As anyone involved in a soccer league knows, parents can come up with some really interesting concerns. I laughed when reading an email from another local league that said something along the lines of "we could write a book about some of the parental concerns we’ve received over the years" That is very true. And it isn’t always in a ‘roll your eyes’ kind of way (though you get some of those too) My favorites are the ones that are completely unexpected.


Case in point. Our Parental Code of Conduct, which all parents must sign, is meant to be both an enforcement tool as well as an educational tool. It includes a variety of do’s and don’ts including:

  • I will never ridicule or yell at my child or another participant for making a mistake or losing a competition.
  • I will respect the officials and their authority during matches and will never question, discuss, or confront coaches during a match, and will take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place.
  • I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during matches, unless I am one of the official coaches of the team.
  • I will never physically or verbally assault another parent, coach, offical, player or volunteer.

The main idea behind these is proper sideline behavior and not being a distraction to the players. Some parents have wondered why we included various items, which we are happy to explain. Well, I recently received an email from a parent who felt items like these were unenforcable because they violated a parent’s constitutional right to free speech and that we should consult an attorney.

Who knew being a league president meant you needed a constitutional lawyer for your youth soccer league? Let’s just say I’m still working on my response.

And for those of you who are curious – this is our current Parental Code of Conduct:

As a parent of an MYSA player, I understand that soccer is supposed to be fun and that I am bound by the rules and bylaws of the MYSA as long as I am a member. I agree that:

  • I will not force my child to participate in sports or to play when they are sick or injured.
  • I will remember that children participate to have fun and that the game is for the children, not the adults.
  • I will inform the coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety and health of my child or others.
  • I will learn the rules of the game and the policies of the league.
  • I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for my child and their team and will encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy.
  • I will demonstrate positive support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators at every game, practice or other MYSA event.
  • I (and my guests) will not engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent such as booing and taunting, refusing to shake hands, excessive cheering in a lopsided match, or using profane language or gestures.
  • I will not encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger the health and wellbeing of the athletes.
  • I will teach my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence.
  • I will demand that my child treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability.
  • I will teach my child that doing one’s best is more important than winning, so that my child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a match or his/her performance.
  • I will praise my child for competing fairly and trying hard, and make my child feel like a winner every time.
  • I will never ridicule or yell at my child or another participant for making a mistake or losing a competition.
  • I will emphasize skill development and practices and how they benefit my child over winning.
  • I understand that if my child fails to regularly participate in practice or does nto follow team rules, they may not be able to participate in future matches or may see reduced playing time during matches.
  • I will promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes ahead of any personal desire I may have for my child to win.
  • I will respect the officials and their authority during matches and will never question, discuss, or confront coaches during a match, and will take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place.
  • I will demand a sports environment for my child that is free from drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and I will refrain from their use at all sports events.
  • I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during matches, unless I am one of the official coaches of the team.
  • I will never physically or verbally assault another parent, coach, offical, player or volunteer.
  • I will never enter the field of play during a match unless summoned by the referee.
  • I understand that violation of this code or the rules of the league as adopted by the MYSA board and coaches may result in, but is not limited to the following actions:
    • Verbal or written warning
    • Parental match suspension with written documentation of incident kept on file with the league.
    • Forfeit of match for my child’s team
    • Parental suspension for remainder of the season.

We drafted this a couple of years ago, choosing many items we felt appropriate from various leagues around the country that had their codes posted online.