to parents and coaches
in sports leagues
Guidelines will apply
to parents and coaches
in sports leagues
By Sherry conohan
Staff Writer
LITTLE SILVER — In an effort to head off a problem before one occurs, the Borough Council has embraced a code of conduct for parents and coaches of children participating in borough recreation programs.
Mayor Suzanne S. Castleman said misbehavior by adults at children’s sporting events in the borough has not been a problem so far.
But, she said at Monday’s council meeting, "you’ve read about some terrible episodes that have happened around the country."
The resolution states that the mayor and council are concerned about the increasing reports in the press of violence or other inappropriate behavior of parents and coaches at sporting or other recreational events.
"In order to be proactive and increase the local awareness of the borough’s intolerance of this type of behavior," the resolution says, "the Recreation Committee has developed a code of conduct for each coach to support."
The Recreation Committee, which worked under the leadership of Councilman Donald S. Galante, wrote in the introduction that the essential elements of character building and ethics in sports are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six core principles. It identified the principles as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good citizenship.
"The highest potential of sports is achieved when competition reflects these ‘six pillars of character,’ " the code says.
The code, aimed more at coaches than parents as it gets off the ground, contains 17 rules and guidelines that it asks the adult to support.
"I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for my child and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators at every game, practice or other sporting event," one guideline reads.
Another says, "I will demand that my child treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color and sex or ability."
Yet another reads: "I will never ridicule or yell at my child or other participant for making a mistake or losing a competition."
One of the other statements in the rules is a demand for a sports environment for the children that is free from drugs, tobacco and alcohol and concludes by saying, "I will refrain from their use at all sports events."
Disciplinary actions that could be imposed for failing to abide by the rules are a verbal warning by an official, head coach or head of the league; a written warning; a game suspension with written documentation of the incident kept on file by the organizations involved; a game forfeit; or a season suspension.
In other business, the council introduced an ordinance authorizing the condemnation of property on Prospect Avenue for the planned streetscape improvements.
Borough Administrator Michael D. Biehl said the borough has been attempting to secure easements on some commercial properties along the west side of Prospect Avenue, south of Markham Place, for the installation of underground utilities as part of the beautification project but has been unsuccessful. He said the ordinance was being introduced now so as to have the legal authority in place to take the land if negotiations on easements fail.
A public hearing on the ordinance is set for Dec. 2.
The council also approved an appropriation of $8,900 to pay Uras Monuments for the four monuments purchased for a memorial to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including three men from the borough who died in the World Trade Center. The memorial was just dedicated on Sunday.
"That man was overly generous with us," Castleman remarked. "He was very fair. He gave us a very good price, and I thank him for it."