MBA Player Code of Conduct
MBA believes that a quality baseball experience depends on the commitment of each player to his or her team. Players are expected to attend all practices and games throughout the season. While conflicts do arise from time to time with other activities, we ask that each participant give MBA baseball a high priority. Participation in MBA requires that all players abide by the following MBA Player's Code:
- I will demonstrate good sportsmanship and encourage good sportsmanship from fellow players, coaches, officials and parents at every game and practice.
- I will attend every practice and game that I can and will notify my coach if I cannot.
- I will expect to receive a fair amount of playing time based upon my abilities and commitment to the program.
- I will do my very best to listen and learn from my coaches.
- I will treat my coaches, other players, officials and fans with respect regardless of race, sex, creed, or abilities and I will expect to be treated accordingly.
- I promise to accept the calls of the umpire and agree that it is the manager's and/or coach's job to question a call.
- I deserve to have fun during my MBA experience and will alert parents or coaches if it stops being fun.
- I deserve to play in an environment that is free of drugs, tobacco and alcohol and expect adults to refrain from their use at all MBA sports events.
MBA Parent Code of Conduct
Through baseball, Moraga Baseball Association (MBA) seeks to enhance the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of every child that takes part. As such, MBA expects the highest degree of sportsmanship from its members. The following Code of Conduct has been adopted as the "MBA Way" to better promote fairness, teamwork, good citizenship, sportsmanship, responsibility, and respect among the members of MBA.
Players will learn these values by the examples they see from those around them, and to this end, the following rules will be strictly enforced:
- Verbal abuse (booing, taunting, ridicule) or physical abuse of an official, umpire, coach, player, or spectator, including obscene gestures, is not acceptable behavior. And will not be tolerated. The offender may be removed from the field at the discretion of an umpire or MBA board member.
- Baseball is a game of interpretations, and as a result, disputes will occur from time to time. However, it is important that players learn respect. Only head coaches may initiate discussions with an umpire.
- Profanity is expressly forbidden at all times.
- Alcoholic beverages and the use of illicit drugs are prohibited.
- The use of tobacco products on Moraga School District fields and in the dugouts is prohibited.
- Anyone removed from a game must leave the facility completely. This includes the stands and all adjacent areas.
- Any infraction of the above rules will result in a report being delivered to the MBA Board and possibly local authorities for consideration of further action, as appropriate.
Any violation of the before mentioned rules may result in the following actions. Final rulings will be the made at the discretion of the MBA board members.
- A ban from participating in all MBA activities for a set period of time or number of games.
- Severe violations can result in suspension from all MBA activities for the remainder of the current season or tournament, or from any subsequent MBA participation.
- Physical abuse of an official, coach, player, or spectator will result in immediate expulsion from the field at the direction of an umpire, MBA board member or local law enforcement. Anyone expelled for this reason may not return to the fields or participate in any MBA activity until the MBA Board investigates and rules on the matter.
MBA strongly encourages the following:
- Applaud effort on the field, regardless of the score or team.
- Remember that the program exists for the players to learn, develop and to have fun. Even though baseball is competitive in nature, winning is of secondary consideration to conducting oneself at all times in the appropriate manner.
- Parents should be supportive of coaches, players and umpires. Coaches, volunteers or paid, are giving of their time and knowledge - and often, their money - in order to coach. Parents should be positive role models that foster the respect of all.
- Concerns about a player's role on a team should be expressed to a coach in a private setting, never in public or close proximity to players.
- Umpires will make mistakes, but coaches and parents are expected to accord the umpires with the respect their position within the game deserves.
- Teach players that they have a responsibility to learn and to try their best. Effort leads to achievement and respect.
MBA Coaches Code of Conduct
The managers and coaches of MBA are the heart of our organization. They dedicate an extraordinary amount of time to the youth of our community, sacrificing their personal time for the development of our players.
Coaches assume the following responsibilities:
- I will teach each player the game of baseball and the meaning of sportsmanship and playing together as a team.
- I will promote increased self-esteem among all team members.
- I will teach competitiveness and the meaning of fair play by precept and example.
- I will develop, to the best of his or her ability, the overall athletic skill of each player on the team.
- I will demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times.
- I will place the emotional and physical wellbeing of my players ahead of my personal desire to win.
- I will do my best to provide a safe play situation for my players.
- I will create an environment in which the children have fun with baseball.
- I will attend MBA sanctioned manager/coaches clinics.
- I will not attack a team member's character, or imply, directly or indirectly, by action or comments that any particular player was personally responsible for the win or loss of a game.
- I will treat the umpires, opposing coaches and parents with respect.
- I will hold a team meeting with the parents prior to the start of the regular season and organize the parents of the players to carry out work necessary for the team's function.
- I will maintain discipline at all practices and games for the players, parents and spectators of my team.
- I will publish a practice schedule and notify parents of canceled practices and games.
- I will ensure parent participation in keeping areas around bleachers, dugouts and fields clean.
- I will maintain order in the dugout.
- I will ensure the field is prepared when designated as home team.
- I will ensure the cleanup of the dugout and field at the conclusion of the game.
- I will assure that equipment in my possession is in serviceable condition and returned at the end of the season.
- I understand that unsportsmanlike conduct, including foul and/or abusive language, will not be tolerated at any time. If such behavior occurs, I acknowledge that I am subject to discipline or, if deemed necessary, dismissal by the MBA Board of Directors.