City of Buckeye COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT -Recreation Division- COACHES HANDBOOK Important dates Opening day: Saturday, June 16th Picture day: Tuesday, June 19th and Thursday, June 21st Last day: Saturday, July 28th Peter Piper pizza party nights: TBD Community Services Department’s Vision and Mission Statement Our Vision “Buckeye Is An Active, Engaged and Vibrant Community.” Our Mission We are dedicated to enriching quality of life, managing natural resources and creating memorable experiences for all generations. .We do this by: Developing quality parks, diverse programs and sustainable practices. Promoting volunteerism and lifelong learning. Cultivating community events, tourism and economic development. Preserving cultural, natural and historic resources. Offering programs that inspire personal growth, healthy lifestyles and sense of community. Dear Coach: Thank you for volunteering to coach with the City of Buckeye Youth Sports Program. The role of a youth sports coach can be very rewarding, but can be challenging at times as well. We have included helpful information in this handbook to assist in making this an enjoyable season for you and your team. Our youth sports philosophy is to provide our youth with a positive athletic experience in a safe environment where fun, skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship lay its foundation. In addition, our youth sports programs is designed to encourage maximum participation by all team members; their development is far more important than the outcome of the game. Please be sure to remember you are dealing with children, in a child’s game, where the best motivation of all is enthusiasm, positive reinforcement and team success. If the experience is fun for you, it will also be fun for the kids on your team as well as their parents. Please take the time and effort to do the best job you possibly can. If for any reason you are unable to complete the season, or have any issues with the coaching, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am here to assist you in order to make this season a success for everyone involved. Thanks again for your efforts. Erin Fort, Recreation Coordinator [email protected] 623-349-6357 - Main COACHES INCENTIVE PROGRAM Program Philosophy : Volunteer coaches are the greatest asset to our youth sports programs. The City of Buckeye Community Services Department will make the success of our volunteer coaches the number one priority during the sports season. How the Incentive Program Works: Interested coaches register their child and pay the appropriate registration fee. If selected as a head coach, one (1) credit valued at $50.00 will be placed on his/her ac- count upon completion of the season. Any credit given will expire (1) one year from being placed on an ac- count. Any credits issued must be used prior to registering for any future activities or program. This credit can only be used towards any future program or activity offered by the city of Buckeye Community Services Department. Qualification Criteria: Credit is only given if a coach completes the entire season and fulfills 6 of the 8 requirements listed below. 1. Complete coaching application. 2. Pass fingerprint and background check. 3. Attend mandatory coaches’ meeting . 4. Be present on picture day and in the team photo. 5. Return 90% of youth sports season surveys. 6. Complete the season. This entails hosting one practice per week, attending 6 out of 7 games. 7. Maintain sports equipment and return all equipment by deadline. 8. Display and teach positive sportsmanship. Follows the Coaches Code of Ethics & Conduct. VOLUNTEER COACH DESCRIPTIONS/EXPECTATIONS The City of Buckeye Youth Sports programs counts on volunteers to coach teams in our leagues. We are always looking for new coaches, and appreciate the time and effort put forth by all coaches. Pre-Season Expectations: Complete Coaches Application, Complete and pass FBI Background Check and Attend the coaches meeting. Time Commitments: Call parents and schedule first team practice/meeting, Schedule practices, 1-2 times per week, Be present at games and in the team photo. End of Season: Return equipment, Distribute awards and complete evaluations/surveys. Goals: Coach and provide instruction to approximately 8-12 youth participants. Create a FUN and safe environment. Increase skill development and knowledge of game. Teach teamwork and positive sportsmanship. Follow the City of Buckeye’s rules and regulations. Adhere to the Code of Ethics and Conduct. CODE OF CONDUCT & ETHICS As a youth coach you have agreed to follow the Code of Ethics: I will place the emotional and physical well-being of my players ahead of any personal desire to win. I will remember to treat each player as an individual, remembering the large spread of emotional and physical development for the same age group. I will do my very best to provide a safe playing situation for my players. I will do my best to organize practices that are fun and challenging for all my players. I will lead, by example, in demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship to all my players. I will insure that I am knowledgeable in the rules of each sport. I will use those coaching techniques appropriate for each of the skills that I teach. As a coach you will be leaving a lasting impression on the youth in our community. Coaches are re- quired to demonstrate a positive attitude and good sportsmanship. The development of the child is far more important than the outcome of the game. The key factor is FUN. Alcoholic beverages, smoking or chewing tobacco is not permitted anytime during the game or practice. No team member (players, coaches, etc.) shall be allowed to harass or ridicule members of the opposing team in any way. Unsportsmanlike Conduct Includes: 1. Cheating of any kind 2. Use of profane language 3. Continually harassing umpires before, during, or after a game. 4. **Encouragement of team members to harm or injure players of the opposing team (i.e., take-out players, running over players without attempting to avoid a collision, etc.) 5. **Physical abuse to any participant. (hitting, shoving, etc.) 6. Shouting obscenities at any time 7. Any uncomplimentary/antagonizing remarks directed at opposing team members or fans. First Offense—results in a warning. Second Offense—results in ejection. **Zero Tolerance will be exercised! The City of Buckeye Community Services Department enforces the Coaches Code of Ethics. Violations of these standards will result in disciplinary action and possible dismissal from City of Buckeye Youth Sports Programs. Coach / Player Ejection if an ejection occurs for unsportsmanlike conduct he/she will also be suspend- ed from the team’s next game. When this occurs, the person ejected must leave the park premises prior to the continuation of the game. Failure to do so results in an automatic forfeit. A second offense of this nature will result in expulsion from the league. LEAGUE INFORMATION Overview The purpose of this document is to provide all coaches with an overview of our rules and regulations. All games are conduced in accordance with the current NFHS rules of the game and decisions as modified by the City of Buckeye. Any issues not specifically addressed in the guidelines will be governed by the City of Buckeye. The recreation coordinator reserves the right to modify, adjust or omit any rule in this documentation that is deemed to enhance the quality of the program. Coaching The overall objective is for participants to enjoy the game and strive to do their best at every level. Coaches should recognize that the primary goal of the youth sports program is to teach fundamentals and sportsmanship in a safe setting. Coaches should keep practices engaging and play each player at a variety of positions giving them the overall experience. The key to being a successful coach is not determined by your record but by creating an environment that allows player to learn and succeed at the sport. Team Formulation Players are assigned to teams according to the nearest public school. Participants who do not register by the registration deadline are placed on the waiting list and will only be placed on teams if available roster size permits. Requests by parents and coaches for specific teams assignments cannot be guaranteed. Team rosters will be limited to depending on registrations and division. Player Eligibility All participants are required to be registered with the City of Buckeye, prior to playing or participating in practices. Players who fail to register will be declared ineligible. Practices The practice times and locations are determined by the volunteer coaches. Since the teams are formed based on schools, the desire is for the coach to have a practice location convenient for a majority of the team. Please be sure to clean up after your practices, and leave the gyms and schools looking better than when you got there. Jurisdiction 1. Courts - The gymnasiums are allocated by the City of Buckeye for their prospective use; therefore the City of Buckeye maintains jurisdiction over the gymnasiums. All participants, coaches and spectators will honor the rules and regulations along with employees and offices who are empowered to enforce them. 2. Officials Authority - The officials and City of Buckeye employees are authorized to enforce rules and regulations in addition to the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) rules of the game. 3. The officials are responsible to control and maintain the safety of the game. LEAGUE INFORMATION Awards The City of Buckeye has partnered with the Jr. Suns/Jr. Mercury program so that each registered participant will receive 2 tickets to a Mercury game as well as Sun’s gift. The awards will be distributed after the final game when the equipment is returned. Coaches and parents are advised not to solicit any funds for any purpose from players or parents.