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For over twenty-five years,
St. Anthony's CYO has offered the children of Rocky Point and the
surrounding communities the opportunity to participate in a sports
program that is a friendly, non-threatening environment. They learn
that it is possible to compete and be gracious in victory or defeat.
In the interests of making our principles known to all, we have
formulated this Sportsmanship Statement. This Statement, along with
the CYO Philosophy, is
the backbone of our organization. It was when CYO was founded, and
it will still be when our children are coordinating and coaching
this program.
The CYO Council wants to
remind our coaches, volunteers, parents and players what our CYO
program is all about. Please take the time to review this pamphlet
and to share its contents with your child, so they may learn and
understand what our CYO program is all about – Christian values and
virtues – while having fun playing sports.
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PURPOSE OF CYO ATHLETICS
A diocese or a parish sponsors a Catholic Youth Organization
as one dimension of its total ministry to youth. A parish CYO program justifies its existence and the sacrifice
and expense it entails only if it allows young people to practice
Christian attitudes and responsibilities.
In CYO programs, emphasis rests not on the number of games
won or lost, but on the participants' attitude in victory or
defeat. Learning how to lose is just as important as learning
how to win. Learning how to win graciously is more important
than winning itself.
CYO programs serve the needs of all youth. They enable the
gifted to excel, the less gifted to participate and improve. Star athletes and teams do not receive exclusive
attention.
Principles of fair play and sportsmanship must govern every
game. Dishonesty has no place in CYO competition. CYO competitors
must not borrow from professional sports questionable techniques
for winning at any cost.
All participants should have the respect of others on their
own team and the opposing team. Competitors should regard the
opposition as friends, not enemies.
CYO participants should have a spirit of loyalty to CYO ideals,
to parish, to coach, and to the team. They should learn patience
with and tolerance of those of less ability. They should feel
grateful to all who make the CYO program happen. Speech and actions
should reflect Christian values.
At times, during the heat of competition, a participant may
temporarily forget some rule of conduct. Prompt correction can
turn even failures into learning experiences.
Ultimate responsibility for the success of CYO programs lies
with the volunteer adult participant. Adults involved in CYO
must remember that the program exists for the Christian growth
of young people. Conduct of adults must always model Christian
values and virtues. When adults forget the primary focus of CYO,
the program becomes destructive. When adults remain faithful
to the Christian ideals of CYO, they exercise a unique and rewarding
ministry to the young with whom they come in contact.
"Run to win," St. Paul advises (I Cor. 9:24).
In CYO athletics, all who compete can win, if they run to win
the real prize; closer union with Jesus Christ.
CYO POINTS OF EMPHASIS
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PRAYER
- Prayer is encouraged with youth in CYO. All CYO
activities will begin with prayer and the national anthem. Both teams
-- coaches and players -- are to assembled at center point prior to each contest.
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GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
- Taunting, baiting and rough play will
not be tolerated. If CYO is to reflect Christian values, then coaches
must emphasize good sportsmanship. Coaches will set sportsmanship
goals with their teams and discuss proper conduct. Coaches and
players should never show disrespect to the officials. Coaches
with concerns about an official should contact their divisional
coordinator or sport coordinator.
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SPECTATOR BEHAVIOR - Good sportsmanship includes good spectators. Spectators should cheer in a positive manner and never shout
derogatory remarks to coaches, opposing players or game officials. Coaches should emphasize good spectator behavior, explaining proper spectator behavior in the CYO
Code of Conduct. Coaches, players or spectators may never approach
game officials after a contest for explanations of calls or to
make comments. We encourage coaches and officials to communicate
with each other, but not the players and/or spectators. Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their
spectators and should act immediately on any unruly behavior.
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ALL PLAY
- The 'all play rule' guarantees each child equal
playing time. Divisional
coordinators shall monitor their program's coaches for compliance.
Repeated violation shall be a breach of sportsmanship. Coaches, under the supervision of their
divisional coordinator, should
be certain that all players receive sufficient playing time.
Remember, there are no benchwarmers. Everyone gets to
play.
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NOT RUNNING UP SCORES
- Children have more fun when the
contest is close. There is no place to humiliate an opponent.
Coaches who run up the score may be suspended.
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KEEP CYO FUN! - CYO is for players, not a spectator sport. Coaches must always be positive, praising and instructing, not
shouting negatively or demeaning players. Good coaches build
self esteem emphasizing the skills and social aspects of sports
rather than winning. Parents must be supportive without placing
undue pressure on their child to succeed. All in CYO should keep
the outcome of the game in perspective.
CODE OF CONDUCT
The CYO, through the vehicle
of sports, provides youth with an opportunity to practice Christian
attitudes and responsibilities and to become friends with other
children throughout the parish and adjoining communities. CYO activities should be examples
of the meaning of Christian sportsmanship. The guiding principle
behind the enforcement of this code is that the behavior of everyone
involved in CYO should not detract from the children's enjoyment
of the sport.
1. COACHES
Acceptable standards of coaching behavior include:
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Set a good example for participants and fans to follow, exemplifying
the highest moral and ethical behavior
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Respect the judgment of officials, abide by rules of the
event
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Treat opposing coaches, participants and fans with respect
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Instruct participants in sportsmanship and demand they display
good sportsmanship
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Coach in a positive manner, reflecting Christian values
Penalties:
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Any coach ejected from a game (match) because of unsportsmanlike
conduct may be suspended for future games (matches)
and may be subject to additional penalties, including
disqualification from future CYO participation
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Any coach who physically abuses another person
may be suspended
for the remainder of the season and may be disqualified from
future CYO participation
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Any coach who physically abuses an official
may be suspended
for the remainder of the season and may be disqualified from
future CYO participation
2. PLAYERS
Acceptable standards of participant behavior include:
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Treat opponents with respect; shake hands prior to and after
contests -
Respect the judgment of officials and abide by the rules
of the contest -
Accept seriously the
responsibility of representing St. Anthony's parish and our
community by displaying positive behavior at all times
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Do not bait or taunt opponents
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Play in a positive manner, reflecting Christian values
Penalties:
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Any player ejected from a game (match) because of unsportsmanlike
conduct may be suspended from future games
(matches) and may
be subject to additional penalties
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Any player who physically abuses another player, participant
or official may be suspended from play for the remainder of the
season and may be disqualified from future CYO competition
3. SPECTATORS
Acceptable standards of spectator behavior include:
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Remember that the players are children and are playing for
their enjoyment, not yours
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Remain seated in the spectator area during the games
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Respect decisions made by contest officials
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Be a role model by positively supporting teams and by not
shouting instructions or criticism to the players, coaches or
officials
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Do not coach from the stands
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Make no derogatory comments or gestures to players, coaches,
parents of the opposing team, officials or league administrators
Penalties:
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Participating teams and their coaches are responsible for
the conduct of their spectators -
Any spectator who displays poor sportsmanship may be removed
from the facility by an official, their team coach, a CYO
official or the host gym person-in-charge -
Any spectator who interferes with
the conduct of a CYO activity may be barred from attendance
at subsequent CYO activities
4. ENFORCEMENT
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CYO, under the supervision of the
pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church, shall enforce this code. Complaints regarding violations
of this code shall be first brought to the attention of the sport program
coordinator. Coaches, participants
or spectators may be placed on probation or suspended from CYO
activities for their actions.
THE VALUE OF SPORTS IN THE
CHURCH
"Sport, because of the wholesome elements it gives value
to and exalts, may become more and more a vital instrument for
the moral and spiritual elevation of the human person and therefore
contribute to the construction of an orderly, peaceful and hardworking
society.
"The Church approves and encourages sports seeing in
it a form of gymnastics of the body and of the spirit, a training
for social relations based on respect for others and for one's
own person and an element of social cohesion which also fosters
friendly relations..."
-- Pope John Paul II
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