Brimfield Recreation Zero Tolerance Policy

Brimfield Recreation is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and positive environment for all players, coaches, officials, and spectators. The following Zero Tolerance Policy applies to all programs, events, and activities.

This Zero Tolerance Policy is an effort to decrease the abuse of Officials (Referee, Assistant Referee, Linespeople, Umps, etc). We must all work together to deter and eliminate all levels of verbal abuse or negative criticism of Officials. We would not tolerate such behavior towards our children — we must not tolerate the same towards our Officials.

This policy is not intended to label Officials as always right and spectators and/or coaches as always wrong. Just as players make mistakes during play and coaches may err in strategy or methodology, Officials will make mistakes in officiating, particularly in the younger divisions where they are learning.

The current state of affairs regarding chronic shortages of qualified Officials will likely be with us for some time. We simply cannot afford to experience the high levels of attrition of Officials that have occurred in the past. In all cases, our Officials must receive only positive support from coaches and spectators to continue to grow as Officials.

This Zero Tolerance Policy applies to all coaches, players, parents, spectators, and other supporters participating in Brimfield Recreation Sports and Activities.

The coach is responsible for ensuring all players and spectators associated with their team follow this policy. A coach, player, or spectator may not express any disagreement or dissatisfaction whatsoever with the officiating to any Official, directly or indirectly — before, during, or after a game. Any critiques may only be voiced through the appropriate channels (reaching out to the town coordinator for the particular sport or the Recreation Committee directly).

Abusive and obscene language, violent play or conduct, fighting, and other negative or derogatory behavior directed to or about Officials will not be tolerated. The ultimate responsibility for the actions of coaches, players, and spectators resides with the member organization (Brimfield Recreation Committee).

Parents, Guardians & Spectators

No parent, guardian, or spectator shall address the Officials at any time. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Parents, guardians, and spectators shall not dispute calls during or after the game.
• Parents, guardians, and spectators shall not make remarks to the Official(s) or advise the Official(s) to watch certain players or attend to rough play.
• Parents, guardians, and spectators shall never yell at the Official(s), including criticism, sarcasm, harassment, intimidation, or feedback of any kind before, during, or after the game.

The only allowable exceptions to the above are:

• Parents, guardians, and spectators may only respond to an Official who has initiated a conversation, until such time as the Official terminates the conversation.
• Parents, guardians, and spectators may point out an emergency or safety issue, such as a player apparently injured on the field or observed fighting.
• Parents, guardians, and spectators may compliment the Official after the game.

Additionally, parents, guardians, and spectators shall not make derogatory comments to coaches, players, or spectators of either team.

Consequences for Parents, Guardians & Spectators

In the opinion of the lead Official, depending on the severity of the offense, the lead Official may take any of the following actions:

1. Issue a verbal warning to the coach of the offending party's team and have the coach address the parent, guardian, or spectator to cease their actions.
2. Stop the game and instruct the coaches to direct the parent, guardian, or spectator to leave the field area.
3. Abandon the game if the parent, guardian, or spectator does not leave the field area.

Players

The conduct of players and substitutes is governed by the Laws of the Game and the league or charter they are part of. Additional consequences for players who engage in misconduct may be established by the Recreation Committee, but may in no case be less severe than the consequences established by the associated charter or league (e.g., USA Softball, Little League, MASS Youth Soccer, etc.).

Players are expected to treat teammates and opponents with respect at all times.

Player Conduct & Peer Interaction

All players are expected to demonstrate respect and sportsmanship toward teammates, opponents, and themselves at all times. The following behaviors will not be tolerated:

• Bullying, defined as repeated verbal, physical, or social behavior intended to harm, intimidate, exclude, or embarrass another player
• Teasing, name-calling, or mocking teammates or opponents
• Intentional exclusion of teammates from team activities
• Retaliation or escalation of conflicts between players

Players are expected to:

• Support and encourage teammates
• Resolve disagreements respectfully
• Seek assistance from a coach if conflicts arise

Addressing Player-to-Player Conflict & Bullying

Brimfield Recreation is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all participants. Player-to-player conflict, including bullying or repeated negative behavior, will be addressed promptly using the following process:

Coach Intervention & Player Support — The coach will immediately address the situation with all involved players, ensuring the impacted player is safe, supported, and heard, and that the involved player(s) understand acceptable conduct and expectations moving forward.

Parent/Guardian Notification — If the behavior is ongoing, serious, or warrants additional awareness, the coach will notify the parents/guardians of the involved players to communicate the situation, expectations, and any next steps.

Escalation to Recreation Committee — Continued, repeated, or severe incidents will be documented and submitted to the Recreation Committee for review and potential disciplinary action.

At any point in this process, if a player's physical safety or emotional/mental well-being is at risk, the situation may be escalated immediately to the Recreation Committee and/or appropriate authorities without following the above sequence.

Additional Consequences for Player Misconduct

In addition to any penalties imposed under the Laws of the Game or applicable league/charter, player misconduct involving bullying, repeated negative behavior, or actions detrimental to the team environment may result in:

1. Verbal warning and coaching intervention
2. Reduced playing time or removal from a portion of a game or practice
3. Suspension from one or more games or practices
4. Removal from the program, as determined by the Recreation Committee

All disciplinary actions will take into consideration the severity, frequency, and impact of the behavior and may not happen in the order noted above depending on the severity.

Coaches, Assistant Coaches & Bench Personnel

It is the responsibility of all coaches to maintain the highest standards of conduct for themselves, their players, and supporters in all games. Coaches are responsible for addressing and managing player-to-player conduct, including bullying, conflict resolution, and adherence to the escalation procedures outlined in this policy.

As role models, coaches are expected to be supportive of and acknowledge the effort, good play, and sportsmanship of all players from both teams. Brimfield Recreation will not tolerate negative behavior exhibited by demonstrative actions and gestures, or by ill-intentioned remarks directed toward Officials or members of an opposing team.

• Coaches shall not interact with coaches or players of the opposing team in any manner that may be construed as negative, hostile, or sarcastic.
• Coaches shall not offer dissent to any call made by the Officials at any time.
• Coaches are not to address the Officials during the game except to:
  • Respond to an Official who has initiated a conversation
  • Point out emergency or safety issues
  • Make substitutions
  • Ask the Official, "What is the type of restart?"
  • Ask for the time remaining

Coaches are allowed to ask an Official after a game or during the halftime interval, in a polite and constructive way, to explain a law or foul — but not judgment calls. Absolutely no sarcasm, harassment, or intimidation is allowed.

Note: It is recommended that coaches or other team members do not engage in any conversation with the game Officials once the game has concluded.

Consequences for Coaches, Assistant Coaches & Bench Personnel

In the opinion of the lead Official, depending on the severity of the offense, the lead Official may take any of the following actions:

1. Issue a verbal warning to the offending coach, assistant coach, or bench personnel.
2. Caution the offending coach, assistant coach, or bench personnel.
3. Eject the offending coach, assistant coach, or bench personnel. Once ejected, the individual will be required to leave the field area immediately.
4. Abandon the game if the coach, assistant coach, or bench personnel do not leave the field area after being instructed to do so.

Additional consequences associated with ejection may be assessed by the league/charter in accordance with their documented policy and/or with the Recreation Committee.

All cases of alleged abuse or assault of a referee shall be reported to the league/charter of that sport and to the Recreation Committee within 48 hours of conclusion of the game.

Examples of Referee Abuse include, but are not limited to:

• Using foul or abusive language toward a referee that implies or threatens physical harm
• Spewing any beverage on a referee's physical property
• Spitting at (but not on) the referee

Examples of Referee Assault include, but are not limited to:

• Hitting, kicking, punching, choking, spitting on, grabbing, or bodily running into a referee
• Head butting
• The act of kicking or throwing any object at a referee that could inflict injury
• Damaging the referee's uniform or personal property (car, equipment, etc.)

Concussion Safety

In accordance with Massachusetts state law and CDC guidelines, all coaches are required to complete the CDC Heads Up Concussion Training before each season.

Additionally, Brimfield Recreation has a concussion policy that outlines the rules and procedures for handling concussions. This policy is enforced by the Recreation Committee and all players must comply with it.

Revision History

Revisions must be reviewed and approved by the voting members of the Recreation Committee during a scheduled and posted meeting. Prior to voting, input and review from all Recreation Committee members and attendees will be requested, encouraged, and welcomed. The date of approval will be noted in the table below along with the new revision number and a brief note on why it was revised. Policy will be reviewed no less than one (1) time per calendar year.