ASA FOOTBALL PHILOSOPHY the ASA Football Program Is a Recreational League That Strongly Emphasizes the Child First, the Sport Second
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OFFICIAL LEAGUE POLICIES FALL 2021 ASA FOOTBALL PHILOSOPHY The ASA Football Program is a recreational league that strongly emphasizes the child first, the sport second. We want to provide a positive and fun learning environment that gives children a great opportunity to learn the skills necessary to be successful in the great American tradition of football. LEAGUE ADMINISTRATION The football commissioner will act as the presiding officer of the football board, and shall have the responsibility for the administration and conduct of each association’s football program. A division director for each playing division will be designated by the football commissioner, and shall have the responsibility for assisting the football commissioner in the direction of their division. Division directors cannot be a director for the same division they are coaching. DEFINITIONS 1. “Coach” or “coaches”, includes head coaches, assistant coaches or any other person with a coach’s badge. 2. “Team participants” includes, but is not limited to, players, parents of players, coaches, assistant coaches, spectators or any other person involved with the team both directly or indirectly. LEAGUE EXCEPTIONS 1. Any item not covered by these rules will be jointly decided by the football board. 2. Any complaints must be submitted to the appropriate football board in writing. 3. The football board reserves the right to make exceptions in special cases for all rules, procedures, and policies and reserves the right to modify, change, or create any rule that is in the best interest of the program and/or its participants with the approval of the ASA Competition Committee SPORTSMANSHIP The ASA football program has a zero-tolerance policy and regards bad sportsmanship as unnecessary and completely intolerable. The sportsmanship and behavior of all team participants (players, parents of players, coaches, assistant coaches, and spectators) is subject to the ASA Code of Conduct. Any team participant participating in verbal abuse or conflict with other coaches, referees, board members, players or any other team participant will result in the abusive party being ejected from the game and may receive further disciplinary action COACH SPORTSMANSHIP All coaches will demonstrate positive sportsmanship both on and off the field to his team participants, other team participants, board members, and officials. Coaches who are unable to demonstrate proper sportsmanship are subject to game interruption and forfeit, along with suspensions and termination. They may also be denied future coaching assignments. Any coach who is dismissed from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct and/or the use of profanity will be unable to coach any team event including practices, and or games for 1 week following the ejection. (This includes Playoff & Super Bowl games). Coaches are responsible in assisting officials with the sportsmanship of all playing and non-playing team participants. No appeal is offered for a coach who has been ejected from a game. Any person who is ejected from a game or an event for unsportsmanlike conduct is required to leave the facilities immediately. Any coach or assistant coach who is flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct a total of 2 times during any season, including pre-, regular or post-season will be removed from his coaching position for the remainder of the season and must be approved by the football commissioner and football board to be reinstated for future coaching positions. At no time will coaches address any player, parents, or coaches from another team in any negative way. PLAYER SPORTSMANSHIP All players must demonstrate positive sportsmanship at all times. Coaches are responsible for the sportsmanship of their players. Players who cannot demonstrate proper sportsmanship will be dismissed from the game and be subject to discipline at the discretion of the division director and/or the football commissioner. ANY player ejected will be subject to discipline. There is no exception for players who started an issue or who were defending themselves. ANY player who is ejected from a game for ANY reason will be subject to consequences. Automatic Player Ejection: Players will be automatically ejected from a game for profanity, hitting, punching and/ or fighting. Showboating and taunting will also be grounds for removal from a game. The continued demonstration of improper or unsportsmanlike conduct or the use of profanity will constitute suspension from any number of games which the ASA Football Board or the ASA Ethics Committee determine. SPECTATOR SPORTSMANSHIP All spectators are expected to demonstrate positive sportsmanship. Spectators who cannot demonstrate proper sportsmanship will be asked to leave the game site and will not be allowed at the next game their related player participates in. Failure to leave the game site after being asked to do so by game officials or league representative can result in the game being forfeited. Spectators shall adhere to field guidelines. Spectators may only be on the sideline that is for their team and must remain in the spectator area marked on the game field. We reserve the right to ban any spectator from any ASA sanctioned event. COACHING ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION All head coaches and assistant coaches are subject to the provisions of the ASA Code of Conduct. In an attempt to provide adequate instruction and attention to each participant, each team is allowed a maximum of six (6) coach’s badges. Teams may have a total of six (6) coaches on the sidelines during games. This includes all persons helping manage the team on game day regardless of title. Up to two (2) older siblings of players can help the team in a “Water Boy” capacity. No coach or assistant coach may participate in any team events including but not limited to: meetings, workouts or games until he or she has completed the following requirements; 1. Registered 2. Officially assigned to a team roster 3. Completed the football coach certification process OBTAINING A COACH BADGE The Head Coach is responsible for selecting assistant coaches and ensuring that all team coaches obtain an ASA coach badge and football sticker. Coaches must complete all requirements at the ASA Office to obtain a coach badge and sticker - including online registration, background check, and completing the coaching certification/training required by the league. COACH RESPONSIBILITIES Only coaches who are in good standings with the league will be considered for coaching opportunities. All coaches must be at least 21 Years of Age. All head coaches are responsible for all team participant conduct on the field, off the field, home and away. Head coaches must ensure that all team members conduct themselves in a manner as to uphold the mission of the league and to adhere to good sportsmanship at all times. Failure to act or to control sidelines will result first in penalties and then possible forfeiture of the game and or removal of the coach from his position. All coaches who are requested to appear before the ASA Ethics Committee must respond within two (2) business days of being contacted. Failure to respond may result in the coach being removed from his team with all future coaching opportunities, in any capacity, being permanently revoked. The head coach will ensure that each person who has access to the coach’s box has a current coach badge with approved sticker that is issued by the ASA Office upon completion of the football coaches certification. All coaches who will be listed on a team’s roster must attend the mandatory coach meeting. Any coach who does not attend the mandatory coach’s meeting will forfeit all rights to appeal a game ejection or suspension. Any coach who misses the mandatory coach’s meeting will also be moved to a “one and done” status meaning that upon receipt of ONE (1) flag for unsportsmanlike conduct in a season the coach will automatically be removed from his coaching position for the remainder of the season with no appeal. Coaching is a privilege, not a right or guaranteed, and coaching status is at the discretion of the football board. All coaches will be certified with the appropriate USA FOOTBALL Youth Contact (Tackle) Coach Certification or Youth Non-Contact (Flag) Coach Certification. It is mandatory that all coaches have a team meeting with all parents to explain the rules and code of conduct. Coaches must explain to their parents and players that any negative actions they take before, during or after a game in relation to the officials, coaches, players, spectators, or board members will have a negative impact on the game and will potentially result in game penalties against their team. LEAGUE COMMUNICATION PROCESS Head coaches are the point of contact and representatives for their teams in all areas. Head coaches must follow the following communication process. 1. All communications start between the head coach and their assigned division director. Any team issue, complaint or team need must start from the head coach level directly to the division director. 2. If resolution cannot be obtained at the first level the team’s head coach should contact the football commissioner for resolution. 3. The football commissioner will either resolve the issue or escalate the issue to the football board for resolution. 4. If the football board cannot resolve the issue the football commissioner will escalate the issue to the ASA Football Sports Specialist All football parents and coaches have the right to confidential communications and any item brought to the attention of the division director, football commissioner or football board is always treated as confidential and there are no repercussions for reporting issues within the league. REGULAR SEASON GAMES All teams will be scheduled an 8 game regular season. Based on weather or other delays in the season games are subject to change at the Football Board’s discretion.