I. Overview
The National Academy League (NAL) is a youth soccer competition platform with the mission of providing world class training, development, education, and competition opportunities for select soccer clubs in the United States. The National Academy League (NAL) values sportsmanship, fair play, skill development, and mutual respect among all Players, Coaches, officials, and spectators. This Code of Conduct has been established to ensure the guiding principles of The National Academy League (NAL) are understood and followed by all National Academy League (NAL) Participants. This Code of Conduct applies to all National Academy League (NAL) Games, The National Academy League (NAL) Events, The National Academy League (NAL) Competitions, or any other activity associated with The National Academy League (NAL) and National Academy Championships (NAC)
II. Code of Conduct
a. General Principles
By seeking to participate in The National Academy League (NAL), each National Academy League (NAL) Participant will agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the following General Principles:
i. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant agrees that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by all the information contained in the National Academy League (NAL) Rules and Policies applicable to them.
ii. Each The National Academy League (NAL) Participant agrees that they understand and will comply with the National Academy League (NAL) Code of Conduct and will refrain from taking any action that violates this Policy. Each The National Academy League (NAL) Participant agrees that they will help foster a safe and welcoming environment for all Players, Coaches, parents, spectators, or any other National Academy League (NAL) Participant. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant agrees that they will not take Offensive Action (as defined below in Section III), insult, make fun of, ridicule, or disparage, in any way, another National Academy League (NAL) Participant. If it is determined that any National Academy League (NAL) Participant failed to ensure a safe and welcoming environment, then such National Academy League (NAL) Participant may be subject to Sanctions, including, but not limited to, suspension from The National Academy League (NAL).
iii. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant agrees that they are committed to facilitating a diverse and inclusive environment. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant acknowledges that discrimination, offensive remarks, or adverse action of any kind arising out of or in connection with an individual’s Protected Status (as defined in The National Academy League (NAL) Safety and Wellbeing Policy) will not be tolerated in The National Academy League (NAL), and an National Academy League (NAL) Participant will face serious and significant Sanctions, up to and 2 including removal from The National Academy League (NAL), in the event such actions are determined to have occurred.
iv. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant hereby agrees that they will not partake in any conduct that is illegal, violent, dangerous, irresponsible, or is otherwise detrimental to the reputation of The National Academy League (NAL). An National Academy League (NAL) Participant will face serious and significant Sanctions if found to have taken any action that undercuts public respect and support for the sport of soccer, The National Academy League (NAL) or their affiliates.
v. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant hereby agrees that he/she/they will report any wrongdoing or violations of this Policy, the National Academy League (NAL) Safety and Wellbeing Policy, or any National Academy League (NAL) Rule or Policy, to the appropriate governing bodies. If it is determined that an National Academy League (NAL) Participant failed to report such violations or wrongdoings, then such National Academy League (NAL) Participant may incur Sanctions.
b. The National Academy League (NAL) Coach Code of Conduct
The Club will provide each Head Coach with copies of the Code of Conduct prior to the start of an The National Academy League (NAL) season. Each Head Coach is responsible for reviewing the The National Academy League (NAL) Code of Conduct with their assistant coaches and Players and promoting their compliance with it. In addition, the Head Coach must make the Code of Conduct available to the parents of their Players and other Club spectators and take or facilitate immediate action to address non-compliance.
In addition to the General Principles above, each Coach will ensure that their conduct is that of a responsible coach. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, the Coach is expected to:
i. Instruct Players in the rules and coach their team in such a way as to motivate each Player to always compete according to the rules.
ii. Respect the Game Officials and refrain from questioning their decisions in a disrespectful or abusive manner.
iii. Seek to ensure that fans of their team always conduct themselves with sportsmanship and maturity while in attendance at game sites and assist 3 the Game Officials in maintaining control of spectators during the Games.
iv. Respect the Coaches and Players of the opposing team both during the play of the game and at its conclusion, regardless of the result.
v. Maintain control of their emotions and avoid actions, language, and/or gestures that may be interpreted as hostile and humiliating.
vi. Refrain from taking any action which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person on the ground of gender, race, disability, age, religious or political belief, sexual orientation, social background, ethnic origin, language, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy.
vii. Refrain from using drugs or alcohol in the presence of Players or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while performing their Coaching/staff duties (this applies to Games, practices, as well as sanctioned Club activities).
viii. Refrain from taking any Offensive Action during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, The National Academy League (NAL) Tournament, The National Academy League (NAL) Event, or any other activity associated with The National Academy League (NAL).
c. The National Academy League (NAL) Player Code of Conduct In addition to the above General Principles, all Players are expected to:
i. Accept and observe the authority and decisions of Game Officials and all other The National Academy League (NAL) disciplinary bodies.
ii. Refrain from taking any action which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person on the ground of gender, race, disability, age, religious or political belief, sexual orientation, social background, ethnic origin, language, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy.
iii. Recognize and appreciate the efforts made by Coaches, parents, Game Officials, and administrators in providing the opportunity to play The National Academy League (NAL) soccer and enjoy the sporting environment.
iv. Ensure that the game is played and conducted in accordance with discipline and sporting behavior and acknowledge that it is not sufficient to rely solely upon a Game Official to maintain those principles.
v. Respect the Coaches and Players of the opposing team both during the play of the game and at its conclusion, regardless of the result.
vi. Refrain from taking any Offensive Action during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, The National Academy League (NAL) Tournament, The National Academy League (NAL) Event, or any other activity associated with The National Academy League (NAL).
d. Parent and Spectator Code of Conduct In addition to the General Principles above, each parent and spectator will ensure that their conduct is that of a responsible observer. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, each parent or spectator is expected to:
i. Respect the rules of the game and cheer for their team in a positive, supportive manner.
ii. Respect the Game Officials and refrain from questioning their decisions in a disrespectful or abusive manner.
iii. Not interact in a negative fashion with other spectators, parents, Players, or Coaches of the opposing team, including use of abusive or hostile language or gestures of ill temper.
iv. Refrain from taking any action that may be likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person on the ground of gender, race, disability, age, religious or political belief, sexual orientation, social background, ethnic origin, language, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy.
v. Refrain from taking any Offensive Action during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, The National Academy League (NAL) Tournament, The National Academy League (NAL) Event, or any other activity associated with The National Academy League (NAL).
III. Offensive Actions
Offensive Actions, as defined below, are specifically prohibited by the The National Academy League (NAL) Code of Conduct:
i. Refusing to abide by a Game Official’s decision.
ii. Verbally abusing or assaulting any Player, Coach, Game Official, parent, spectator, or The National Academy League (NAL) Program Staff, during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
iii. Physically assaulting, abusing, threatening, any Player, Coach, Game Official, parent, spectator, or The National Academy League (NAL) Program Staff, during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
iv. Stalking, tailing, or attempting to intimidate any Player, Coach, Game Official, parent, spectator, or The National Academy League (NAL) Program Staff, during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
v. Engaging in any other type of violent behavior, such as throwing equipment, or other objects at any Player, Coach, Game Official, parent, spectator, or The National Academy League (NAL) Program Staff, during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
vi. Failing to follow requests from venue staff regarding field operations, policies, or emergency response procedures.
vii. Engaging in any lewd or sexually explicit behavior during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
viii. Using drugs or alcohol while coaching, attending, or participating in any The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
ix. Engaging in any action which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person on the ground of gender, race, disability, age, religious or political belief, sexual orientation, social background, ethnic origin, language, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy.
IV. Violations
Violations of the Code of Conduct will not be tolerated. Any individual who fails to adhere to conduct expectations should be prepared to accept consequences. Any individual found to have violated the Code of Conduct by, among other things, engaging in fighting, using foul or abusive language, throwing objects, exhibiting disruptive behavior, or performing any Offensive Action as defined above shall be subject to removal from the The National Academy League (NAL) Event, as well as any additional applicable penalties and sanctions as set forth in the The National Academy League (NAL) Disciplinary Code.
The National Academy League (NAL) is a youth soccer competition platform with the mission of providing world class training, development, education, and competition opportunities for select soccer clubs in the United States. The National Academy League (NAL) values sportsmanship, fair play, skill development, and mutual respect among all Players, Coaches, officials, and spectators. This Code of Conduct has been established to ensure the guiding principles of The National Academy League (NAL) are understood and followed by all National Academy League (NAL) Participants. This Code of Conduct applies to all National Academy League (NAL) Games, The National Academy League (NAL) Events, The National Academy League (NAL) Competitions, or any other activity associated with The National Academy League (NAL) and National Academy Championships (NAC)
II. Code of Conduct
a. General Principles
By seeking to participate in The National Academy League (NAL), each National Academy League (NAL) Participant will agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the following General Principles:
i. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant agrees that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by all the information contained in the National Academy League (NAL) Rules and Policies applicable to them.
ii. Each The National Academy League (NAL) Participant agrees that they understand and will comply with the National Academy League (NAL) Code of Conduct and will refrain from taking any action that violates this Policy. Each The National Academy League (NAL) Participant agrees that they will help foster a safe and welcoming environment for all Players, Coaches, parents, spectators, or any other National Academy League (NAL) Participant. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant agrees that they will not take Offensive Action (as defined below in Section III), insult, make fun of, ridicule, or disparage, in any way, another National Academy League (NAL) Participant. If it is determined that any National Academy League (NAL) Participant failed to ensure a safe and welcoming environment, then such National Academy League (NAL) Participant may be subject to Sanctions, including, but not limited to, suspension from The National Academy League (NAL).
iii. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant agrees that they are committed to facilitating a diverse and inclusive environment. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant acknowledges that discrimination, offensive remarks, or adverse action of any kind arising out of or in connection with an individual’s Protected Status (as defined in The National Academy League (NAL) Safety and Wellbeing Policy) will not be tolerated in The National Academy League (NAL), and an National Academy League (NAL) Participant will face serious and significant Sanctions, up to and 2 including removal from The National Academy League (NAL), in the event such actions are determined to have occurred.
iv. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant hereby agrees that they will not partake in any conduct that is illegal, violent, dangerous, irresponsible, or is otherwise detrimental to the reputation of The National Academy League (NAL). An National Academy League (NAL) Participant will face serious and significant Sanctions if found to have taken any action that undercuts public respect and support for the sport of soccer, The National Academy League (NAL) or their affiliates.
v. Each National Academy League (NAL) Participant hereby agrees that he/she/they will report any wrongdoing or violations of this Policy, the National Academy League (NAL) Safety and Wellbeing Policy, or any National Academy League (NAL) Rule or Policy, to the appropriate governing bodies. If it is determined that an National Academy League (NAL) Participant failed to report such violations or wrongdoings, then such National Academy League (NAL) Participant may incur Sanctions.
b. The National Academy League (NAL) Coach Code of Conduct
The Club will provide each Head Coach with copies of the Code of Conduct prior to the start of an The National Academy League (NAL) season. Each Head Coach is responsible for reviewing the The National Academy League (NAL) Code of Conduct with their assistant coaches and Players and promoting their compliance with it. In addition, the Head Coach must make the Code of Conduct available to the parents of their Players and other Club spectators and take or facilitate immediate action to address non-compliance.
In addition to the General Principles above, each Coach will ensure that their conduct is that of a responsible coach. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, the Coach is expected to:
i. Instruct Players in the rules and coach their team in such a way as to motivate each Player to always compete according to the rules.
ii. Respect the Game Officials and refrain from questioning their decisions in a disrespectful or abusive manner.
iii. Seek to ensure that fans of their team always conduct themselves with sportsmanship and maturity while in attendance at game sites and assist 3 the Game Officials in maintaining control of spectators during the Games.
iv. Respect the Coaches and Players of the opposing team both during the play of the game and at its conclusion, regardless of the result.
v. Maintain control of their emotions and avoid actions, language, and/or gestures that may be interpreted as hostile and humiliating.
vi. Refrain from taking any action which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person on the ground of gender, race, disability, age, religious or political belief, sexual orientation, social background, ethnic origin, language, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy.
vii. Refrain from using drugs or alcohol in the presence of Players or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while performing their Coaching/staff duties (this applies to Games, practices, as well as sanctioned Club activities).
viii. Refrain from taking any Offensive Action during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, The National Academy League (NAL) Tournament, The National Academy League (NAL) Event, or any other activity associated with The National Academy League (NAL).
c. The National Academy League (NAL) Player Code of Conduct In addition to the above General Principles, all Players are expected to:
i. Accept and observe the authority and decisions of Game Officials and all other The National Academy League (NAL) disciplinary bodies.
ii. Refrain from taking any action which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person on the ground of gender, race, disability, age, religious or political belief, sexual orientation, social background, ethnic origin, language, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy.
iii. Recognize and appreciate the efforts made by Coaches, parents, Game Officials, and administrators in providing the opportunity to play The National Academy League (NAL) soccer and enjoy the sporting environment.
iv. Ensure that the game is played and conducted in accordance with discipline and sporting behavior and acknowledge that it is not sufficient to rely solely upon a Game Official to maintain those principles.
v. Respect the Coaches and Players of the opposing team both during the play of the game and at its conclusion, regardless of the result.
vi. Refrain from taking any Offensive Action during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, The National Academy League (NAL) Tournament, The National Academy League (NAL) Event, or any other activity associated with The National Academy League (NAL).
d. Parent and Spectator Code of Conduct In addition to the General Principles above, each parent and spectator will ensure that their conduct is that of a responsible observer. To satisfactorily meet these responsibilities, each parent or spectator is expected to:
i. Respect the rules of the game and cheer for their team in a positive, supportive manner.
ii. Respect the Game Officials and refrain from questioning their decisions in a disrespectful or abusive manner.
iii. Not interact in a negative fashion with other spectators, parents, Players, or Coaches of the opposing team, including use of abusive or hostile language or gestures of ill temper.
iv. Refrain from taking any action that may be likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person on the ground of gender, race, disability, age, religious or political belief, sexual orientation, social background, ethnic origin, language, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy.
v. Refrain from taking any Offensive Action during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, The National Academy League (NAL) Tournament, The National Academy League (NAL) Event, or any other activity associated with The National Academy League (NAL).
III. Offensive Actions
Offensive Actions, as defined below, are specifically prohibited by the The National Academy League (NAL) Code of Conduct:
i. Refusing to abide by a Game Official’s decision.
ii. Verbally abusing or assaulting any Player, Coach, Game Official, parent, spectator, or The National Academy League (NAL) Program Staff, during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
iii. Physically assaulting, abusing, threatening, any Player, Coach, Game Official, parent, spectator, or The National Academy League (NAL) Program Staff, during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
iv. Stalking, tailing, or attempting to intimidate any Player, Coach, Game Official, parent, spectator, or The National Academy League (NAL) Program Staff, during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
v. Engaging in any other type of violent behavior, such as throwing equipment, or other objects at any Player, Coach, Game Official, parent, spectator, or The National Academy League (NAL) Program Staff, during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
vi. Failing to follow requests from venue staff regarding field operations, policies, or emergency response procedures.
vii. Engaging in any lewd or sexually explicit behavior during an The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
viii. Using drugs or alcohol while coaching, attending, or participating in any The National Academy League (NAL) Game, Competition, or Event.
ix. Engaging in any action which is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other person on the ground of gender, race, disability, age, religious or political belief, sexual orientation, social background, ethnic origin, language, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy.
IV. Violations
Violations of the Code of Conduct will not be tolerated. Any individual who fails to adhere to conduct expectations should be prepared to accept consequences. Any individual found to have violated the Code of Conduct by, among other things, engaging in fighting, using foul or abusive language, throwing objects, exhibiting disruptive behavior, or performing any Offensive Action as defined above shall be subject to removal from the The National Academy League (NAL) Event, as well as any additional applicable penalties and sanctions as set forth in the The National Academy League (NAL) Disciplinary Code.
