Please familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct and Anti-Bullying Policy.
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For 40 plus years, the Northwest Jackson Soccer League continues their efforts to improve competitive recreational soccer enjoyment for all parties involved – Players, Coaches, Parent (Families), and Board. To this end, the Northwest Jackson Soccer League (NJSL), institutes this Code of Conduct and Mission Statement to guide us for years to come as a professional recreational organization in the soccer community. The Code of Conduct is oversighted by the Executive Board to review, maintain and uphold all misconduct and disciplinary action. The Executive Board reserves the right, upon review, to issue warnings, suspensions, and removal from participation the organization given the violation of conduct. In most cases, to ensure the integrity of the league, fostering an encouraged and professional environment for all, all code of conduct is written to be understood as Zero Tolerance.
1. Know and understand the rules of the game. NJSL adapts to most International Football and Ohio High School Athletic Association(s) rules and laws. NJSL reverse the right to review and accommodate rules and regulations based on the best interests of all involved with our organization.
2. All Coaches, Players, and Spectators shall support and adhere to the Referee as the Referee has full authority and control of the playing field. All Referees are trained (even licensed in most, if not all cases, although not required by NJSL).
3. NJSL, Coaches, Players and Spectators respect the rights of all participants regardless of gender, age, cultural or religious backgrounds.
4. To ensure that the health, well-being, and development of our athletes take precedence over the spirt of winning or losing, to provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for practice and competition.
5. Understanding that NJSL provides an opportunity for competitive recreational soccer acknowledging that all players, coaches, and opponents inspire you to be the best version of yourself.
6. That all participants of the NJSL whether playing, officiating, coaching, volunteering, or spectating, represent a code of honor, integrity, respect, fair-play and coaching sportsmanship for the game, each other, and the organization.
7. Assure that every athlete has equal time to develop and participate in skill activities, practices and competition
8. Encourage positive sportsmanship by demonstrating constructive comradery, support, and respect for all players, teammates, parents, coaches, referees, spectators and all involved with our organization
9. All NJSL participants, coaches, assistant coaches, team parents (families), players, and spectators are expected to uphold these policies while portraying positive sportsmanship to all field participants including the referee(s) regardless of their age or experience.
10. To honor the spirt and integrity of the game.
11. Restrain from the use of profanity, abusive or condescending language, gestures or actions which creates a negative impact on you or the organization
12. Refrain from race inequality or judgement of others
13. The use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products are indefinitely prohibited for use on and off the field of play and during the time of the NJSL season.
14. To serve as a role model, holding yourself accountable and to the highest level of standards
15. To ensure that all plays are acted upon providing the safest possible play for each other, not to cause harm or injury to those you may compete again.
16. Lead by example to be fair, consistent and professional always in all activities and decisions associated with NJSL
17. Listen to one another (coaches, players, board member, officials) respectfully for the greater good and learning environment of the organization
18. Adhering and submitting to clear and approved background check, completion of concussion and Lindsay’s Law training, required by the organization in adherence to state requirements prior contact with organized players and teams or performing any coaching duties.
19. To listen to players concerns and questions, helping them to develop and grow in every possible way.
20. To immediately report any allegation of abuse, molestation, sex or other heinous activity to the executive board for proper investigations and reporting to authorities.
The Northwest Jackson Soccer League considers the emotional well-being of recreational athletes to be as important as their physical health.
Bullying may lead to anxiety and low self-esteem in youth who are targeted, but it also causes other youth to feel unsafe. Youth of all ages deserve the right to feel safe and supported by all NJSL Board Members, coaches, players, referees, volunteers, and parents. Creating an atmosphere where our youth can flourish is everyone's responsibility.
Bullying can take many forms. Verbal bullying includes teasing, name-calling, taunting, or threatening to cause harm. Physical bullying includes hitting, kicking, pinching, spitting, tripping, pushing, taking or breaking someone’s things, or making mean or rude hand gestures. And finally bullying can be social, often times called ‘relational bullying’, when someone is left out on purpose, when someone tells kids to not be friends with someone, when a child spreads rumors about another kid, or when a child intentionally embarrasses another child in public.
If a player is being bullied it must be reported to a league official (see the list of current members of the NJSL Board.) Please notify your player’s coach of the suspected bullying behavior – the league will promptly investigate any complaint of bullying that is received.
If an individual associated with the league including coaches, parents, players, volunteers and spectators, is found to have participated in bullying, a warning will be given to the individual. The league President, at his discretion and in consultation with the executive board, may issue league suspensions, expulsions, or involve law enforcement.
To prevent problems of bullying, coaches should make players and parents aware of this anti-bullying policy, make team camaraderie a priority to foster respect amongst players. Parents should ask open-ended questions, such as “Tell me about practice”, and pay attention to children with changes in wanting to attend practices. Players should know that the strongest leaders are not those that just refrain from bullying, but those that help stop it from happening.