Beth-Wood Softball Little League – Code Of Conduct For Manager/Coaches

1. Before a game, all managers and coaches should designate a bench area for their team. This area should be in a reasonable position so that all players may view the game at all times and yet be sufficiently away from the baselines and home plate to provide a safe margin of area that foul balls or errant throws can be pursued. This area should also be free of spectators and NO spectators will be allowed between the bench area and the playing field.
2. Managers and coaches will ensure that all players not actively in the game are in the designated bench areas. a. A player is actively in the game if that player is fielding, batting, on base, the on-deck batter or warming up at the manager's/coach's direction. b. A coach is actively involved in the game if coaching 1st or 3rd base, or pitching (in the Rookies League). A coach is not actively in the game (not permitted out of the designated area) when his team is on defense.
3. Managers must ensure that all equipment is kept reasonably away from the field of play and that their equipment is intact/safe for their intended use.
4. Managers should accept the responsibility to keep unauthorized persons from the bench area and from interfering with the players on their team during games. This includes parents and spectators (NO exceptions will be allowed, due to insurance restrictions) !! They must be requested to sit and observe the game from designated bleacher areas. The maximum allowed per team within the bench area shall be a manager plus three (3) coaches, or a total of four (4) adults.
5. A manager (NOT coaches) wishing to question the umpire or opposing team manager/coach shall first request time out from the umpire. When the umpire calls time out, the manager will then address the umpire at home plate in a modulated voice taking care not to alarm, disturb or harass any player or coach, or to let their voice carry in any way that the fans might become vocally involved.
6. All managers and coaches are requested by the BWSLL executive board to be alert to possible rule infractions before or while they happen and to seek their remedy expeditiously at the field by pointing out the rules in question to the umpire and opposing manager. It is far better in a program of this type if all managers and coaches work together for the good of the game, rather than play by "The Book" and seek redress by protest.
7. Managers shall instruct and ensure that NO player or coach displays poor sportsmanship in any manner, either physical of verbal !!
8. All managers and coaches are advised that baseball or softball rules prohibit any physical contact with any player, especially base runners.
9. All managers are advised that spectator conduct is generally determined by the conduct of coaches and players. Managers/Coaches that exhibit highly emotional responses should generally expect the same conduct from their players and spectators. The BWSLL executive board requests that ALL Managers and Coaches set the tone of good sportsmanship at all times - it's contagious !!

   Should there be spectators that become highly emotional or use profanity during the course of a game, the manager of that team is solely responsible for their behavior. Should it persist, the umpires have the right to eject, after first giving a verbal warning, any and all spectators who exhibit this behavior from the ball field site immediately, upon direction to that team manager accordingly; if that manager refuses to obey this direction, that team may be subject to forfeit.

10. Once a game has started, the umpires are in full control of the game, the players and the managers/coaches; they are instructed to forfeit the game for breaches of conduct they determine is detrimental. Again, please remember that judgment calls cannot be questioned.
11. Breaches of conduct by managers and / or coaches will be reported to the BWSLL Executive Board. The board may impose any discipline up to and including the removal of a manager or coach from his or her position.

    Procedure for handling Manager's / Coach's unacceptable behavior : a. The complaint must first go to the BWSLL Executive Board b. BWSLL executive board will discuss this behavior with the manager and / or coach on the first instance. c. If a second instance occurs, a written warning will be given to the manager and or coach by the BWSLL President upon recommendation from the Player-Agent. d. If a third instance occurs, an automatic suspension will be issued by the BWSLL Executive Board, in writing, from the League.

    NOTE: However, if the behavior of the manager and or coach is deemed to be severe and inexcusable by the BWSLL Executive Board, then the board has the unequivocal right to immediately dismiss this person without following the above procedures. NOTE: Any manager and or coach who is suspended from the BWSLL for breaches of conduct will NEVER be allowed to manage or coach in the BWSLL again !!

12. Should problems arise within a team that cannot be settled by that team's manager in the first instance, the manager shall immediately contact the Player Agent for assistance.
13. Should either a manager and or coach get ejected from a game due to their actions by an umpire in abuse of the above-stated rules/regulations, then said manager and or coach is not only suspended from returning to the game he/she was ejected but is also suspended from the next scheduled game as well.