Code of Conduct:

As a member of DBPW volunteer leadership, you are held to a higher standard than the event attendees and participants.  All attendees and participants of DBPW events are expected to behave appropriately.  There is and has been a clearly defined “Code of Conduct” which conveys our definition of unacceptable behavior, and the consequences for committing such actions.  Although the majority of this Code of Conduct is listed in the Official Rule Book, we have chosen to restate it here in order to draw attention to the importance of abiding by its precepts, and delineate certain aspects that have been modified to better suit DBPW and its organizational structure.

Adult Code of Conduct

·        ACC1 – In order to uphold the goals of DBPW and to ensure that all participants have the benefit of a safe and fun learning environment, all parents, guardians and other attendees of DBPW events, including but not limited to practices, competitions, and banquets, must behave accordingly in a respectful, courteous and sportsmanlike manner at all times.

·        ACC2 – Any adult who is using alcohol, tobacco or non-prescription drugs and/or appears intoxicated at a DBPW event and/or who is flagrantly rude, attempts to intimidate, verbally abuses, heckles, taunts, ridicules, throws objects and/or uses vulgarity or profane language/gestures to an official, coach, volunteer, staff member, participant, or other event attendee must receive a verbal warning and/or be asked to leave the DBPW event and will be subject to the “Progressive Disciplinary Actions” of DBPW.

·        ACC3 – Any adult who physically assaults an official, coach, volunteer, staff member, or participant or threatens grave bodily harm may be banned from any and all DBPW events for one year from the date of the offense, and their children may also be removed from any and all DBPW programs for that same period of time.  This disciplinary action is made at the sole discretion of the President or acting President after a thorough investigation of the events has been conducted, and presented to the Board for recommendations.  After the ban has expired, if the individual commits another offense of the adult code of conduct (ACC1, ACC2, or ACC3), the individual may be permanently banned from any and all DBPW events, and the individual’s children may also be permanently removed from any and all DBPW programs.  This disciplinary action is made at the sole discretion of the President or acting President after a thorough investigation of the events has been conducted, and presented to the Board for recommendations.

Members Code of Conduct

All volunteers, staff, and DBPW participants (Members) will abide by a Code of Conduct which includes the following provisions.  If any of these rules are broken, the offending person will be subject to the “Progressive Disciplinary Actions” of DBPW.  Members shall:

·        MCC1 – Not smoke or use smokeless tobacco on the field or in the vicinity of any DBPW practice or game during said event.  Special note should be made that California school sites are tobacco free zones and use of any tobacco product is strictly prohibited by law at any and all times.

·        MCC2 – Not criticize DBPW participants in a manner that violates any of the DBPW “Core Values” (Respect , Safety, Integrity, Commitment to Leadership, Continuous Improvement)

·        MCC3 – Accept decisions of the game officials and judges on the field and in competitions as being fair and called in the best ability of said officials.

·        MCC4 – Not criticize an opposing team, its players, spirit participants, coaches, or fans by word of mouth or by gesture.

·        MCC5 – Not engage in excessive sideline coaching and shall not leave the bench area to shout instructions from the sidelines.

·        MCC6 – Not use abusive or profane language at any time –If you have any doubt as to a particular word or phrase, and whether or not it might be considered “abusive or profane”, then you shouldn’t use that word or phrase until having it clarified by a member of the Board of Directors.

·        MCC7 – Not “pile it on”, or otherwise encourage their team to get a commanding lead with a score differential of more than 28 points (or as otherwise defined in the Official Rules).  In these instances, every effort should be made to let all players play.

·        MCC8 – Not receive any payment, in cash or in kind, for services as a coach in DBPW.  This includes any coach, expert, consultant or choreographer, regardless of his/her roster status.

·        MCC9 – Not permit or encourage “sweating down” tactics in order for a player to make the team weight.

·        MCC10 – Not recommend or distribute any medication (controlled or over the counter), except as specifically prescribed by a participant’s physician.

·        MCC11 – Not permit an ineligible DBPW player or spirit participant to participate in a game or event.

·        MCC12 – Not deliberately incite unsportsmanlike conduct.

·        MCC13 – Abstain from the possession and drinking of alcoholic beverages and the possession or use of any illegal substance on both the game and practice fields and in the vicinity of any and all DBPW games or practices.

·        MCC14 – Remove from a game or practice any participant when even slightly in doubt about his/her health, whether or not as a result of injury, until competent medical advice is available.

·        MCC15 – Uphold all rules and regulations, National, Regional, and Local, regarding Pop Warner Football, Cheerleading, and Dance.

·        MCC16 – Refrain from engaging in any action which reflects negatively, or causes embarrassment to DBPW and/or any other aspect of Pop Warner.

DBPW Progressive Disciplinary Actions

·        PDA1 - Verbal Warning and/or asked to leave event

·        PDA2 - Written Warning and/or asked to leave event

·        PDA3 - 1 week suspension – cannot participate in or attend practices, games, and/or any other DBPW event during the defined time period

·        PDA4 – Revocation of Volunteer Position

·        PDA5 - 1 year suspension - cannot participate in or attend practices, games, and/or any other DBPW event during the defined time period

·        PDA6 - Permanently Banned from DBPW events

Progressive Disciplinary Actions 1 and 2 are made at the sole discretion of the President or acting President with no prior notification of the Board of Directors required.  Progressive Disciplinary Actions 3, 4, 5 and 6 are made at the sole discretion of the President or acting President after a thorough investigation of the event(s) has been conducted, and presented to the Board for recommendations.  At the President’s or acting President’s sole discretion, and with or without input from the Board of Directors, any violation of the Adult Code of Conduct, or the Members Code of Conduct may result in the advancement to the next Progressive Disciplinary Action – depending on the severity of the event(s).  The requirement of a full investigation and presentation to the Board of Directors for comment will still remain in tact for Progressive Disciplinary Actions 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Defining Success

Success can be defined in many ways.  Some may look at the win/loss record of a team, or the playing statistics of an individual for their measurement of success.  At DBPW, we consciously choose not to use these methods for our definition of success.  While it is understandable that competitive sports creates an environment in which the participants like to win, and are encouraged to do so, it needs to be understood that we define the success of our Association by the following criteria:

1. No violations of the Official Rules – including but not limited to the “Code of Conduct”
2. All “Core Values” and “Positive Expectations” are met
3. Everyone has fun

Being volunteer members and participants of DBPW is both an opportunity and a privilege.  With that privilege comes a responsibility to impact lives positively and make our community a better place to live.  We can accomplish this through the appropriate use of our individual skills, the pursuit of excellence as defined by our understanding of success, and compliance with the “Codes of Conduct”.  Understanding, agreeing to, and abiding by these concepts are essential to our success.  DBPW truly appreciates your efforts and expects your cooperation in these matters.  Thank you.