East Central Soccer Club Policies & Code of Ethics

East Central Soccer Club is committed to providing a safe, positive, respectful, and family-friendly environment for every player, parent, coach, referee, volunteer, and visitor.

Participation in ECSC programs is a privilege, and everyone associated with the Club is expected to represent themselves, their team, and East Central Soccer Club in a positive manner.

Our goal is simple: keep the focus on the players, support their development, and create an environment where everyone can enjoy the game.

Code of Ethics & Conduct

All ECSC players, parents, guardians, coaches, volunteers, board members, and spectators are expected to:

• Treat players, coaches, referees, volunteers, opponents, parents, and spectators with respect.

• Demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times.

• Refrain from abusive, threatening, intimidating, discriminatory, or inappropriate language or behavior.

• Respect the decisions of referees and game officials.

• Avoid confrontations before, during, or after games and practices.

• Encourage players in a positive and constructive manner.

• Support the Club's coaches, referees, volunteers, and Board members as they perform their responsibilities.

• Address concerns appropriately and through the proper Club channels.

• Remember that youth soccer is ultimately about the players and their experience.

Behavior that negatively impacts players, families, officials, volunteers, or the reputation of East Central Soccer Club may result in disciplinary action.

Parent & Guardian Code of Conduct

Parents and guardians play an important role in creating a positive environment for our players.

ECSC asks all parents and guardians to:

• Encourage their child and their teammates regardless of the outcome of a game.

• Allow coaches to coach and referees to officiate.

• Avoid coaching players from the sidelines unless serving as an authorized coach.

• Refrain from arguing with referees, opposing coaches, players, or spectators.

• Never approach or confront a referee following a game regarding a call or decision.

• Communicate concerns respectfully and directly with the appropriate coach or Club representative.

• Avoid discussing sensitive team or player matters in front of children.

• Support the Club's volunteers and remember that many individuals serving ECSC are donating their personal time.

• Be curious and seek clarification before assuming why a Club decision was made.

• Bring concerns forward with the goal of helping identify a reasonable solution.

• Notify the Club promptly when an issue occurs so it can be addressed while information and witnesses are readily available.

Parents and guardians are responsible for the behavior of guests attending ECSC events on their behalf.

Coach & Volunteer Expectations

ECSC coaches and volunteers are expected to serve as positive examples for our players.

Coaches and volunteers should:

• Put player safety and development first.

• Treat every player fairly and respectfully.

• Maintain appropriate communication with players and parents.

• Demonstrate positive sportsmanship.

• Respect referees and opposing teams.

• Avoid inappropriate, aggressive, humiliating, or intimidating behavior.

• Follow all ECSC, Mississippi Soccer Association, and applicable U.S. Soccer policies and guidelines.

• Address disagreements privately and professionally.

• Immediately report serious incidents, safety concerns, or inappropriate behavior to the Club.

• Remember that their behavior represents East Central Soccer Club both on and off the field.

Referee Respect

Many youth soccer referees are young officials who are still developing their skills and experience.

ECSC has zero tolerance for the harassment, intimidation, or abuse of referees.

Players, coaches, parents, and spectators may disagree with a decision, but they must do so respectfully.

Referee concerns should be reported to the appropriate ECSC representative rather than addressed through confrontation with the referee.

Social Media Policy

East Central Soccer Club recognizes that social media is an important way for families and members of our community to communicate and share experiences.

However, social media should never be used to attack, embarrass, harass, intimidate, or publicly criticize players, parents, coaches, referees, volunteers, Board members, opposing teams, or the Club.

This policy applies to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, GroupMe, text-message groups, online petitions, community groups, message boards, and other digital or social platforms.

Members of the ECSC community should not:

• Post or share content that is abusive, threatening, insulting, defamatory, discriminatory, or intentionally harmful.

• Publicly attack or criticize an ECSC player, coach, referee, parent, volunteer, Board member, or team.

• Use social media to escalate a complaint that could reasonably be addressed directly with the Club.

• Share confidential information concerning players, disciplinary matters, grievances, or internal Club discussions.

• Encourage online harassment or organize others to target an individual associated with the Club.

• Post photographs, videos, or comments in a manner intended to embarrass, intimidate, or humiliate another person.

• Share another person's inappropriate post in a manner that further spreads or endorses the content.

Members are encouraged to contact ECSC directly when they have a concern.

A concern cannot always be addressed effectively when the Club first learns about it through social media.

Whenever possible, please give the Club an opportunity to understand the situation and address it directly.

Sharing & Reposting Content

Sharing or reposting content may be viewed as supporting or further distributing that content.

Members should use good judgment before sharing posts involving ECSC players, coaches, parents, referees, volunteers, or Club matters.

Removing a post when requested by the Club is appreciated and may be considered when the Board reviews a situation; however, removing a post does not necessarily eliminate the need for the Club to document or address the incident.

Concerns & Grievances

ECSC encourages parents, coaches, players, and members to bring concerns directly to the Club.

When possible:

1. Address routine team concerns respectfully with the coach.

2. If the issue cannot be resolved, contact an ECSC Board member or email the Club at info@ecsc.soccer

3. Serious concerns involving safety, misconduct, harassment, abuse, or other significant matters should be reported directly to the Board immediately.

4. Provide as much factual information as possible, including dates, times, locations, witnesses, photographs, videos, messages, or other relevant information.

Concerns should be brought forward as soon as possible after an incident occurs.

This allows the Club to speak with those involved, identify witnesses, review available information, and take appropriate action.

ECSC may speak with players, parents, coaches, referees, volunteers, or other witnesses when reviewing a complaint.

Disciplinary Action

Violations of ECSC policies may result in action determined appropriate by the Board based on the circumstances.

Possible actions may include:

• Verbal counseling

• Written warning

• Required acknowledgment of Club policies

• Observation or monitoring plan

• Removal from a game, practice, or Club event

• Temporary suspension

• Removal from a coaching or volunteer position

• Parent or spectator restrictions

• Player disciplinary action

• Suspension or removal from the Club

• Referral to Mississippi Soccer Association or another governing organization when appropriate

The Board may consider the seriousness of the incident, previous concerns, cooperation during the review process, corrective actions taken, and the overall impact on the Club and its members.

Written disciplinary actions may be signed and maintained in Club records.

Retaliation

Retaliation against any individual who raises a concern in good faith, participates in a Club review, or provides information regarding an incident is not acceptable.

Likewise, the grievance process should not be used to knowingly make false accusations or intentionally harm another member of the Club.

Moving Forward After a Concern

When the Club addresses a complaint or disciplinary matter, our goal is not simply to punish individuals.

Whenever appropriate, ECSC seeks to correct behavior, establish clear expectations, monitor improvement, and allow everyone involved an opportunity to move forward positively.

The best outcome is one where concerns are addressed, expectations are understood, and everyone can return their attention to providing a great soccer experience for our players.

Our Commitment

East Central Soccer Club is built by players, families, coaches, referees, volunteers, sponsors, and community members working together.

We will not always agree on every decision, but we can always communicate respectfully.

If you have a question, concern, or suggestion, please contact us directly.

Email: info@ecsc.soccer
Website: www.ecsc.soccer

One Club. One Community. Countless Memories.