youth program policies & procedures

Participant & Spectator Code of Conduct

  Participants & coaches are expected to:

• Display good sportsmanship at all times. 
• Understand that skill & character development of all players is more important than winning.
• Act respectfully towards teammates, opponents, officials, equipment, and facilities at all times.

Spectators are expected to:

• Demonstrate good sportsmanship by showing positive support for everyone. 
• Understand that it is never okay to question or engage an official.
• Put the well being of all participants ahead of the desire for their team to win.
• Act respectfully towards participants, other spectators, officials, equipment and facilities at all times.

Player Eligibility

• Only players on an official team roster are permitted to practice or play in games. Holland Recreation will inform coaches if a player has been added to a team, late registrations. 
• Coaches are not permitted to add players to their team. Late registrants will be placed on teams that have openings.
• Requests may be made at the time of registration, but are not guaranteed.  Holland Recreation will do its best honor these requests with keeping team fairness in mind for the betterment of the league.
• Players who miss or are late to a practice or a game are not to be penalized in any subsequent game or practice. All players present must play an equal amount of time in each game. Encourage all players to attend practice.
• Participant fees are based on Resident/Non-Resident of the City of Holland.  If you reside and pay taxes to the City of Holland, you are considered a Resident.
• Participants requesting a scholarship to participate in Holland Recreation programs must submit the application one week prior to the registration deadline of the program to be considered for a scholarship.
• To participate in Holland Recreation sports, a student must be the below listed age or younger by September 1st of the current school year to be eligible for the balance of the school year.
• Kindergarten - Age 7
• 1st Grade - Age 8
• 2nd Grade - Age 9
• 3rd Grade - Age 10
• 4th Grade - Age 11
• 5th Grade - Age 12
• 6th Grade - Age 13
• 7th Grade - Age 14
• 8th Grade - Age 15

 Team Assignments

• Holland Recreation will determine the number of teams with the number of participants registered at the time of the registration deadline.
• For teams that participate in the Lakeshore League, if there are more than one (1) team in any grade level, there will be a player evaluation to balance the teams equally.
  
  Teams are created according to the following criteria:

• School attended
• Grade
• Balance of gender
• Roster size

In general, our goal is to keep players from the same school on the same team. Should enrollment numbers and roster maximums not accommodate this practice, schools may be combined to form teams. Team maximums are based on enrollment numbers at the time of the registration deadline.

League/Clinic

• League is an organized program of teams assembled to play games.
  • Teams are formed by Holland Recreation.
  • In most programs, volunteer coaches are the lead contact for the team.
  • Coaches communicate when practices are held and which team participants are placed on.
• Clinic is a structural program to teach fundamentals, techniques and skills of the sport.
  • Clinics have specific dates and times.
  • Holland Recreation will not contact participants regarding clinics unless there is a cancellation.

Game Cancellations

• Game cancellations posted by 4:30pm (weekdays); 8:00am (weekends) or 90 minutes prior to first game scheduled.
• Game cancellations during play will be decided by officials and staff on site.
• Cancellations will be posted online, social media, text, email, etc.
  • Cancellation Page is located on the Homepage of the website.
• Depending on weather and other potentially dangerous situations coaches always have the option to cancel practice if they feel conditions are unsafe. Coaches have the authority to cancel practices and Holland Recreation has the authority to cancel games.

Injuries/First Aid

• Each coach will be supplied with first aid kits that include band-aids, plastic gloves, and cold packs at games & practices. If supplies run low, please contact Holland Recreation.  Staff has not been trained to handle medical emergencies and will call 911 if a serious injury occurs.
• Coaches are not permitted to issue any medications to participants.

Handling of Disputes

• Discuss the situation with the official/staff in a rational manner.
• If an acceptable solution cannot be agreed upon, the official/staff shall consult the Site Supervisor/Recreation Manager.
• The Site Supervisor/Recreation Manager has full authority to make a final decision and the game will proceed.
• Ideally all discussions and/or disagreements will take place away from the participants.

General Information

• Refund requests for programs must be submitted to the Recreation office by the registration deadline for all youth sports.  A $10.00 processing fee will be accessed for any cancellations/refunds for individual registrations.  Team refund requests by the registration deadline will be issued 75%.   No refunds after the registration deadline. A full refund will be processed if Holland Recreation cancels the program. 
• Once coaches have received the team roster, they will contact the players on their roster to introduce themselves and to inform them of the practice time and location.
• Coaches will be given a full roster report with all available phone numbers and email addresses of their team, based on what the parent/guardian provides at the time of registration.  Coaches should report any wrong phone numbers, faulty equipment and any other important information to Holland Recreation as soon as possible.
• Game schedules will be posted on the recreation website:  www.hollandrecreation.com
• If a coach has not contacted a participant one week after the posted start date, please contact the Recreation office at 616.355.1130.
• PHOTO DISCLAIMER:  Registrants and participants of programs and special events permit Holland Recreation to take photos and videos of themselves and their children for the publication in the program brochure, website and additional uses as Holland Recreation deems necessary.

Volunteer Coaches Information

• Before leaving your practice or game site make sure that all players have transportation home. Do not leave a player unattended at the field.
• Never be in a position where you are alone with a child that is not your daughter or son. Make sure to have at least one other person with you in such situations. Remember the rule of three.
• Smoking is not permitted at practices and games. 
• All volunteer coaches must fill out a Volunteer Application and complete the online concussion training and submit proof of completion prior to coaching.