Meadows Place Pony Baseball (MPPB)

Coaches Code of Conduct

Coaches play a vital role in shaping the experience of our players and your influence often reaches far beyond the field! Your coaching has the power to help players build life-long skills including confidence, teamwork, resilience and an appreciation for baseball. One of the greatest developmental benefits of youth sports is learning how to handle both success and failure, and coaches play a critical role in teaching young athletes to grow from each experience. 

The following Coaches Code of Conduct establishes expectations for behavior, sportsmanship, and leadership for all managers, coaches, and assistants participating in Meadows Place Pony Baseball (MPPB).

By accepting a coaching position, all coaches agree to uphold this Code of Conduct and perform the duties listed.

1. Player-Centered Conduct, Sportsmanship & Leadership

• Place the emotional and physical well-being of players ahead of winning.
• Foster a sense of community, camaraderie, and inclusion, recognizing that MPPB exists to build positive relationships among players, families, coaches, and the broader community, not just to compete or win games.
• Teach the fundamentals of baseball in a positive, age-appropriate manner.
• Use positive, constructive instruction at all times. Yelling, threats, humiliation, or intimidation are not permitted.
• Demonstrate good sportsmanship both on and off the field.
• Respect umpires, opposing teams, league officials, parents, and spectators.
• Refrain from the use of profanity, abusive language, or obscene gestures.
• Remember that coaches are role models; behavior sets the standard for players and families.
• Encourage teamwork, effort, and respect, regardless of the game situation or score.

2. Safety & Responsibility

• Ensure player safety is the top priority at all times.
• Know and follow all MPPB rules, safety guidelines, and league policies.
• Do not allow players to participate while injured or ill beyond safe limits.

3. Coach–Umpire Interaction

• Coaches are expected to know and understand all applicable baseball rules, including MPPB rules and any division-specific modifications.
• Coaches will treat all umpires with respect, recognizing that umpires are an essential part of the game, just as coaches are.
• Coaches acknowledge that baseball rules involve judgment, and that disagreements may occasionally occur.
• Coaches may only question rule interpretations, not judgment calls.
• Coaches will not argue balls and strikes with the Umpire.
• If a coach has a disagreement or complaint, it must be addressed using the appropriate methods of appeal during and/or after the game, in accordance with league rules.
• Coaches will avoid confrontational behavior on the field, including arguing, gesturing, or displaying negative body language toward umpires, players, other coaches, even those on their staff, and spectators.
• Coaches are responsible for ensuring that their players and spectators behave respectfully toward umpires.
• The use of profanity, abusive language, intimidation, or threats toward umpires will not be tolerated and may result in immediate disciplinary action.
• Any unresolved concerns must be directed through proper MPPB channels after the game.

4. Zero Tolerance Policies

The following behaviors will not be tolerated:

• Physical or verbal abuse of any player, official, coach, or spectator
• Harassment, discrimination, or bullying of any kind
• Retaliation against players, parents, or officials for raising concerns in good faith

5. Compliance & Enforcement

• Violations of this Coaches Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, including warnings, game ejection, suspension, or removal from coaching duties.
• Umpires have the authority to eject a coach from a game for conduct deemed inappropriate, unsportsmanlike, or in violation of this Code of Conduct.
• Any coach who is ejected from a game must immediately leave the area of play, including the field, dugouts, and bleachers, and may not remain within view of the field or communicate with players, coaches, spectators, or umpires for the remainder of the game. Failure to comply may result in additional disciplinary action by MPPB, including suspension or removal.
• MPPB reserves the right to take further action for serious or repeated violations.
• All disciplinary decisions will be made in the best interest of the players and the league.