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UNION COUNTY RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT ATHLETICS 519 Industrial Blvd; Blairsville, Georgia 30512 (706) 439-6074 Email: [EMAIL REDACTED] Our Mission: Promote and provide quality recreation opportunities for all citizens of Union County by providing indoor and outdoor facilities and activities and to be a resource to those who wish to thrive through recreation. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES for Coaches, Parents, and Athletes Approved: March 3, 2025 Definitions: USA- Amateur Softball Association- this non-profit association provides the official rules and regulations for the playing of adult and youth softball. Age control date- This date determines the age of an athlete in order to place him/her in the appropriate sport league. Each sport has its own age control date. Example: If a boy turns 11 before the age control date, according to the UCRD rules, he must play on 12U. Draft- the process that the UCRD uses for player placement. Coaches are allowed to select players based on the draft process. All children will be picked regardless of skill. Evaluation- an athletic meeting of players in a specified age group for the purpose of rating skills and allowing coaches the opportunity to put a face with a name. UCRD- Union County Recreation and Parks Department. GRPA- Georgia Recreation and Parks Association- this association oversees the Recreation and Parks activities in the state of Georgia. NFHS- National Federation of State High School Association- this association provides the rules, regulations and case studies for the coordination and administration of interscholastic activities of high school students. These rules are used in baseball, football, and basketball. NYSCA- National Youth Sports Coaches Association. NAYS- National Alliance for Youth Sports- this non-profit agency governs NYSCA certified coaches and PAYS parents/guardians. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 of 14 MAC-Mountain Athletic Conference is the conference UCRD is a part of for baseball, basketball, and volleyball. MFL- Mountain Football League- is the athletic conference UCRD is a part of for football. UFA- United Football Association is the athletic association that runs the UCRD soccer programs. Unsportsmanlike conduct- this behavior includes but is not limited to the following: negative cheering, kicking, striking, spitting, use of profanity, taunting, bullying, obstructing, lying, excessive celebration, faking an injury, inappropriate touching, etc. to/at a player, coach, official, spectator or a UCRD staff member. This also includes damage to property. GOVERNING AUTHORITY: 1. The Director of the UCRD reserves the right to all final decisions. 2. The governing authority will be the assigned representative who is an employee of the UCRD. 3. The governing rules for each sport will be determined as follows: first by the UCRD, Mountain Athletic Conference secondly by the GRPA athletic manual, and lastly by the Georgia High School Association, USA for softball). PLAYER REGISTRATION 1. All people who register during the registration period will be placed on a team if they have complied with all parent/guardian and player responsibilities prior to the draft. This includes payment, presenting a copy of the child’s birth certificate, acknowledging receipt of the Parent/Athlete Concussion Fact Sheet, signing the Parent Code of Ethics and completing all registration requirements. 2. Persons who register after the registration period will be placed on a hold list. Participants placed on the hold list will be placed on a team if and when a spot becomes available. People on the hold list are not guaranteed placement on a team. UCRD reserves the right to add players to a team at any time from the hold list. 3. Parents will NOT be allowed to pick a team to place their child on. 4. A person must play in the age group determined by the GRPA age control date. The age control dates for each sport are as follows: ❖ Baseball- Age on or before September 1st of the current year. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 of 14 ❖ Softball- Age on or before September 1st of the current year. ❖ T-Ball/Lil Ballers- Age on or before September 1st of the current year. ❖ Football- Register for the grade child is going into the following school year. ❖ Cheerleading- Register for the grade child is going into the following school year. ❖ Basketball- Age on or before September 1st of the current year. ❖ Volleyball- Register for the grade the child is currently in. ❖Wrestling- 5. Once a child has been placed on a team, that child must remain on that team for the remainder of the season. 6. Any participant may receive a refund of their registration fee minus a $5 processing fee if the refund is requested prior to uniforms being ordered. If a uniform was ordered the participant is eligible to receive a partial refund. Refund requests for tackle football will not be processed until the participant has returned all equipment issued to him/her (helmet, shoulder pads and pants) to the UCRD. TEAM PLACEMENT 1. The number of teams will be determined after the registration period ends. 2. UCRD staff will note all team placement requests regarding transportation with NO made guarantees. The coaches will make their final decisions during the draft. 3. A parent has the right to request that his/her child NOT be placed with a certain coach with the approval of the UCRD. The Director may require a meeting with the parent to discuss previous actions to warrant this request. 4. Requests for a child to play with another child in the same age group are not guaranteed. Only siblings residing in the same residents and playing in the same age group are guaranteed to be placed on the same team. UCRD may require proof of children residing in the same residence in the form of a report card or other documentation. 5. The UCRD discourages play ups. In the event a parent believes their child performs at a level that is beyond their age group, the child will have to be evaluated by the coaches of the UCRD and it will be determined by the UCRD if said child has the advanced skill sets to play up to the next age group. Play up evaluations will be mandatory and scheduled separate from regular evaluations. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 of 14 PLAYER PARTICIPATION 1. All players must play the amount of time specified below for each sport. ❖ Baseball- All subs (players sitting on the bench) will play one full inning. ❖ Softball- All subs (players sitting on the bench) will play one full inning. ❖ T-Ball- All children will bat and play every inning. ❖ Football- Due to team size no minimum play time. ❖ Basketball- All children will play one quarter. ❖ Volleyball- Playing time is based on MAC rules. The UCRD reserves the right to adjust the above based on team sizes. 2. Coaches do have the right to keep a child from participating due to disciplinary reasons including missing practice(s). The UCRD staff person, scorekeeper, officials and parent must be notified of the child’s name and the reason before the game begins. Coaches not following these guidelines on reporting before the game will require the coach to follow all participation rules as outlined herein. 3. If a player is not going to be able to attend practice or going to be late, it is the parents responsibility to let the coach know. On the practice field is where the athletes are preparing, developing skills, unifying as a team, and without this vital time it becomes a safety issue to not only your child, but to the other players. The coach has the right to bench an athlete if he/she feels your child is not prepared for a game due to missing practice(s). LEAGUE RULES League rules will be given out at the coaches meeting or at the draft prior to each sport. If rules discussed at the draft warrant a revision to the rules, a new updated set of rules will be given to each head coach prior to the season. BALL PARK RULES 1. There will be a UCRD staff person located at all facilities. If you have a problem, please ask the staff for assistance. 2. No one is allowed on the score stands, scoring room or scoreboards. 3. No climbing or sitting on the fences or score stands. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 of 14 4. Spectators are to stay off of the playing field and only designated adults assigned by the coach may be allowed in the dugouts. 5. The lights will be turned off after the last game or scheduled practice. RAIN OUT POLICY 1. The UCRD will make the final decision regarding rainouts and field playability. 2. If a rainout is unavoidable, the UCRD will make the announcement on our Code Red at 2:00 pm. All head coaches are required to contact their players/parents and advise them of any game cancellations. PLAYER CONDUCT 1. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Any player ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct will have to sit out the remainder of the game and the following game. 2. Players must be in team uniform. A player will not be denied playing time due to not wearing the issued uniform. 3. Any players ejected from a game for fighting may be suspended/ejected from league play. More information about each sport can be found in the UCRD Zero Tolerance Policy. 4. Jewely of any type is not permitted in any sport. PARENT CONDUCT Parents must sign the “Zero Tolerance” and “Parents Code of Ethics” prior to each sporting season. Violation of either may result in suspension from the playing facility. The length of the suspension will depend on the severity of the violation or inappropriate conduct. COACHES CONDUCT 1. All coaches must sign a “Coaches Code of Ethics” prior to each sporting season. 2. COACHES WILL SHOW SPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT AT ALL TIMES. Each coach shall adhere to all points of emphasis as outlined in the “Coaches Code of Ethics” at all times. Failure to adhere to the Coaches Code of Conduct and/or following UCRD park and league rules may ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 of 14 result in removal as a volunteer coach, suspension from coaching for a specified period of time or a required meeting with the UCRD management before being allowed to continue as a volunteer coach. 3. Any coach ejected from a game must leave the park or gym immediately and will not be allowed to coach the next scheduled game played and based on review may be banned from the facility. 4. Any coach ejected from two games will be suspended for the remainder of the season. 5. Any coach ejected from a game or suspended for the season will not be allowed to coach an All- Star team. 6. Any coach that pulls his/her team off the playing field will be suspended indefinitely. 7. Coaches will be responsible for players and parental conduct. COACHES SELECTION 1. Final coaching assignments will be decided by the UCRD ELIGIBILITY 1. No individual shall be denied the right to submit an application for volunteer service with youth for any open position. However, UCRD has the right and responsibility to select candidates it feels are the most qualified. 2. Anyone may complete the Volunteer Coach Application at the beginning of the registration period for that sport to be a possible volunteer coach. All persons that are selected as the AllStar coach in any program are required to be certified by NAYS through the UCRD 3. At least one coach will be certified for each All-Star team. 4. All potential coaches must be entered into the UCRD Ankored system to complete their background check and any required training prior to the first practice. UCRD will observe the following policy in selecting coaches for each sport. ---PAGE BREAK--- 7 of 14 The Union County Recreation and Parks Department reserves the right to select coaches based off previous actions/complaints that were documented on a coach for any previous year. The number of coaches selected by the UCRD shall be based on the number of registrants. Guidelines for selecting coaches are as follows: ❖ A returning head coach from the previous season in that same age division shall be considered first; ❖ An assistant coach who desires to become a head coach that coached in that same age division the previous year is next; ❖ A returning head coach from a different division shall be considered next for selection; ❖ A returning assistant coach from a different age division shall be considered next; ❖ A new coach or one that has set out for at least one year will be considered next. UCRD management personnel have the right in their sole discretion to make any and all decisions pertaining to eligibility of coach(es). This decision shall be final. DRESS CODE The Union County Recreation and Parks Department will require the coaches in any sport to dress accordingly and properly. The following guidelines for coaching attire will be enforced. Any coach not following these guidelines will be removed from coaching in the Union County Recreation and Parks Department programs. ❖ No article(s) of clothing (including hats) shall contain any advertisement for any alcohol or tobacco products. ❖ No article(s) of clothing shall have any language/illustrations that are racial, contain obscene language or language/illustrations that are not in a positive tone and are not appropriate for children. ❖ Shorts may be worn on the field that are at a proper length and that are not revealed in any way; ❖ Clothing shall be worn in a manner appropriate for children and youth. UCRD management personnel reserves the right to make a final decision on proper attire. COACHES MEETING A preseason coaches’ meeting will be held on the night of the league draft or on another night specified by the UCRD. The league rules, draft procedures, All-Star selection, and any new rules or ideas that a coach would like to discuss needs to be brought up at this meeting. ---PAGE BREAK--- 8 of 14 COACHES’ RESPONSIBILITIES 1. The coach or team representative is responsible for informing team members and parents of the rules and regulations. This includes enforcement of the rules and regulations. 2. Coaches will handle administrative arrangements for teams. The coach will serve as the liaison between the team and the UCRD. 3. It is the coach’s responsibility to contact the players he/she selects in the draft. 4. Coaches must supervise practices. Practice schedules will be given out at the draft or shortly thereafter. The UCRD will schedule preseason practices for teams; the number of teams in a league will determine the number of practices. Any additional practice will be left to the coach. UCRD limits a coach/team to only three events per week, i.e. three practices, one practice and two games, or two practices and one game. The UCRD will not schedule any practices once the season starts. 5. The coach is responsible for game assembly, organization, and supervision of their team. Coaches should be ready; with team rosters completed and turned in, to start a game 15 minutes before scheduled game time. 6. It is the coach’s responsibility to contact their players to notify them about rainouts. 7. If a coach cancels a UCRD scheduled practice, then they must notify their team and they must also notify the UCRD. 8. Coaches cannot penalize players for not attending Sunday or Wednesday practices CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK PROCEDURES All Coaches, Head Coach and Coaching Assistants must register in the Anchored a. The Director will notify the individual if he/she did not pass the background check and is not eligible to coach a team. b. The individual has three business days from notification of the issue to request a meeting with the Director to discuss the matter and request an appeal of the decision. c. The Director will schedule a meeting with the individual as soon as possible after being contacted. d. The individual will have no contact with the team before the above stated meeting; ---PAGE BREAK--- 9 of 14 e. Each incident on the Background Check will be reviewed. f. Individuals who successfully appeal the denial of coaching will be placed on probation for a period to be determined by the Director. During the probationary period, UCRD reserves the right to conduct periodic background checks on the individual. Disqualification and Disqualifying Offenses: No applicant shall be eligible to serve as a volunteer if the background check reveals a criminal record for the offenses listed below. For the purpose of the policy, a “criminal record” shall mean the individual has been convicted of or is currently charged with any of the offenses listed. The individual will be declared ineligible to coach for UCRD. a. Any crimes against children. b. Any sexual offenses. c. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor three years. d. Any offenses involving alcohol within the last three years. e. Any offenses involving drugs within the last five years. f. Any offense involving lewd conduct. g. Any offense involving family/domestic violence. h. Criminal attempts to commit any above-named offenses. i. Any other crimes that bear upon fitness to have the responsibility for the safety and well-being of children. The above is intended to be illustrative and is not inclusive of all offenses that could be included in these criteria. Any other incident found on Criminal Background Check will be subject to review by UCRD and could lead to immediate dismissal. Approval: Any applicant whose records fail to reveal a criminal record or a pending charge shall be approved, unless denied based on some other policy of UCRD. Approval shall be valid for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months. Applicants who successfully pass the background check are not guaranteed a volunteer position with UCRD. The background check is just one step in the process. EQUIPMENT CHECKOUT/RETURN: 1. The UCRD will supply the equipment that is needed for each sport. 2. The coach must sign for the coaching equipment and return it as issued. 3. The coaching equipment should be returned to the recreation office where it was checked out after the last scheduled game. ---PAGE BREAK--- 10 of 14 4. Youth equipment that is checked out must be returned after the final game. 5. Any equipment not returned is subject to be replaced by the coach/player or charged accordingly. This debt must be cleared up before they can coach/play in any other UCRD program. TROPHIES AND TEAM PARTIES: The UCRD is not responsible for the setting up or buying of any team trophies, or parties. PICTURES: The UCRD is not responsible for team pictures. It is UCRD’s recommendation for all coaches to have their team and individual pictures at the beginning of the season, so they are returned to the team before the end of the season. Please contact Jeni Dixon (706) 897-5426 for your UCRD pictures. DRAFT POLICY: The purpose of a player draft is to make all teams as fair as possible. For all sports through the UCRD, the following draft procedures will be administered. 1. UCRD reserves the right to modify draft procedures in the best interest of the Union County Recreation Department. 2. All Head will be selected prior to the draft. 3. All players on the draft roster will be evaluated prior to the selection process. 4.The athletes are snakes drafted onto the board, once the teams are even the coaches will draw for their teams. 5. Head coaches are guaranteed their child. 6. Everybody in the room must agree to the assistant coach trade. 7. The UCRD will make every effort to accommodate everybody’s schedule, but it is not always possible. If a Head Coach cannot attend the draft, he/she can send an assistant. If an assistant cannot attend the draft will go forward; digital call-ins are not permitted. ---PAGE BREAK--- 11 of 14 PRACTICE TIMES: 1. The coach(es) shall coordinate with the Union County Recreation and Parks Department for practice times and places. If additional practice times are desired other than those assigned by the Recreation Department, it will be up to the coach to locate and secure those facilities desired. 2. The coach shall make a diligent attempt to practice all skill areas of their respective sport throughout the practices, so that the youth in your program have a chance at bettering their skills for that sport. 3. The Recreation Director, or designee shall reserve the right to make any decisions pertaining to the practice times, places, and/or content. GAME RESCHEDULING: 1. Game cancellations due to inclement weather will be announced via Code Red. A decision regarding evening programs will be made at 2:00 p.m. It is the coach’s responsibility to contact their players. 2. School events are the only events for which games will be rescheduled; the UCRD must approve any other game rescheduling ahead of time. High school or middle school athletic activities will not be considered a school function. 3. Coaches must give the UCRD advanced notice as well as a list of the players involved in the function. If a coach has the required number of players to start the game, then games will be played. SCHOOL FUNCTION: The only time a game will be rescheduled will be if there is a conflict with a school function. However, for a game to be rescheduled, a team must drop below the minimum number of players needed to play. If a coach has a conflict with a school function, he/she should: 1. Give a list of players involved at least one week in advance of the scheduled game; 2. Give a description of the school function along with the name of the school; ---PAGE BREAK--- 12 of 14 3. The information should be received within seven days prior to the game he/she is requesting to be changed. 4. NOTE: A school dance or sporting event is NOT considered a school function for UCRD purposes. ALL-STAR PROGRAM: 1. UCRD participates in some post-season GRPA play. 2. All coaches participating in any post-season GRPA event will follow all guidelines as outlined in the UCRD Policies and Procedures. Failure to do so will result in an automatic removal as the all-star coach. 3. If a team elects to play in a GRPA District tournament and wins they must continue to State. The UCRD will pay the entry fees for said tournaments, but it is the responsibility of the team to raise the money for any hotel or meal costs. ALL- STAR GUIDELINES: 1. GRPA, MAC, GHSA, and the National Federation of High School Athletics (USA for softball) govern the All-Star programs. 2. If anyone wants a copy of the GRPA rules they should contact the UCRD or visit the GRPA website at www.grpa.org. ALL-STAR ELIGIBILITY: 1. Teams and individuals participating in athletic functions of GRPA must be an integral part of an agency’s local program before they are eligible to represent that agency in GRPA competition with all youth achieving the age of 7 by the age control date for a particular event. a. An “integral part of an agency’s local program” is defined as individuals who participated during their current season in the activity in question and under staff supervision of that agency. Participation means registering and being a part of that agency’s program as required by the local Director. ---PAGE BREAK--- 13 of 14 b. Agencies shall not recruit players for the sole purpose of competing in GRPA athletic functions. c. An all-star team must be composed of players from teams that are an integral part of an agency’s local program. d. If an agency enters a team (only team from agency/no all-star selection completed in age division) that will advance straight to State the agency must provide proof of participant registration through the agency by entering the team. This documentation is due at the district entry meeting/deadline and signed off by the district athletic chairman. 2. Eligibility involving local participation is left to the integrity of the agency director. The Director shall be prepared to make available substantial proof of local participation through such means as score books, registration materials, agency records, new releases or other such evidence requested by the State Athletic Committee Chair or District Commissioner from the agency’s district. NOTE:UCRD requires that a player has to play in the designated league for the season to be eligible for the All-Star program (i.e. a child playing 9/10 Baseball can play with the 9/10 All-Star team only). If a player is a legal player in the program, they are eligible to be chosen to All-Stars. ALL-STAR COACH SELECTION: 1. The all-star coach will be selected through an election process that includes all coaches in the league that are in good standing with UCRD and members of UCRD Athletics staff. Each coach in the respective league will be asked to cast a vote for a fellow coach that is in good standing with UCRD that he/she feels is deserving of the honor. UCRD Athletics staff will cast two votes for a coach of the respective league. UCRD Athletics staff have the authority to break any potential ties. 2. The head coach of an All-Star team must be NAYS certified. ALL-STAR PLAYER SELECTION 1. All head coaches will be asked to nominate as many players as he would like from the league for the All-Star program via a nomination form that is emailed to all head coaches. A meeting may then be scheduled with all head coaches and UCRD staff. If a meeting is not scheduled, a nomination ballot will be sent via email to all head coaches. 2. A representative from each team (either head coach or assistant coach) should attend the All-star meeting if one is scheduled. If a representative is not present, it could result in a loss of coaching privileges in the future. ---PAGE BREAK--- 14 of 14 3. The coaches will collectively (by vote) agree on a specified number of players, not to exceed the maximum roster limit, with the All-Star coach filling the final 3 picks of the roster with whomever they want from the nomination list. 4. If a player quits the All-Star team, the coach must contact a representative from the UCRD before selecting another player from the nomination list. LIGHTNING PREDICTION SYSTEM POLICY & PROCEDURES: The Union County Recreation & Parks Department has a lightning system that detects static buildup in the atmosphere in which lightning forms. If the static buildup gets above a pre-set amount in the system, an audible alarm and strobe light will be activated for 15 seconds. This will be done prior to the lightning having enough static electricity to form within the set detection zone and give patrons in the park advance notice of incoming bad weather with lightning. The system will monitor the storm and determine if it is going away from the sensor or towards it. It has a pre- set radius to detect lightning within that radius. Lightning strikes outside that radius will not be detected by the system. This may be the reason you may still see lightning and the system not activated. Once the static buildup has dropped below the threshold for lightning to form, a second audible alarm and strobe light will be activated for three 5 second bursts signaling it is safe to return to previous activities. Coaches must immediately remove all players from the field of play when the lightning detector goes off and will not allow any player or member of their team to enter back on to the field of play until such time as the lightning prediction system sounds the all clear alarm of three 5 second bursts indicating that it is safe to return to the field of play. Players are not to remain in the dugouts when the system goes off and the field is cleared. It is recommended that all players return to their parents/guardian vehicles until such time that it is safe to return NOTE: If you arrive at the complex and you see the yellow strobe light blinking, this means that the lightning system has been activated and is monitoring the storm system. Do not put any children on the playing field until the all clear siren sounds three 5 second bursts and the strobe light turns off.