All coaches within our organization will be required to adhere to the following code of conduct and review and acknowledge the following statement of faith:
COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT AND STATEMENT OF FAITH
In order to ensure that the principles of sportsmanship, fair play, skill development, and mutual respect among players, coaches, officials and spectators are the primary considerations governing competition in the Richmond Spirit Warhawks organization, the following Coaches Code of Conduct has been established and adopted.
Each coach will ensure that his/her playing conduct is that of lady or gentleman fairly competing at all times. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, the coach is expected and agrees to the following:
Any and all actions of a coach shall be done in order to glorify God.
Know the rules and abide by them.
Instruct team members in the rules and coach his/her team in such a way as to motivate each player to compete according to the rules at all times.
Respect the game officials and refrain from questioning their decisions in a disrespectful or abusive manner. Ensure that players follow this example and show the same respect to the officials.
Ensure that all building and/or location rules and regulations are followed by the players and spectators.
Ensure that fans of his/her team conduct themselves with sportsmanship and maturity at all times while in attendance at game sites; assist the game officials in maintaining control of spectators during the games.
Respect the coaches, players and fans of the opposing team both during the play of the game and at its conclusion, win or lose. Ensure that all members of the team show the same respect.
Teach each player, especially through personal example, to be humble, proud, courteous and generous not only in victory, but also in defeat.
Maintain control of his/her emotions and avoid actions, language, and/or gestures that may be interpreted as hostile and humiliating.
Instruct team support personnel (e.g., assistant coaches, scorekeepers, and timekeepers) in their responsibilities in accordance with established rules and procedures.
Realize, accept, and practice the principal that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability, but also on its sportsmanship, courtesy, and manner.
The following is an excerpt from the Richmond Spirit Warhawks Bylaws adopted in July 2018 and updated in February 2022. This information appears under Article I: Membership:
SECTION 2. Coach Eligibility
All coaches are volunteers. No coach will be paid by Richmond Spirit Athletics. In order to participate, each coach must sign a code of conduct and acknowledge receipt of the Warhawks mission/vision statement and statement of faith. All coaches will be approved by the individual sport’s subcommittees.
All coaches must consent to a background check. Any findings of concern will be voted on by the Executive Board.
SECTION 3. Code of Conduct
As players, coaches and parents, we will strive to observe the following ideals of sportsmanship:
-We will treat the officials, opposing teams and spectators as guests at our home games.
-We will respect all property at all times
-We will refrain from detrimental or derogatory remarks during any part of the game.
-We will not at any time boo or taunt opposing players or officials.
- We will not at any time use foul, inappropriate language, or obscene gestures on the court or field.
All players/parents and coaches will review and acknowledge the code of conduct prior to the start of the sports season.
SECTION 4. Disciplinary Actions:
Athletes and coaches may and will be disciplined for the following:
-Failure to fulfill team commitments
-Flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct
-Ejections, technical fouls, red cards
-Valid complaints from opposing team
We will treat foul language and obscene gestures the same as ejections, technical fouls and red cards. All must be reported to the athletic director and board for that individual sport. The following steps will be taken:
-For the first offense, the coach will have a conversation with the team and/or individual players and families. -For the 2nd offense the player or coach will be required to sit out the remainder of that game and the next complete game.
If a player or coach is ejected from a game – they are required to not only sit out the remainder of that game, they must also sit out the next two (2) games or matches.
When a complaint is made against a coach/player, the first step is for the coach/player and athletic director to discuss a resolution. If a resolution cannot be agreed upon, the coach/player will meet with the Executive Board for a resolution. In the event of repeated complaints against a coach/player, and failed attempts at a resolution, the Executive Board reserves the right to remove the coach/player at any time.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
Richmond Spirit Warhawks is a non-denominational Christian organization whose foundation is built on these fundamental, core beliefs of the Christian faith:
We believe there is only one God who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe in God the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God the Father, true God from true God. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His death that paid for our sin through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of God the Father and His return in power and glory. We believe Jesus Christ is God.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, of God, from God, promised to man by Jesus Christ who, along with the Father and the Son, is worthy of our worship. We believe in the present and active ministry of the Holy Spirit, who lives within Christians and guides them to live godly lives. We believe the Holy Spirit is God.
We believe that acceptance of Jesus Christ and the corresponding renewal of the Holy Spirit are the only paths to salvation for lost, sinful men and women. We believe that we are justified only by faith in the shed blood of Christ and that only by God's grace, and through faith alone, are we saved.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that all believers are members of His body, the church.
We believe the Bible to be the only inspired, infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God.
We believe God instituted marriage between one man and one woman as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of society, For this reason, we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one man and one woman.
We believe God created all human beings in His image. Therefore, we believe that human life is sacred and that every person should be treated with love, dignity and respect.