Board of Directors Zero Tolerance Policy and Sanctions

Grafton Little League 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 Grafton Little League have adopted a policy of zero tolerance regarding abusive, rude or unsportsmanlike conduct by any player, coach, official, or person associated with the team.

The term Zero Tolerance encompasses a wide range of unsportsmanlike actions, language, gestures and or conduct 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
• Behavior, conduct, or language that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for an individual or group.

Effective June 3, 2008 with respect to any practice or game (regular season, post season) the Grafton Little League Board of Directors hereby establishes a policy of zero tolerance in regards to unsportsmanlike behavior which will be enforced to the highest degree. The Review Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Player Agent, Umpire in Chief, and the Division Vice President. The coach and or person involved in the incident shall meet with the Review Committee within 24 hours of the incident. The decision of the Review Committee shall be binding. At the discretion of the Review Committee the following consequences, while not all-inclusive, shall apply to all instances:

• The game in which the incident occurred shall be forfeited by the offending team
• The person / people involved in the incident shall be suspended at a minimum for two games
•  The person / people involved in the incident may be banned from participating in future little league events
•  The Coach shall be suspended at a minimum for one game
•  The offending team may be excluded from participating in the playoffs

Sincerely,

Grafton Little League Board of Directors