CODE OF CONDUCT
PHILOSOPHY
Loyalty, respect and consistency are the key components of a successful team. Once you make a commitment to this team, you will have to follow through with the demands that we put on you. Always play and practice with your high school team and Praetorian’s teams first, and if you have more time then you are welcome to supplement your workout with someone else. In the long run, hard work and lots of grit will always beat talent. If you put in time into this program, you will reap the rewards of your hard work. Our ultimate goal is to teach athletes about the importance of managing time, working hard every day, being a good teammate, becoming a better person, and providing opportunity to play in college.
RESPECT
Please show respect to all coaches, parents, officials, and teammates at all times. This includes talking while a coach is talking; when a coach is talking, no one else should be. Keep in mind; our athletes are representing different high schools and the Praetorian program. Please do not do anything to embarrass coaches, teammates, your family, or the school.
COMMON SENSE
No alcohol, drugs or tobacco will be allowed at any meet, practice, overnight trip, or any other water polo team function. These are grounds for immediate removal from the team (this is a Code of Ethics violation 24/7, 365 days per year).
ATHLETE'S CODE OF CONDUCT
1. Players are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the common courtesies of decency, morality, honesty, and respect for the rights and properties of others. Athletes should be tolerant, supportive and respectful to all people, including but not limited to teammates, coaches, parents, officials, fans, and opponents. The following behavior will not be tolerated:
a. Hazing, taunting, or verbally abusing another athlete, coach, referee, or any person participating in or conducting a PWP sanctioned event;
b. Making derogatory comments about a person’s race, gender, religion, age, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation; or
c. Using obscene gestures, profanity, or unduly provocative language.
2. Athletes are expected to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner at all times and will abide by all federal, state and local laws, education code, and all School District policies and regulations. Use of illegal drugs or weapons will not be tolerated.
3. Although water polo is a physical sport, athletes are expected to refrain from engaging in any act with the intent to cause injury to another athlete.
4. Players are expected to arrive on time and prepared for practice, games, scrimmages, and team meetings. Athletes are expected to remain quiet while the coach is speaking and will not disrupt the coach or behave in any manner that interferes with the coach’s communications with other athletes. Players should have all necessary gear at practices, games, and scrimmages.
5. Athletes will diligently and timely perform tasks as requested by the coaching staff such as course set up, warm up, stretching, returning balls and other equipment to storage, or working the desk for PWP hosted games, scrimmages, or tournaments.
6. Athletes are required to keep locker rooms, team rooms, practice areas, and the pool deck clean and orderly. This includes all pools or training centers where PWP competes and/or trains, regardless whether home or away.
PARENT'S CODE OF CONDUCT
PARENT CONDUCT DURING GAMES
Demonstrating a positive attitude: Parents are expected to show a positive, respectful attitude for everyone involved in the sport. Criticism and disrespect for officials, opponents, coaches or fans undermine the purpose of sport and encourage behavior contrary to the spirit of the game. We will not tolerate conduct that is detrimental to the sport, the participants, or the community, such conduct includes: harassment or belittling of officials, coaches or players; verbal abuse, threats or physical violence toward anyone before, during or after a match; and the taunting of opposing players, coaches and parents. Set the example by showing respect, dignity, and total sportsmanship at all times.
PARENT – COACH CONFERENCE
If you would like to talk with a coach about some issues or concerns, make sure to set up a meeting at least one day in advance. Please do not attempt to talk to the coach about any issues that you might have before-during-after practice, and before-during-after games. If the meeting is not set up in advance the coaching staff will not talk with you. The parent-coach conference will not be scheduled if you want to talk about the following topics: playtime, team strategy, coaching techniques, or if you want to talk about other athletes that are not your children. In case you would like to talk about certain issues regarding athletes that are not your children, the parent-coach conference will also include the club president.
PRACTICE
Our practices are closed to all people besides those who are on the team. That includes parents, friends, and family. It is essential that we focus on our practice and get the most out of our time as a team. It is hard to run practice and have everyone focus when there are other people on the pool deck. Please respect this.