HARPER WOODS LITTLE LEAGUE
Board of Directors
Zero Tolerance Policy and Sanctions




Harper Woods Little League (HWLL) is a program of service to the youth. We are geared to provide an outlet of healthful activity and training, under good leadership, in the atmosphere of wholesome community participation.

Little League is dedicated to helping children become good and decent citizens. We strive to inspire them with a goal and to enrich their lives towards the day when they must take their places in the world.

Our mission is to help the youth of our community become better individuals and develop their baseball skills. Baseball embodies the discipline of teamwork. It challenges players towards perfection of physical skills and brings into play the excitement of tactics and strategy.

The nature of baseball also teaches that while every player eventually strikes out or is on a losing team, there is always another chance for success in the next at bat, the next fielding play or the next game.

Too often, in recent times, this ethic has been ignored to the detriment of our players, coaches, umpires and spectators. In an effort to return to the ideals outlined in our mission statement and to insure that all events remain safe and enjoyable for all members of the community, the Board of Directors of HWLL have adopted a policy of “zero tolerance” regarding abusive, rude or unsportsmanlike conduct by any player, coach, official or spectator.

The term Zero Tolerance encompasses a wide range of actions or verbiage directed from one person to another, or a group of people, including but not limited to:
Unsolicited physical contact which would constitute assault under state law
Profanity or verbal abuse directed towards any coach, player, umpire, official, spectator or any other participant
Ejection from a game or surroundings for any other reason not consistent with the values of the Harper Woods Little League
Behavior or conduct that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for an individual or group, including but not limited to, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation

Effective June 15, 2006, with respect to any practice or game (regular season, post season or all-star game) the HWLL Board of Directors hereby establishes a policy of zero tolerance which will be enforced in any situation where a player, coach or spectator are ejected from a game or asked to vacate the premises by an umpire or official of HWLL. The following consequences, while not all-inclusive, shall apply to all instances described above. For those actions not described, the HWLL Board of Directors will use these sanctions as a guide for determining an appropriate course of action.



ZERO TOLERANCE INFRACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES

PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND SPECTATORS

INFRACTION CONSEQUENCE
Use of alcohol or other illegal substances within the complex during games, practices or league events where players are present

1st - Ejection from game surroundings
2nd – Ejection from the game surroundings and child serves 1 game suspension
3rd – Ejection from the game surroundings and child serves suspension for the remainder of the season


Interference with the conduct of the game resulting in stoppage of play

1st - Ejection from game surroundings
2nd – Ejection from the game surroundings and child serves 1 game suspension
3rd – Ejection from the game surroundings and child serves 3 game suspension


Foul or abusive language directed toward a player, coach, umpire, official or spectator

1st - Ejection from game surroundings
2nd – Ejection from the game surroundings and child serves 1 game suspension
3rd – Ejection from the game surroundings and child serves 3 game suspension


Threatening gesture and/or language directed toward a player, coach, umpire, official or spectator

1st - Ejection from game surroundings
2nd – Ejection from the game surroundings and child serves 1 game suspension
3rd – Ejection from the game surroundings and child serves 3 game suspension


Striking or bodily assault of any player, coach, umpire, official or spectator by a parent/guardian


1st – Ejection from the game, child serves 1 game suspension and notification to police department
2nd - Lifetime suspension of child from HWLL and notification to police department


Striking or bodily assault of any player, coach, umpire, official or spectator by a spectator

Ejection from game surroundings and notification to police department


Ejection from game or practice for any reason other than stated here

 1st - Ejection from game surroundings
2nd – Ejection from the game surroundings and child serves 1 game suspension
3rd – Ejection from the game surroundings and child serves 3 game suspension



PLAYERS, COACHES, UMPIRES AND OFFICIALS

INFRACTION CONSEQUENCE
Use of alcohol or other illegal substances within the complex during games, practices or league events where players are present

1ST – 2 game suspension
2nd – Full season suspension
3rd – Lifetime suspension from HWLL


Knowingly allowing a player to play while having a serious injury or creating unsafe play conditions

Suspension for the remainder of the season


Foul or abusive language directed toward a player, coach, umpire, official or spectator

1st - Ejection from the game and 1 game suspension
2nd – Ejection from the game and 3 game suspension
3rd – Ejection from the game and suspension for the remainder of the season


Threatening gesture and/or language directed toward a player, coach, umpire or league official or spectator

1st - Ejection from the game and 2 game suspension
2nd – Ejection from the game and 5 game suspension
3rd – Ejection from the game and suspension for the remainder of the season


Allowing/encouraging foul or abusive language directed toward a player, coach, umpire, official or spectator

1st - Ejection from the game and 2 game suspension
2nd – Ejection from the game and 5 game suspension
3rd – Ejection from the game and suspension for the remainder of the season


Striking or bodily assault of any player, coach, umpire, official or spectator –

1st offense Player – Ejection from the game and 2 game suspension
Coach – Ejection from the game and 1 year suspension
Umpire/Official – 1 year suspension


Striking or bodily assault of any player, coach, umpire, official or spectator –

Lifetime suspension from HWLL


Ejection from game or practice for any reason other than stated here

1st - Ejection from the game
2nd – Ejection from the game and 3 game suspension
3rd – Ejection from the game and suspension for the remainder of the season