Coaches:
 

• Enthusiastically support and practice “Everyone Plays” and extends positive coaching philosophies of the MBYLL
• Be reasonable in your demands on the young players’ time, energy, enthusiasm and their performance on the field.
• Impress on your players that they must abide by the rules of the game at all times.
• Develop team respect for the ability of opponents, and for the judgment of referees and opposing coaches.
• Ensure that your players’ experience is fun and enjoyable. Players should never be yelled at or ridiculed for making mistakes or losing a game.
• Set a good example and be generous with your praise when it is deserved. Children need a coach that they can respect.
• Keep informed about sound principles of coaching, growth and development principles relating to children.
• Enlist the support of your team’s parents in your efforts to develop the proper attitudes and values in the players.

Referees:

• Always remember the game is for the players. Player safety and fair play come first.
• Study and learn the rules of the game and understand the “spirit” of the rules. Help fellow referees to do the same.
• Respect other referees and their decisions, and do not publicly criticize another official.
• Wear the proper uniform and keep it in good condition.
• Maintain good physical condition so you can keep up with the action.
• Honor accepted game assignments. In an emergency, find a replacement.
• Support good sportsmanship with a kind word to the players, coaches and parents of both teams when deserved.
• Always be fair and impartial, avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Decisions based on personal bias are dishonest and unacceptable.

Parents:

• Do not force an unwilling child to participate in sports.
• Remember that children are involved in organized sports for their enjoyment, not yours.
• Teach your child that hard work and an honest effort are often more important than a victory
• Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. Your child will then be a winner, even in defeat.
• Do not ridicule your child for making a mistake or losing a game.
• Set a good example. Children learn best by good examples.
• Applaud good plays by your team and by members of the opposing team
• Do not publicly question referee judgments
• Recognize the value and importance of volunteer coaches, referees and officials and give them their due respect. Without them, there would not be the MBYLL.
• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from youth sporting activities.

Players

• Play for the fun of it, not just to please your parents and coaches.
• Play by the rules.
• Never argue with or complain about the referee calls or decisions.
• Control your temper and most of all, resist the temptation to retaliate when you feel you have been wronged.
• Concentrate on playing lacrosse and on affecting the outcome of the game with your best effort.
• Be a good sport by cheering all good plays, whether it is your teams’ or your opponents.
• Remember that the goals of the game are to have fun, improve skills and feel good.  Don’t be a “showoff”.
• Cooperate with your coaches, teammates, opponents and referees.