Harris County Parks & Recreation League Official & Volunteer Acknowledgment

Rules & Regulations and Code of Conduct for League Officials

1. League Officials, as applicable, shall annually complete a background check as set out in the Ordinance of the Recreation Board and will not be allowed to conduct practices or games on Department facilities until a background check has been performed and the individual is deemed eligible to participate in Department programs and activities.
2. League Officials, as applicable, shall annually obtain, either in person or online, the required nationally recognized certification established by the local sports board for that sport each year in each sport he or she wishes to officiate. Failure to obtain and keep certification current will result in loss of officiating privileges and not being allowed to conduct practices or games on Recreation Department property or facilities until certification is completed. Certifications must be always displayed by League Officials in a lanyard during games, and failure to display certification will result in immediate removal from the playing field and forfeiture of officiating privileges for that game.
3. League Officials shall know the rules of the game they are officiating, must observe these rules, and attempt to improve him or herself through knowledge of the sport.
4. League Officials are reminded that they are participating in youth sports for children, and should promote the children participating in the sport, not draw attention to themselves, and realize that the children are more important than the game and/or their personal ambitions.
5. League Officials shall conduct themselves in a manner to be a worthy example to the youth under their instruction and set an example of good behavior for players by controlling their tempers and exercising self-discipline.
6. League Officials shall wear proper attire while involved in Recreation Department or team-sponsored activities such as games, practice, etc., and clothing shall not endorse or advocate profanity, lewd language, or alcoholic beverages.
7. League Officials shall be fair and unbiased in their decisions regarding the playing of children.
8. League Officials shall be professional and cooperate with fellow coaches, players on both teams, spectators, game officials, and parents, and do nothing to cause public embarrassment to themselves, the Recreation Department, the Recreation Board, or Harris County.
9. League Officials shall be dignified, courteous, positive, friendly, calm, and alert, and never rude, arrogant, and/or overbearing during practice or game.
10. League Officials shall not smoke, dip, chew tobacco, or use any tobacco products on or in the vicinity of any Department property or facilities or during any Recreation activity.
11. League Officials shall not be in an intoxicated condition before or during a game or practice and shall not have in their possession or consume any alcoholic beverages or controlled substance at any Recreation activity or while on/in Recreation property/facilities. Such use or action will result in immediate ejection from the game, removal from the Recreation Department property/facility, and suspension as determined by the Recreation Director and/or the Recreation Board.
12. League Officials shall not engage in fighting, scuffling, rowdy conduct, or act in an unsportsmanlike manner or in any way that could prove detrimental to the league, players, game officials, spectators, or parents.
13. League Officials have knowledge of any player in the league or in a tournament who is participating under a false name or age, or who is ineligible, shall immediately report same to the Recreation Director.
14. League Officials shall not engage in disorderly or obscene conduct or breach the peace on Recreation Department property or any function sponsored or supervised by the Recreation Department.
15. League Officials shall not engage in conduct which materially interferes with the operation of the Recreation Department or with the operation of a recognized organization while on Recreation Department property, at functions supervised by the Recreation Department or by any recognized Recreation Department organization.
16. League Officials shall not engage in conduct and/or expressions which are obscene or are blatantly offensive to the prevailing standards of the recreation participation.
17. League Officials shall not use profanity or indecent, inappropriate, offensive or unrestrained language while on any Recreation Department property.
18. League Officials shall not abuse, either verbally or physically, game officials, scorers, or Recreation staff.
19. League Officials shall not engage in the malicious, willful, and/or attempted destruction or damage to any Recreation Department property.
20. League Officials involved as a parent or spectator at a Recreation Department activity shall adhere to these rules and regulations.
21. League Officials who are ejected from a game must leave Recreation Department property immediately.

Execution of Agreement:
Each coach, manager or other individual who volunteers their services must carry out this agreement. The president of the appropriate Referee or Umpire Association must execute this agreement to cover all their referees or umpires providing services for compensation to the Harris County Recreation Department.

The undersigned, by executing this form, understands that if circumstances warrant, the Recreation Director and/or the Recreation Board may initiate criminal charges through the proper law enforcement agencies, and that violation of any of the above items, depending on the severity of the infraction, may result in penalties as set out in the Recreation Board By-Laws, which include immediate ejection from Recreation property and/or facility with (a) minimum penalty of a written reprimand; (b) suspension of seven (7) days plus the next scheduled game; (c) suspension for up to twelve (12) months from the day of infraction; (d) temporary or permanent restrictions from Recreation property, facilities and/or activities; and/or (e) jeopardize a team's participation in Recreation programs.

Volunteer Concussion Awareness Form

DANGERS OF CONCUSSION
Concussions at all levels of sports have received a great deal of attention and a state law has been passed to address this issue. Adolescent athletes are particularly vulnerable to the effects of concussion. Once considered little more than a minor “ding” to the head, it is now understood that a concussion has the potential to result in death, or changes in brain function (either short-term or long-term). A concussion is a brain injury that results in a temporary disruption of normal brain function. A concussion occurs when the brain is violently rocked back and forth or twisted inside the skull as a result of a blow to the head or body. Continued participation in any sport following a concussion can lead to worsening concussion symptoms, as well as increased risk for further injury to the brain, and even death. Player and parental education in this area is crucial — that is the reason for this document. Refer to it regularly. This form must be signed by a parent or guardian of each athlete who wishes to participate in Harris County Parks and Recreation Youth Athletics. One copy needs to be returned to the Harris County Parks and Recreation Department and one retained at home.

COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSION
Headache, dizziness, poor balance, moves clumsily, reduced energy level/tiredness; Nausea or vomiting; Blurred vision, sensitivity to light and sounds; Fogginess of memory, difficulty concentrating, slowed thought processes, confused about surroundings or game assignments; Unexplained changes in behavior and personality; Loss of consciousness (NOTE: This does not occur in all concussion episodes.)

GEORGIA STATE LAW HB284 known as THE RETURN TO PLAY ACT OF 2013:
(1) Prior to the beginning of each athletic season of a youth athletic activity, provide an information sheet to all youth athletes' parents or legal guardians which informs them of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury; (2) If a youth athlete participating in a youth athletic activity exhibits symptoms of having a concussion, that athlete shall be removed from the game, competition, tryout, or practice and be evaluated by a health care provider; and (3) If a youth athlete is deemed by a health care provider to have sustained a concussion, the coach or other designated personnel shall not permit the youth athlete to return to play until the youth athlete receives clearance from a health care provider for a full or graduated return to play. (c) Each public recreation facility shall, at the time of registration for a youth athletic activity, provide an information sheet to all youth athletes’ parents or legal guardians which informs them of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury; provided, however, that public recreation facilities are strongly encouraged to establish and implement a concussion management and return to play policy.

By signing this concussion form, I give Harris County Parks and Recreation Department permission to transfer this concussion form to the other sports that you may coach. I am aware of the dangers of concussion and this signed concussion form will represent myself during the 2020 athletic year. This form will be stored with the Appendix B (Rules & Regulation and Conduct for League Officials) Form and other accompanying forms required by the Harris County Parks and Recreation Department.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I HAVE READ THIS FORM, RECEIVED THE CONCUSSION FACT SHEET, & I UNDERSTAND THE FACTS PRESENTED IN IT.