USSA Guidelines Mediation and Conflict Resolution

For conflicts between Clubs, Athletes, Parents and Coaches

INTENT OF THESE GUIDELINES

The purpose of these guidelines is to:

1. Help define the roles and responsibilities of clubs, parents, athletes and coaches

2. Identify the types of conflicts that may arise at USSA Clubs

1. Provide a framework for how to mediate these conflicts and resolve conflict

2. Put USSA clubs, coaches, parents and members in contact with mediation and conflict resolution resources, support and expertise

    

   ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

   The primary responsibility of all USSA clubs, parents and coaches is to work together in the best interest of all children and athletes enrolled in USSA programs.

    

   The relationships that exist among the points of the athletic triangle go a long way toward determining the quality of the experience that the child has in sports, and ultimately their success in the sport and in life. Being a point in the athletic triangle implies both rights and responsibilities.

    

   A better understanding of those rights and responsibilities is usually the first step toward resolving conflict in the club environment.

    

   Club responsibilities:

    

   1. Establish and communicate a clear mission, vision and values for all athletes, coaches and parents.

   2. Establish a safe and professional environment with adequate resources.

   3. Consistently communicate and enforce the club codes of conduct with all athletes, coaches and parents.

   4. Communicate club structure, pipeline, program structure and goals, coaches’ credentials and expectations and club philosophies consistently to all athletes, coaches and parents.

   5. Educate all club members and constituents and establish clear roles and responsibilities for athletes, parents, coaches and all constituents.

   6. Create an enjoyable and engaging environment for the entire club community.

   7. Treat all members, athletes and families with respect and establish clear anti-discrimination policies and procedures.

Club rights:

1. Working with athletes and families who understand and support the mission, vision and values of the organization best represented by athletes committed to reaching their personal goals.

2. Athletes and families being ambassadors and supporters of the club, programs and staff.

3. Athletes and families abiding by and supporting the club’s codes of conduct.

4. Athletes, families and coaches discussing, understanding and supporting the club’s structure, pipeline, program structure and goals, coaches’ credentials and expectations and club philosophies.

5. All constituents of the club understanding and fulfilling their respective roles and responsibilities.

6. A club community focused on fun, involvement and support of all athletes.

Parent’s responsibilities:

Parent responsibilities are often expressed best in a list of do’s and don’ts:

Parent Do’s

• Provide love and support regardless of the sport outcome.

• Make your child responsible for his/her sport preparation (e.g., equipment ready, practice time, etc.)

• Have realistic expectations and keep success in perspective

• Expose child to many different sports and activities

• Hold your child accountable for poor behaviors during sporting events

• Provide an appropriate push when your child is reluctant or unmotivated

• Emphasize the importance of hard work.

• Provide transportation, financial, & logistical support

• Recognize and encourage your child when he or she does something right

• Show interest, enthusiasm, and support for your child and team

• Be in control of your emotions

• Thank the coaches, officials, and other volunteers

• Remain in the spectator area during competitions

• Help make sport fun

   

  Parent Don’ts

   

• Criticize my child for his or her sport performance

• Critique your child immediately following the sporting event or during the car ride home

• Allow sport to dominate your child’s life

• Exert pressure to win

• Treat your child differently dependent upon whether he or she won or lost

• Put your interests ahead of your child’s in sport

• Getting too caught up in sport and making it over-important

• Belittle the opponent’s talent or preparation

• Make all the decisions for your child

• Advise the coach on how to do the job

• Make insulting comments to athletes, parents, officials, or coaches of other teams

• Drink alcohol at sports events or come to one having drunk too much

  Parent’s rights:

   

  Parents have the right to know and see:

   

  1. The club’s staff training, background and coaching experience.

  2. That their child will be safe.

  3. The club’s coaching philosophy, view of competition and structure of program.

  4. That their child will be treated fairly.

  5. That the club will deal with parents in an open and honest manner.

  6. That all leadership and staff of the club will conduct themselves in a professional manner.

  7. That the club will listen to appropriate concerns and be responsive.

  8. That the club makes an effort to know your athletes individually and treat them as people with respect and sensitivity.

  9. That their child will learn, improve and have fun in the sport.

  10. That the club does not collude with destructive peer group behavior, and it is vigilant in identifying any forms of abuse and intervening appropriately.

   

  Athlete’s responsibilities:

   

• Show up and participate

• Respect and follow team rules

• Be open to constructive feedback

• Be an unselfish team player

• Be a good sport and role model to younger athletes

• Work hard and be committed to excellence

• Be able to manage success and failure

• Manage priorities such as academics and family obligations

• Take responsibility for life choices

• Take care of physical health

   

  Athlete’s rights:

   

• Right to participate in sports

• Right to participate at a level commensurate with each child’s maturity and ability

• Right to have qualified adult leadership.

• Right to play as a child and not as an adult

• Right of children to share in the leadership and decision-making of their sport participation

• Right to participate in safe and healthy environments

• Right to proper preparation for participation in sports

• Right to an equal opportunity to strive for success

• Right to be treated with dignity

• Right to have fun in sports

   

  Coach responsibilities:

   

• Embody the vision and mission of the team

• Carry out the day to day operation of the club

• Be responsible for all levels of the team

• Directly coach athletes in their group

• Educate and supervise all coaches (head coach)

• Direct and participate in the parent education program

• Prepare a monthly report to BOD and attends meetings (head coach)

• Plan budget and assists in fundraising (head coach)

• Set and implement workout/training schedule and program

• See that all competitions are covered by staff (head coach)

• Determine competition schedule

• Be responsible for athletes at competitions

• Maintain office hours

• Exercise appropriate authority to discipline and potentially dismiss any athlete

• Provide guidance to long term development of athletes

• Be a positive role model

• Handle or oversee publicity, team travel, team records, newsletter, team files, roster, media contacts, etc. (entire coaching staff)

   

  Coach rights:

   

• A USSA coach is a professional educator and

  • therefore can be expected to be recognized as and treated as a professional by the club, its athletes, families and community.

• A coach pledges to make the best interests of all children in the program the priority in both heart and mind and

  • therefore has the right to expect parents, athletes and the club community to trust that their interests match this common goal, though thoughts on how it may best be attained will sometimes differ.

• A coach pledges to try to maintain the delicate state of balance between what may be best for the individual and the needs of the group and

  • therefore has the right to expect parents and athletes to remember that if on occasion a child's interest may seem to be subordinated to those of the group, in the long run the benefits of membership compensate for short-term inconvenience.

• A coach pledges to always communicate honestly, openly and in a mature manner, and to be approachable and receptive to reasonable concerns and

  • therefore has the right to expect the club community to broach concerns directly, in an appropriate time and place, and in a spirit of fundamental mutual interest and in a manner that refrains from fruitless discussions of such concerns with third parties.

• A coach pledges his or her best efforts to provide athletes with a range of growth experiences (some satisfying and fulfilling, others challenging and frustrating) to develop his or her ability to respond appropriately to the full spectrum of experiences in sport and life and

  • therefore has the right to expect parents and the club to allow children those experiences fully and completely without attempting to filter, protect or insulate the child from those that may be momentarily negative.

• A coach pledges to acknowledge his or her frailties, imperfections, and humanity and within those constraints to strive to be consistent and fair in my dealings with team members and

  • therefore has the right to expect to be forgiving of individual actions with which some don't completely agree, while focusing on the overall objective- that all are working to help children grow up to be a stronger, more self-confident and better adjusted people.

     

    Club, Parent and Coach roles, responsibilities and strategies for communicating and implementing the same are further defined on the following handouts:

• “Strategies for Clubs”

• “Strategies for Parents”

• “Strategies for Coaches”

   

  SOURCES OF CONFLICT

   

  In the USSA Club environment all are passionate about the well-being and success of young athletes – in both sport and life. However, conflicts including but not limited to the following may arise:

   

• Unclear mission and vision

• Unclear or unmet roles and responsibilities

• Unrecognized rights

• Disputes regarding coaching and training

• Club-Coach-Parent conflicts

• Breaches in honor code and club policies (all clubs should have clear and consistent policies and procedures in place in this area). As part of an established honor code, and the policies and procedures regarding the same, clubs may consider making it a policy that this mediation process is a regular procedure for major infractions and that the athlete or parents involved are responsible for all costs.

• Discrimination or Favoritism

• Bullying or Abuse (additional resources, reporting and support is available to all USSA members through SafeSport.org and the USOC)

• Misaligned expectations

• Communication

• Business practices

• Organizational practices

• Professionalism

MEDIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

When conflicts arise in clubs it is often necessary and helpful to engage the expertise of third party mediators or conflict resolution experts. This is not only effective, but also helps divert situations from becoming overly contentious or even litigious. Often, through a professional mediation process parties can better understand how to move forward with meaningful solutions that they have come up with and that they are in control of. This can be a huge step in the right direction for the success of the club as a whole.

USSA RESOURCES AND SUPPORT

The USSA has worked to identify and qualify experiences professionals in the regions represented by affiliate USSA clubs. These experts have been vetted by the USSA, and are another resource the USSA is facilitating for its members. As part of their agreement with USSA, approved mediators have agreed to reduced rates, limited travel and accommodation expenses, and the use of USSA staff and resources to ensure the most efficient and effective process.

Further, recommended mediators working with the USSA have been trained and briefed regarding the USSA’s best principles and practices for clubs, coaches, parents and athletes such as the roles and responsibilities above. The USSA Club Development Manager and appropriate USSA staff will continue

to assist as needed in the mediation process by addressing questions or concerns from the mediator, clubs, coaches or parents regarding best principles and practices, and realistic solutions. As such any USSA staff involved in the mediation would be subject to confidentiality agreements, neutrality and the established ground rules of mediation.

Please contact the USSA Club Development Manager (bkrill@ussa.org) to engage a professional mediator in your area.

TEMPLATE FOR THE MEDIATION PROCESS

DISCLAIMER

These guidelines, as well as the identification, recommendation and facilitation of professional mediators and the mediation process is intend for the purposes stated herein and for no other purpose. Neither the USSA, nor the mediators with whom it partners are giving legal advise or council through this process.

For assistance contact: education@ussa.org