Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. is committed to cultivating a safe and welcoming environment for its regional and national events and programs that encourages and promotes good sportsmanship by student-athletes, parents, coaches, administrators and other spectators.

We ask that event participants and attendees cooperate in being respectful at all practice and competition venues, partner hotels and/or ancillary venues throughout the course of the event. All those involved with the event are expected to refrain from the following behaviors:

1. Acting in a way that is unruly, disruptive or illegal in nature.
2. Intoxication or other signs of impairment that may potentially result in bad behavior.
3. Excessive use of profanities and other vulgar language that that interfere with other attendees’ ability to enjoy the event.
4. Using bigoted, demeaning or abusive or other disruptive and intimidating language and/or gestures.
5. Verbal or physical harassment of officials, participants and coaches before, during and following the competition.
6. Disrupting the progress of competition (including physically entering or throwing objects onto the playing field or competition mat).
7. Interfering with or failing to abide by security or emergency procedures or response
8. Displaying signs that contain offensive language, or any graphic art that may be deemed disrespectful.
9. Defacing, destruction or theft of property associated with the event, including property of the opposing team or other participants, including officials, as well as official venues.
10. Violence or threats of violence against other individuals at any official venue.
11. Publicly criticizing or making derogatory statements of an official, opposing teams, event personnel or its policies, or other individuals associated with the event. This includes comments with respect to their conduct, character, competence, integrity or appearance. Note: social media is deemed a public forum.
12. Failing to follow instructions of event personnel.
13. Any behavior which otherwise violates conduct codes set by partner venues, hotels or ancillary venues including but not limited to theme parks, as enforced by those properties.
    

Failure to abide by these expectations are grounds for removal from competition. Pop Warner reserves the right to remove individuals or the entire team. Depending on the infraction, a one-year ban from Pop Warner events and programs will be considered. A repeat offense of the same infraction may result in a permanent ban. All removals will be without refund.

In addition to the General Code of Conduct, all Pop Warner coaches, administrators and other program volunteers shall:

1. Create a positive, safe and healthy environment, free of abuse and harassment, for all participants and their families.
2. Not criticize athletes in front of spectators, but reserve constructive criticism for later, in private, or in the presence of team members if others might benefit.
3. Accept decisions of the game officials and judges on the field and in competitions as being fair and called to the best ability of said officials.
4. Not criticize an opposing team, its athletes, coaches, or fans by word of mouth or by gesture.
5. Emphasize that good athletes strive to be good students and that both are physically and mentally alert.
6. Strive to make every athletic activity serve as a training ground for life, and a basis for good mental and physical health.
7. Remove from a game, competition or practice any athlete when even slightly in doubt about his/her health, whether or not as a result of injury, until competent medical advice is available.
8. Emphasize that winning is the result of good teamwork.
9. Not engage in excessive sideline coaching and shall not leave the bench area/coaches’ designated seating area to shout instructions from the sidelines or competition mat.
10. Together with team officials, be jointly responsible for the conduct and control of team fans and spectators at all times. Any fan who becomes a nuisance and out of control will be asked to leave.
11. Not use abusive or profane language at any time.
12. Not receive any payment, in cash or kind, for services as a volunteer or athlete involved in Pop Warner. This includes any coach, expert, consultant or choreographer, regardless of his/her roster status.
13. Not recommend or distribute any medication, controlled or over the counter, except as specifically prescribed by athlete’s physician.
14. Not permit an ineligible athlete to participate in a game/competition.
15. Not deliberately incite unsportsmanlike conduct.
16. Not possess or drink alcoholic beverages and/or use illegal substance(s) on either the game, practice field/practice area or competition venue.
17. Not smoke, vape and/or use smokeless tobacco on the field.
18. Uphold all rules and regulations regarding Pop Warner programs.
19. Refrain from engaging in any action within or outside Pop Warner which in PWLS sole & absolute discretion reflects negatively upon, or causes embarrassment to, the Pop Warner program.

If any of these rules are broken, Pop Warner or its member league shall have the authority to impose a penalty including permanent removal from the program.