THE CODE OF THE GAME : WHAT WE CAN EXPECT OF EACH OTHER
PLAYERS live clean and play hard. Players play for the love of the game, winning without boasting, losing without excuse, but never quitting. Players respect officials and accept their decisions and never forget that when people judge a player's actions they judge not only the player, but the team, the league and the community the players represent.
MANAGERS & COACHES inspire in the players a love for the game and desire to win, teaching that it is better to lose fairly than to win unfairly. Managers and coaches teach players and spectators to respect officials by setting a good example. Mangers and coaches are the type of people they want the players to be.
UMPIRES know the rules, are fair and firm in all decisions and call them as they see them. Umpires treat players and managers and coaches courteously and demand the same treatment for themselves. Umpires know the game is for the players and let the players have the spotlight.
SPECTATORS never boo umpires or players or managers or coaches. Spectators appreciate a good play, no natter who makes it. Spectators know that their community gets the blame, or the praise, for their conduct, and recognize the need for more sportmanship and fewer sports.
Sportsmanship
- Recognizes the purpose of sport as a challenge to develop one's individual skills and the need to blend individual performance with team goal.
- Is the willingness to accept the discipline and dedication for development of individual and team skills.
- Recognizes the purpose of competition as a means of measuring one's performance level against that of another.
- Recognizes that while victory is the goal of competition, the competition is more important than final score.
- Recognizes that intense, dedicated competition in sport should enhance recognition of an opponent's skill and ability, and serve as a bond for developing lasting friendships.
- Is the willingness to play the game within the rules, and to appreciate the efforts of opponents, officials, coaches and administration who make the game possible.
- Is the willingness to share knowledge, experience and advice that will help others improve their performance levels.
- Recognizes that on a given day, even though an individual puts forth his or her best effort, an opponent may win as the result of superior performance, or that victory many hinge on "luck" or on the "breaks of the game".
- Is the ability to learn from defeat; to analyze today's performance in order to improve future performance, rather than to construct alibis to explain defeat.
- Is the realization that much of the talent for which the individual takes credit is God-given, and carries with it the responsibility to use that talent for good example in sports and in life.