[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Old
Bridge 9-22-2003 by Ord. No. 47-03. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to formally adopt a procedure whereby
the Athletic Code of Conduct and Coaches Code of Ethics, governing coaches,
participants and attendees of youth sport team events funded by or held on
property owned by the Township of Old Bridge, can be enforced.
Youth sports team organizations who are funded by or hold games on property
owned by the Township of Old Bridge shall adhere to the Athletic Code of Conduct
and the Coaches Code of Ethics, as adopted by resolutions on August 11, 2003.
Ten copies of the Athletic Code of Conduct and the Coaches Code of Ethics
shall be filed with the Township Clerk and the Township Director of Parks
and Recreation in accordance with the filing requirements of N.J.S.A. 40:69A-181.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A written specification of behavior of the parents, guardians, attendees,
coaches and officials at youth sports activities, prepared by the Township
of Old Bridge, which will incorporate the terms of the within chapter and
must be consented to in writing by the parents and legal guardians of the
minor participants of each youth sports activity.
A written specification of behavior of the youth sport coaches during
youth sports activities, prepared by the Township of Old Bridge, which will
incorporate the terms of the within chapter and set forth ethical guidelines
for all coaches which must be consented to in writing by every coach of a
youth sports team.
Any sports organization which is affiliated with or receives monetary
or other support from the Township of Old Bridge or which regularly utilizes
any facilities owned, operated or maintained by the Township of Old Bridge,
which participates in sporting competitions involving minors.
Any competition, practice or instructional event involving one or
more youth sports activities.
Every youth sports activity in the Township of Old Bridge shall be required
to follow the Athletic Code of Conduct and the Coaches Code of Ethics as adopted
by resolutions on August 11, 2003.
Each youth sports organization shall be charged with enforcing the provisions
of this chapter at its youth sports event. The Director of Parks and Recreation
shall have the final review and disposition on any appeals taken as a result
of an organization's enforcement practices.
Youth sports teams' organizations which are funded by or hold games
on property owned by the Township of Old Bridge may ban the presence of a
person at a youth sports event in accordance with the following guidelines:
A.Â
A coach, parent, player, participant, league official
or other youth sports event attendee who violates one or more of the provisions
contained in the Athletic Code of Conduct may be banned from attending, coaching
or participating in at least one youth sports event if the person:
(1)Â
Has been issued a prior written warning for violating
one or more of the provisions contained in the Athletic Code of Conduct.
(2)Â
Violates the Athletic Code of Conduct by engaging in
verbal or physical threats or abuse aimed at any coach, parent, player, participant,
league official or any other attendee.
B.Â
Any such person who violates the Athletic Code of Conduct
by initiating a fight or scuffle with any coach, parent, participant, league
official or any other attendee will be banned for one calendar year from the
time of infraction.
Any parent, official, coach or spectator at any youth sporting event
shall be subject to the authority of all field officials, including umpires,
referees and elected league officials or coaches of the youth sports activity.
This authority shall also include any youth team's practice or instructional
event, and such authority shall include the authorization to direct any person
or persons involved in any incident in violation of this chapter or applicable
code of conduct to immediately remove themselves from the premises.
A.Â
Upon determination by the highest ranking official and
the governing board of the youth sports organization that a parent, guest,
spectator, coach or official at any youth sports event sponsored by such youth
sports organization has violated a provision of this chapter or the code of
conduct of the youth sports activity, the Director of Parks and Recreation
shall forward to such violators a notice via regular and certified mail, identifying
the date, location, nature of violation and the period of the banning or other
action to be taken in response to such violation.
B.Â
Any person receiving such notice who wishes to contest
same shall appeal to the Old Bridge Township Director of Parks and Recreation
within seven calendar days of the mailing of said notice by forwarding a copy
of said notice with a written request for appeal, specifically setting forth
the basis of such person's contest of the notice of violation, via personal
delivery, fax or certified mail to the Director of Parks and Recreation at
the address specified.
C.Â
Upon receipt of such appeal, the Director of Parks and
Recreation shall schedule a hearing within seven days and provide an opportunity
for said person and any interested person or persons to appear and be heard
with respect to the occurrence of any violation and action taken by the Director.
D.Â
The Director shall review statements, firsthand accounts
and any other pertinent information or documentation relevant to the violation
and may sustain, overturn or modify the notice of violation consistent with
this chapter or the code of conduct.
E.Â
Any person while appealing his/her violation of the code
of conduct shall be reinstated with full rights and authority until such time
that a determination and disposition of his/her appeal has been made.
F.Â
All notices of violation and banning or other actions
shall remain in effect until overturned or modified by the Director of Parks
and Recreation.
G.Â
In the event any notice of violation is not appealed
within seven days of such notice, said notice of violation and action taken
by the official Director, including banning from youth sports events or other
action taken, shall become final.
A.Â
A youth sports team organization shall require a person banned pursuant to the provisions of § 540-6B, above, to complete an anger management-counseling program at their own expense, consisting of not less than 12 hours of instruction and shall provide proof of satisfactory completion to the Director of Parks and Recreation.
B.Â
A coach, parent, player, spectator or league official
or other youth sports event attendee may attend, coach or participate in a
youth sports event from which the person has been previously banned one year,
if the person:
(1)Â
Provides a written request for permission to resume participation
or attendance to the youth sports team organization which issued the ban,
after the one-year ban has expired.
(2)Â
Provides a written apology to the youth sports team organization
which issued the ban and to the person or persons who are the subject of the
behavior which constituted the violation of the code, as directed by the youth
sports team organization.
Any youth sports team organization that chooses not to participate in
the Athletic Code of Conduct or the Coaches Code of Ethics, as adopted by
resolutions dated August 11, 2003, and as enforced by this chapter, shall
not receive Township funding, Township liability coverage, nor will they be
permitted to use Township property facilities for their program.
