia Football League
Emergency Communications Plan

In the event of an emergency, emergency information shall be posted on LFFL’s website, updating the LFFL’s recorded telephone message to the extent possible, and disseminating information directly to all participants as quickly as feasible. The process must be publicized and made known to all administrators, coaches, officials, and players’ and cheerleaders’ families. All coaches shall have a calling tree established and in place so that all information is transmitted to coaches, cheerleading squad, and team’s players and/or parents.

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