Code of Conduct

The Fairfield County Basketball League promotes the concept of good conduct by all participants including players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators. This concept will provide a safe athletic environment, good role models and a sense of community spirit throughout the league. FCBL participants are to maintain and promote the highest standards of conduct at all times. By doing this, FCBL will prove that good conduct and competitive sports can co-exist.

1. Respect all players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators.
2. Respect the property of others including all gym facilities.
3. Not taunt, boo, or make negative comments about any players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators.
4. Remember that sports for children should be about having fun.

1. Play for fun.
2. Work hard to improve skills, learn the game and play by the rules.
3. Follow coaches directions and instructions.
4. Always respect teammates, opponents, coaches and referees. 
5. Support teammates at all times.
6. Shake hands with opponents after the game.

1. Not force a child to participate in a sport.
2. Remember that children participate in athletics to have fun.
3. Remember that the game is for the children, not for the adults.
4. Remember that they are not the coach and will refrain from yelling instructions out onto the court.
5. Speak to the coach in private with any concerns and never in front of the children or on the court.
6. Be a positive role model by respecting all players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators at all times.
7. Value skills development, fair competition and good effort. Recognize that the efforts of all children, your own team and opponents, is more important than the outcome of the game.
8. Cheer for all children on the team Refrain from rude or obnoxious behavior or comments toward the opposing team and officials, and <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: " times="" new="" roman";="" mso-bidi-font-family:="" "times="" mso-ansi-language:="" en-us;="" mso-fareast-language:="" mso-bidi-language:="" ar-sa;"="">never confront referees or other game personnel.
9. Not encourage any behaviors or tactics that would endanger the health and well being of anyone.

Important FCBL Policy Note:

Unfortunately, boorish adult behavior has become an all too common staple of youth sports in our society. As one of it's primary mission tenets, the FCBL is striving to reverse this trend.

As a practical matter, it is impossible for the FCBL to police the thousands of adults that attend the thousands of FCBL league games that occur in any a given season. So instead, the FCBL takes a number of alternative measures in its attempt to create proper decorum at its games:

1. The FCBL Board considers it the primary responsibilty of its member programs to police their own spectators. Accordingly, the FCBL encourages those programs to have all of their players' parents sign Code of Conduct contracts, similar to the example posted under this website's Documents home page tab.

2. If the FCBL Board gets continuing reports of misconduct from the attending crowds for any given team, that team, and possibly, its entire governing program will be expelled from the FCBL. The FCBL does not promise to devote the resources to thoroughly investigate these incidents, nor does the FCBL promise to provide a "fair trial" before choosing to expel a team or program that has developed a reputation of misconduct. It is simply more administratively efficient for thr FCBL to sever its relationship with "problem crowd teams".

3. Accordingly, the FCBL Board would encourage any responsible spectator to approach any fellow misbehaving spectator and explain to them that their boorish behavior is not only inappropriate, but it is seriously jeapordizing their team's future ability to participate in our league. 

1. Make skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, fun and learning the game…the goals of the team.
2. Be a positive role model by respecting all players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators at all times. Coaches should not direct negative comments at the opposing team.
3. Learn and play by the rules of the game.
4. Be as respectful and restrained as possible in response to calls by officials.
5. Never lose their temper.
6. Be generous in their praise, emphasizing the efforts of players over the outcome of the game.
7. Be fair, honest and consistent in coaching philosophies and practices.
8. Recognize that children learn differently… and adapt coaching to each child’s needs accordingly.
9. Communicate clearly to players and parents about goals for the team and what behavior is appropriate.
10. Provide a safe environment for the children to play.

Again, if you are a coach for a FCBL team, please visit and read our website home page tab that details our Technical Foul avoidance policy. 

"Problem Coaches" have been and will continue to be expelled from our League. This is a youth league, model adult behavior takes priority over any basketball technicality argument point. 

Although the FCBL only has a limited and indirect relationship with the Referees of League games, it has established the following guidelines for ethical standards of conduct for all officials. It is expected that Referees will:

1. Exercise a high level of self-discipline, independence and responsibility. Master both the rules of the game and the mechanics necessary to enforce the rules, and shall exercise authority in an impartial, firm and controlled manner. 
2. Work with each other in a constructive and cooperative manner. 
3. Uphold the honor and dignity of the profession in all interactions with players, coaches, parents, colleagues and the public at large. 
4. Prepare themselves both physically and mentally, shall dress neatly and appropriately, and shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the high standards of the profession. 
5. Be punctual and professional in the fulfillment of all obligations. 
6. While enforcing the rules of play, remain aware of the inherent risk of injury that competition poses to the players and where appropriate, they shall inform the coaches and the league of situations that appear unreasonably hazardous.