Tri-County Board of Directors for Youth Sports Policy on Inappropriate Behavior

Last Updated: 9/9/2022

The Directors who make up the Tri-County Board for Youth Sports will continue to follow a “Zero Tolerance” policy regarding inappropriate behavior.

This policy will encompass all interactions during the course of the pre-season, regular season and post-season, which shall include but not be limited to the following: practices, games, jamborees, homecomings, opening day ceremonies, all-stars, tournaments and any other league sponsored event(s).

Spectator Parent Conduct: All parents/spectators should remember that their actions at game and/or practices reflect directly on the children.

Tobacco products should be refrained from being used in the presence of the kids. Several city recreation departments are currently looking at adopting the Pickens County School Board policies on tobacco free facilities. You will be notified at the games if this issue has been put in place and ask that you honor it.

Rules ALL Parents, Spectators and Coaches Need to Abide By:

1. IF A PARENT OR COACH IS EJECTED FOR UNRULY BEHAVIOR, THE PLAYER MUST LEAVE ALSO. Ejected persons must leave the facility grounds immediately!
2. IF an INDIVIDUAL (regardless adult or child) goes after a PLAYER, COACH, REFEREE, GAME MANAGEMENT STAFF or SPECTATOR in a manner that is foreseen to the nature of VIOLENT, AGGRESSIVE, DAMAGING, THREATENING, STALKING, MALICIOUS or etc. then that individual will not only be ejected from the facility immediately as stated in Rule #1, but at A MINIMUM they will be required to forfeit their season with the Tri-County League. If the individual is an adult with a child in the league, then their child will lose their privilege to play for the rest of the season. Legal ramifications may follow depending on the situation at hand per 2009 South Carolina Code 22-3-560 – Assaults and batteries; assaults and batteries against sports officials and coaches and the host sites departmental policies (See Attachment A for full code).
3. Over the years, it has been harder and harder for departments to find quality high school officials due to fans badgering and belittling officials without intervention by recreation departments. The Tri-County Board has addressed this with the following: No fan or spectator may in any way harass or criticize officials before, during, or after a ballgame. Fans that are observed doing this will be given one warning. Continued problems, the fan will be asked to leave facility grounds/or removed by local law enforcement.
4. All departments are required to request the presence of at least one Police Officer for each night that the department host home games for tackle football pre-season events (i.e. jamborees), regular season games and post season games (including All Stars knowing that this goes above the requirement from SCAP). Each department is required to request the presence of at least one Police Officer for post season play in basketball (including All Stars knowing that this goes above the requirement from SCAP). It is just a recommendation to have at least one Police Officer present at other sporting events hosted by departments throughout the year.
5. All facilities located in the Tri-County Football League are under police/sheriff’s department jurisdiction; therefore, unruly fans can be in violation of the state code for disorderly conduct. Law enforcement has full authority over all public facilities/grounds. State Code: 16-17-530.
6. Anyone entering public facility/grounds under the influence of alcohol is subject to removal and/or arrest under State Code: 16-17-530.
7. Municipal facilities fall under state, county, or municipal litter laws, so please place any and all trash in trash receptacles. State Code: 16-11-700.
8. Foul language will not be allowed at any sporting events or public grounds/facilities. State Code: 16-17¬530.
9. Spectators are not allowed on the sidelines, field or court before, during or after a ballgame except for a medical emergency. Any spectator in violation of this rule will at minimum be removed from the field or court adhering to rules 1 and 2 listed at the beginning of this document.
10. Due to privacy laws, at no time can any parent/spectator, ask to see Birth Certificates, etc. A coach may request to see the “certified roster” where player’s birth certificates were checked. Only on-site representatives may review Birth Certificates for players not certified.
11. The Tri-county Board of Directors for Youth Sports, recognizes the importance of the Internet in shaping the public’s perception. The Board of Directors also recognizes the importance of our volunteers, employees and parents in leading and setting the tone of social media interactions. Personally identifiable information (such as a name and date of birth and/or a street address which, when taken together, can identify a particular individual) should not be disclosed in any manner on any social networking site without the approval of the recreation department directors, coaches, officials and/or parents/guardians.
12. Since most municipalities have ordinances concerning the discharge of air horns, etc and artificial noisemaking devises are disruptive to not only the players but fellow spectators, all artificial noisemaking devises such as air horns, megaphones, cowbells, etc. will not be tolerated at any game and violator is subject to removal.
13. Drones will not be allowed in any facility during practices, games, jamborees or tournaments for safety concerns.

Violators of any of the above may be fined up to 100.00 or up to 30 days in jail with the exception of littering – punishable by up to $300.00 or 30 days in jail. Ignorance of state and county laws or municipal ordinances is no excuse for inappropriate behavior. Please be respectful of others and set forth examples we want our children to follow.

Thank you!

Tri-County League Board of Directors

ATTACHMENT A

SECTION 22-3-560. Assaults and batteries; assaults and batteries against sports officials and coaches. LINK: https://law.justia.com/codes/south-carolina/2009/title-22/chapter-3/

(A) Magistrates may punish by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty days, or both, all assaults and batteries and other breaches of the peace when the offense is neither an assault and battery against school personnel pursuant to Section 16-3-612 nor an assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature requiring, in their judgment or by law, greater punishment.

(B) Magistrates may punish by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or imprisonment for a term not exceeding sixty days, or both, all assaults and batteries against sports officials and coaches when, in committing an assault and battery, the offender knows the individual assaulted to be a sports official or coach at any level of competition and the act causing the assault and battery to the sports official or coach occurred within an athletic facility or an indoor or outdoor playing field or within the immediate vicinity of the athletic facility or an indoor or outdoor playing field at which the sports official or coach was an active participant in the athletic contests held at the athletic facility. For the purposes of this subsection, “sports official” means a person at an athletic contest who enforces the rules of the contest, such as an umpire, referee, scorekeeper, and “coach” means a person recognized as a coach by the sanctioning authority that conducted the athletic contest.

Every child’s playing time is important. Walhalla Rec requires coaches provide all players playing time in each game. This rule emphasizes inclusivity and helps kids develop their skills while enjoying the game together.  We expect our coaches to be allowed to coach their team, as they see fit, provided they abide by all stated rules. Any complaints pertaining to our volunteer coaches need to be directed to recreation staff. Problems will be handled between coaches and parents in a professional manner.

4-6: Will be contacted by a Coach by Dec 1st

11-12 Girls: Wednesday, Nov 6th @5:30-City Gym

13-14 Boys: Wednesday, Nov 6th @6:30- City Gym

7-8 Girls: Thursday, Nov 7th @5:30- City Gym

9-10 Girls: Thursday, Nov 7th @6:00- City Gym

9-10 Boys:  Thursday, Nov 7th @6:30- City Gym

7-8 Boys: Tuesday, Nov 12th @ 5:30-City Gym

11-12 Boys: Tuesday, Nov 12th @6:30-City Gym