Playing with a Corte Madera FC team is a privilege, not a right. I understand that as a player with a Corte Madera FC team, I must act in accordance with the following commitments.

Attendance: I will attend every team training and match that I possibly can. I will show up on time, stay for the full session, and give full effort. If I am unable to attend training or a match, I will notify the coach or the manager as early as possible.

Commitment: I understand that by joining Corte Madera FC, I'm making a commitment to my teammates, the team, the club, and myself for an entire season. The team is a small unit, and its success depends on the commitment made by all players to the training environment we jointly create. I pledge to demonstrate my commitment through maximum effort and to push my teammates to do the same for the entirety of the season.

Effort: At training, matches, tournaments, and friendly games, I will give maximum effort with and without the ball. I will attempt to master all of the technical, tactical, and physical demands of the game, especially in areas of weakness. I will take responsibility to better myself as a player, including by making an effort to train on my own weekly on areas of weakness in my game.

Trustworthiness: I will be worthy of trust in all I do.

Integrity: I will live up to high ideals of ethics, fairness, and sportsmanship and pursue victory with honor; I will do what's right even when it's unpopular or personally costly.

Honesty: I will live and compete honorably; I will not lie, cheat, steal or engage in any other dishonest or unsportsmanlike conduct.

Reliability: I will fulfill commitments.

Loyalty: I will be loyal to my club and team; I will put the team above personal glory.

Preparation: I will prepare for practice by making sure I have all the soccer items I need for practice and games, including a properly inflated soccer ball.

The parent’s role is one of support to the players, coaches, and club. The most important way to show support is by leading with positive role modeling and encouragement. Every parent is expected to honor the game of soccer and honor the Parent Code of Conduct in words and actions by adhering to the following best practices:

• Show respect and courtesy to all players, coaches, officials, parents, and spectators at all times, including those of opposing and other teams.

• Demonstrate and encourage good sportsmanship and the concepts of fair play.

• During games, limit comments to positive encouragement and refrain from shouting instructions or coaching. Let the coach do the coaching.

• Refrain from questioning officials’ decisions or from addressing them in a disrespectful or abusive manner. Understand that officials, just like players, make mistakes. Let the game officials handle the officiating.

• Appreciate a good play no matter who makes it. Recognize and acknowledge maximum effort, learning, and improvement and understand that mistakes happen in the process. Refrain from assessing, criticizing, or talking negatively or hurtfully about any player.

• Remember who the player is: your child. Be your child’s best fan and supporter. Focus on fun, effort, and participation. Keep sports in proper perspective.

• Refrain from making comments about your child’s teammates or opposing players. Be mindful that there may be other parents, officials, and spectators in the stands.

• Help your child be on time for all games and practices or notify the coach beforehand.

• Support a environment free from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco at youth sporting events.

• Refrain from criticizing your child’s coach to your child or other parents and players.

• Encourage your child to be the point of contact for all communication with the coach.

• Observe a mandatory “24-hour cooling off” period following a game before discussing any issue you or your child may have regarding the game. After the 24-hour period, you may contact the coach to arrange a time to privately discuss the issue.

At times, our coaches will have conflicts and will not be able to attend games or training sessions. When this happens, Corte Madera FC has a procedure in place to find a substitute coach from within the club (possibly including parents who have US Soccer coaching credentials). All substitute coaches will be given a game plan from the team coach, including substitution schedule and tactical notes, in order to provide continuity and consistency to the team and players.

By joining Corte Madera FC, families are making a commitment to the team for an entire season. A team is a small unit, and its success depends on the commitment made to the calendar and the team budget by all families on the team. The team budget will be communicated to the team before the start of the season.

In case of injuries, change of plans or departures for any other reason, families are still accountable for team fees and will only be given a refund if a new family joins Corte Madera FC that can offset the team fees of the departing family. The addition of new players is at the discretion of the coaching staff based on ability. The amount of the refund (if any) will be determined by the costs incurred by the team at the time when the new family joins the team. A player with an outstanding balance will not be released from the team/club until any financial obligations have been paid.

A failure to abide by this Parent Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, including suspension or termination of a player’s participation privilege. Any such action is within the sole discretion of the Corte Madera FC Director of Coaching and Board of Directors. No reimbursement of program or travel fees will be made to a dismissed player or the player’s family.