Athletic competition of interscholastic age student-athletes should be fun and should also be a significant part of a sound educational program, embodying high standards of ethics and sportsmanship while developing good character and other important life skills. Essential elements of character building are intrinsic in the concept of sportsmanship and the six core ethical values: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship (the "Six Pillars of Character_SM"). The highest potential of sports is achieved through the T.E.A.M. concept (Teaching, Enforcing, Advocating and Modeling these values) and by committing to the ideal of pursuing victory with honor. Good-faith efforts to honor the words and spirit of this Code will improve the quality of our programs.

• Trustworthiness - Be worthy of trust in all you do.
• Integrity - Live up to the high ideals of ethics and sportsmanship and always pursue victory with honor. Do what's right even when it's unpopular or personally costly.
• Honesty - Live and compete honorably. Do not encourage any dishonest or unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Reliability - Fulfill commitments. Do what you say you will do. Be on time. When you tell your children you will attend an event, be sure to do so.
• Loyalty - Be loyal to your school and team.

• Respect - Treat all participants with respect all the time and demand the same of student-athletes.
• Class - Live and cheer with class. Be a good sport. Be gracious in victory and accept defeat with dignity, compliment extraordinary performance, and show sincere respect for all competitors.
• Disrespectful Conduct - Don't engage in disrespectful conduct of any sort including profanity, obscene gestures, offensive remarks of a sexual nature, trash-talking, taunting, boastful celebrations, or other actions that demean individuals or the sport. Do not participate in any negative or demeaning cheers.
• Respect for Officials - Treat game officials with respect. Don't complain or argue about calls or decisions during or after an athletic event.
• Respect for Coaches - Treat coaches with respect at all times. Recognize that they have team goals beyond those of your child. Do not shout instructions to players from the stands. Let the coaches coach.
• Respect for Fellow Spectators - Display respect for all other spectators. Do not insult or fight with other fans. Wait for breaks in the action before leaving or returning to your seat.

• Role-Modeling - Consistently exhibit good character and conduct yourself as a positive role model for the student-athletes.
• Self-Control - Exercise self-control. Don't fight or show excessive displays of anger or frustration. Have the strength to overcome the temptation to demean others.
• Integrity of the Game - Protect the integrity of the game. Don't gamble on interscholastic events.
• Privilege - Understand that attendance at interscholastic sports is a privilege, not a right, and that you are expected to represent yourself, your team and your community with honor.

• Fairness - Treat all competitors fairly. Be open-minded. Always be willing to listen and learn. Acknowledge exceptional performance by all participants.

• Encouragement - Encourage your team regardless of their play. Offer positive reinforcement.
• Concern for Others - Demonstrate concern for others. Never berate or demean any player or promote behavior that might cause injury to others.

• Knowledge of the Rules - Maintain a thorough knowledge of all applicable game and competition rules.
• Obedience and Compliance - Listen to and obey the requests of the public address announcer and security personnel in attendance. Remember that all regular laws also apply to spectators at sporting events. Drunkenness, verbal assault and fighting are punishable by law.

I have read and understand the requirements of this Code of Conduct and acknowledge that I may be forbidden from attending games or practices if I violate any of its provisions.

"Pursuing Victory With Honor" and the "Six Pillars of Character" are service marks of the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition, a project of the Josephson Institute of Ethics.