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Philadelphia Athletics Youth Sports Association

PAYSA Code of Conduct

Player Code of Conduct

  • Play the game for the game’s sake
  • Be generous when you win
  • Be graceful when you lose
  • Be fair no matter what the cost
  • Obey the rules of the game
  • Work for the good of your team
  • Accept the decisions of the officials with good grace
  • ​Conduct yourself with honor and dignity

Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct

  • Children have more need of example than criticism
  • Make athletic participation a positive experience
  • Attempt to relieve the pressure of competition
  • Be kind to your child’s coaches and to the officials
  • Applaud good plays by your team and by the opponents
  • Enter the field of play only at the request of an official or coach
  • Accept the results of each game
  • ​Encourage the child to be gracious in victory and in defeat to work towards improvement

Spectator Code of Conduct

  1. WE WILL REFRAIN FROM BOOING OR YELLING AT OFFICIALS OR ENTERING THE FIELD OF PLAY AT ANY TIME DURING A GAME BECAUSE WE ARE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Such behavior on our part sets a poor example of sportsmanship, and reflects negatively on our community, our team, and ourselves
  • Most officials make the correct calls, even though we sometimes see the play otherwise
  • Poor calls usually balance out and incorrect calls seldom affect the outcome
  • ​Officiating is difficult and no one is perfect

  1. DURING A GAME WE WILL REFRAIN FROM YELLING AT OR INSTRUCTING PLAYERS ON EITHER TEAM BECAUSE WE ARE AWARE THAT:

  • They are young people, who, due to limited experience and great enthusiasm, will make mistakes
  • Encouragement and praise should be made in public; criticism is best made in private
  • ​The coach is best equipped to analyze and correct deficiencies in skills so trying to be helpful in this respect may only confuse the players

  1. DURING A GAME WE WILL REFRAIN FROM BEING ARGUMENTATIVE OR USING ABUSIVE LANGUAGE TOWARDS FANS AND/OR PLAYERS ON EITHER TEAM BECAUSE WE ARE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Others are judging us on our actions and words, so we will always strive to ensure that the result of this judgment is good sportsmanship
  • ​We will conduct ourselves in such a courteous and restrained manner that if called upon to do so, we could line up in front of the opposing supporters and graciously shake hands in the same manner that the players are expected to after the contest is completed

  1. IF OUR TEAM LOSES, WE WILL DEMONSTRATE OUR ABILITY TO COPE WITH THE LOSS IN BOTH DEED AND WORD, BECAUSE WE ARE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • In athletics, as in other aspects of life, it is not always possible to win no matter how supreme the effort
  • It may just be possible that a loss is due to the fact that the opposing team played better
  • ​Our players should learn from our reactions to a loss that:
    • ​We feel they played their best and there is always something to learn from a loss
    • There is no shame attached to an honest effort no matter the score, win or lose
    • There is nothing gained from brooding; players should be encouraged to put the game behind them and look forward to the next opportunity to play
    • ​Seeking scapegoats such as biased officials or poor performance is not a mature or healthy reaction to the loss

  1. WHETHER AWAY FROM OR AT THE GAME, OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS SHOULD CONVEY A PHILOSPHY OF ATHLETICS THAT INCLUDES:

  • The real purpose of competition is to have fun, to be able to participate to improve skills, to learn sportsmanship, to develop a sense of responsibility and self-discipline, to develop group loyalty and camaraderie, to learn to compete within established rules, to accept decisions of authorized officials and to develop sound minds and bodies