Code of Conduct

Effective Date: September 21, 2026

Development First. Built on GRIT.

Mooselax Lacrosse Club is committed to developing better lacrosse players, stronger teammates and confident young people.

Our expectations extend beyond wins and losses. Every player, parent, guardian, coach, staff member, volunteer and spectator represents Mooselax through their words, decisions and behavior.

The Moose standard is built on GRIT:

Grateful: Appreciate the opportunity to play, coach, compete and belong.
Resiliency: Respond to challenges, mistakes and adversity with effort and composure.
Integrity and Personal Courage: Do what is right, speak honestly and take responsibility.
Team-First: Put the team, the program and the people around you ahead of individual attention or recognition.

By participating in a Mooselax program or attending a Mooselax activity, you agree to follow this Code of Conduct.

1. Who This Code Covers

This Code applies to:

Players;
Parents and legal guardians;
Coaches and trainers;
Directors and staff;
Team administrators and volunteers;
Family members and guests;
Spectators; and
Anyone representing or participating with Mooselax.

The Code applies at:

Practices and training sessions;
Games and tournaments;
Tryouts and evaluations;
Clinics and camps;
Team meetings and events;
Hotels, restaurants and travel connected to team activities;
Parking lots and athletic facilities;
TeamSnap, email, text and other electronic communications;
Social-media activity relating to Mooselax, its teams or participants; and
Any other setting in which a person is reasonably viewed as representing Mooselax.

2. Standards for Everyone

Everyone associated with Mooselax is expected to:

Treat players, teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, families and facility personnel with respect.
Place player safety and well-being ahead of winning.
Demonstrate good sportsmanship in victory and defeat.
Use appropriate language and behavior.
Follow applicable laws, rules, facility requirements and team policies.
Respect the property of Mooselax, teammates, opponents and facilities.
Resolve concerns calmly and through the appropriate channels.
Avoid conduct that embarrasses, undermines or damages a player, team or the organization.
Be honest and accept responsibility for personal decisions and behavior.
Protect the privacy and dignity of minor athletes.
Report serious safety, abuse or misconduct concerns promptly.
Remember that participation in youth sports is ultimately about the development of young people.

Winning never excuses disrespectful, dishonest, unsafe or abusive conduct.

3. Player Code of Conduct

Mooselax players are expected to:

Represent the Herd

Compete with effort, discipline and toughness.
Be respectful toward teammates, coaches, opponents and officials.
Demonstrate humility in victory and composure in defeat.
Shake hands, support teammates and represent Mooselax positively.
Understand that wearing Moose means representing something larger than yourself.

Be Prepared and Accountable

Arrive on time and ready to participate.
Bring all required equipment.
Mark availability accurately and promptly.
Notify the appropriate coach when an absence or late arrival is unavoidable.
Listen during instruction and give honest effort.
Take responsibility for mistakes without blaming teammates, coaches or officials.
Communicate injuries, symptoms or safety concerns honestly.

Be a Good Teammate

Encourage teammates and celebrate their success.
Include others and help create a welcoming environment.
Respect differences in ability, background, experience and personality.
Avoid negative comments about teammates, playing time, positions or roster decisions.
Keep team conversations and sensitive information private.
Place team goals ahead of individual statistics, recognition or attention.

Prohibited Player Conduct

Players may not engage in:

Bullying, hazing, intimidation or harassment;
Fighting or intentionally dangerous conduct;
Discriminatory language or behavior;
Sexual harassment or inappropriate sexual conduct;
Threats, humiliation or deliberate exclusion;
Theft or property damage;
Retaliation against someone who reports a concern;
Use or possession of alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco or vaping products;
Possession of weapons at a Mooselax activity;
Deliberate cheating or violation of eligibility rules;
Abusive conduct toward an official, opponent, coach or teammate;
Inappropriate use of social media or electronic communication; or
Conduct that places another person's safety or well-being at risk.

"Just joking" is not an excuse for conduct that harms, humiliates or intimidates someone else.

4. Parent and Guardian Code of Conduct

Parents and guardians are essential members of the Mooselax community and are expected to support a positive development environment.

Parents and guardians must:

Support the Players

Encourage effort, improvement, resilience and teamwork.
Allow players to learn from mistakes and challenges.
Avoid criticizing or embarrassing a player after a game or practice.
Remember that the experience belongs to the players.
Support every member of the team, not only their own child.
Notify coaches of relevant medical, safety or participation concerns.

Respect the Coaches

Allow coaches to coach without instruction or interference from the sideline.
Respect decisions concerning lineups, positions, strategy, discipline and playing time.
Avoid confronting a coach immediately before, during or after a game.
Follow the communication process described in this Code.
Discuss only their own player, not another child's performance, conduct or playing time.
Understand that team and competitive decisions may consider effort, attendance, attitude, safety, development, team needs and positional requirements.

Respect Officials and Opponents

Parents and spectators may not:

Argue with, threaten or harass an official;
Enter the playing field or team bench area without permission;
Direct insulting or hostile comments toward an opponent;
Encourage retaliation or dangerous play;
Use profane, discriminatory or abusive language; or
Create a hostile atmosphere for players, coaches, officials or families.

Parents should model the behavior they expect from their children.

Maintain Appropriate Sideline Behavior

Positive encouragement is welcome. Coaching from the sideline is not.

Parents and spectators should not:

Shout tactical instructions;
Contradict a coach's direction;
Criticize player decisions;
Discuss playing time during a game;
Publicly question coaching decisions; or
Engage in confrontations with another parent or spectator.

Mooselax may require a parent or spectator to leave a field or facility when their behavior becomes disruptive, hostile or unsafe.

5. Coach, Trainer and Staff Code of Conduct

Mooselax coaches, trainers, directors, administrators and volunteers hold positions of trust and must maintain the highest standards of conduct.

They are expected to:

Put player safety, dignity and well-being first.
Serve as positive role models.
Teach the game with preparation, patience and professionalism.
Treat every player fairly and respectfully.
Provide developmentally appropriate instruction.
Reinforce effort, accountability, teamwork and sportsmanship.
Maintain appropriate adult-minor boundaries.
Avoid humiliating, threatening or degrading coaching methods.
Never use physical activity as excessive or abusive punishment.
Follow applicable athlete-safety, background-screening and training requirements.
Follow applicable rules regarding communications, transportation, locker rooms and interactions with minor athletes.
Avoid favoritism, conflicts of interest and improper personal relationships.
Never guarantee playing time, roster placement, recruiting exposure or athletic advancement.
Respond appropriately to injuries and safety concerns.
Report suspected abuse or serious misconduct as required by law and applicable policy.
Protect confidential player and family information.
Communicate expectations clearly and consistently.
Address concerns without retaliation.

Coaches must not engage in sexual misconduct, physical abuse, emotional abuse, harassment, hazing, grooming behavior or any other prohibited conduct involving a player.

6. Playing Time, Positions and Team Decisions

Mooselax is a development-first program, but development does not mean that every player will receive identical roles or playing time in every competitive setting.

Playing time, position and team decisions may be influenced by:

Effort and preparation;
Attendance and punctuality;
Attitude and coachability;
Safety and physical readiness;
Skill development;
Team needs;
Positional requirements;
Opponent and game situations;
Adherence to team expectations; and
The developmental purpose of the applicable team or event.

No player is guaranteed:

Equal playing time in every game;
A particular position;
A starting role;
Selection for every tournament;
Placement on a particular roster or competitive level; or
Continued placement unaffected by attendance, effort, conduct or team needs.

Questions should focus on what the player can do to improve, not demands for a particular role or comparison to another child.

7. Communication and the 24-Hour Rule

Emotional conversations immediately after a game are rarely productive.

Except for an urgent health or safety concern, parents and guardians should wait at least 24 hours after a game, tournament or significant team decision before contacting a coach about a concern.

The recommended communication process is:

When age-appropriate, the player respectfully speaks with the coach.
If additional discussion is needed, the parent requests a scheduled conversation with the coach.
If the concern remains unresolved, the parent may contact the applicable team director or Mooselax program director.
Serious conduct or safety concerns may be reported directly to Mooselax leadership.

Parents should not:

Confront coaches in parking lots or on sidelines;
Use team group messages to raise individual complaints;
Send hostile or repeated messages;
Record a private conversation without authorization where prohibited;
Contact another player directly about a dispute; or
Use social media to pressure or criticize the program.

8. Electronic Communications and Social Media

Electronic communications must reflect the same standards expected in person.

Players, parents, coaches and staff may not:

Bully, threaten, harass or shame another person online;
Post discriminatory, sexual, violent or abusive content involving Mooselax;
Share confidential roster, medical, disciplinary or family information;
Publish private messages or recordings to embarrass another person;
Impersonate Mooselax or create an unauthorized Mooselax account;
Use team contact information for unauthorized solicitation;
Post content that reasonably creates a safety risk; or
Retaliate against someone for raising a concern.

Coaches and staff should use approved communication channels and include a parent or guardian in direct electronic communications with a minor athlete whenever reasonably practicable and consistent with applicable athlete-safety policies.

9. Bullying, Hazing, Harassment and Discrimination

Mooselax prohibits bullying, hazing, harassment and discrimination.

Prohibited conduct includes behavior based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other protected characteristic.

It also includes:

Threatening or humiliating behavior;
Repeated insults or ridicule;
Unwanted physical contact;
Sexual comments or conduct;
Deliberate social exclusion;
Demanding that a player perform an unsafe, degrading or embarrassing act;
Cyberbullying;
Retaliation; and
Conduct intended to establish status or acceptance through intimidation.

This rule applies regardless of whether the conduct occurs in person, electronically, during team travel or outside an official Mooselax event when it substantially affects player safety or the team environment.

10. Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco and Weapons

Players may not possess or use alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco products, vaping products or unauthorized controlled substances at any Mooselax activity.

Adults may not attend a Mooselax youth activity while visibly impaired or behave in a manner that creates a safety concern.

Weapons are prohibited at Mooselax activities except as lawfully carried by authorized law-enforcement personnel.

11. Travel, Hotels and Tournaments

During team travel, all participants and families must:

Follow team schedules and curfews;
Respect hotel guests, employees and property;
Supervise their children outside scheduled team activities;
Follow facility and tournament rules;
Avoid disruptive hallway, lobby or room behavior;
Protect teammates' privacy;
Use safe transportation practices; and
Represent Mooselax appropriately in public.

Parents and guardians remain responsible for supervising their children unless Mooselax expressly agrees otherwise.

Damage, fines or extraordinary expenses caused by a player or family may be charged to the responsible family.

12. Athlete Protection and Reporting Concerns

Mooselax is committed to an environment that protects the safety, dignity and well-being of every player.

Abuse, sexual misconduct, grooming, hazing and retaliation are prohibited.

Anyone who witnesses or reasonably suspects abuse, neglect, sexual misconduct or an immediate safety threat should not rely solely on an internal Mooselax report.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Suspected child abuse or neglect should be reported promptly to the appropriate law-enforcement or child-protection authority.
Conduct subject to USA Lacrosse or U.S. Center for SafeSport jurisdiction should also be reported through the applicable reporting process.
A report should also be made to Mooselax so that appropriate protective and organizational action can be considered.

Non-emergency Mooselax concerns may be reported to mooselaxlacrosseclub@gmail.com.

Use the subject line:

Confidential Conduct or Safety Concern

Include as much factual information as possible, including:

Individuals involved;
Date and location;
What occurred or was observed;
Names of witnesses; and
Any immediate safety concern.

Mooselax will handle reports as discreetly as reasonably possible but cannot promise absolute confidentiality. Information may need to be shared with appropriate leadership, insurers, governing bodies, child-protection agencies or law enforcement.

Retaliation against anyone who makes a good-faith report or participates in a review is prohibited.

13. Violations and Consequences

Mooselax may respond to a violation based on its nature, severity, frequency and effect on player safety or the program.

Possible consequences include:

Verbal reminder or warning;
Written warning;
Parent, player or coach meeting;
Required apology or corrective action;
Removal from a practice, game, tournament or facility;
Restriction from sidelines or team activities;
Behavioral conditions for continued participation;
Suspension;
Removal from a team or program;
Termination of a coaching, staff or volunteer role;
Restriction from future Mooselax programs;
Referral to a league, tournament, governing body, facility or insurer; and
Referral to law enforcement or another appropriate authority.

Mooselax may skip progressive steps and impose an immediate suspension or removal when conduct involves safety, abuse, threats, violence, harassment, serious disruption, dishonesty or repeated violations.

Refunds will not be provided when a player or family is suspended or removed for violating this Code. See the Refund Policy for details.

14. Review of Conduct Decisions

A parent, player, coach or staff member affected by a significant conduct decision may submit a written request for review to Mooselax leadership.

The request should:

Be submitted within five business days;
Identify the decision being challenged;
Explain why review is requested; and
Include relevant factual information.

A request for review does not automatically delay a safety-related suspension or restriction.

Mooselax leadership's decision following review will be final within the organization.

15. Acknowledgment

By registering for, participating in or attending a Mooselax activity, players and families acknowledge that they have reviewed and agree to follow this Code of Conduct.

Parents and guardians are responsible for:

Reviewing the player expectations with their child;
Ensuring that family members and guests understand spectator expectations; and
Helping Mooselax maintain a safe, positive and development-focused environment.

ONE HERD. ONE STANDARD.

We will compete hard.

We will respect the game.

We will support our teammates.

We will take responsibility.

We will show gratitude.

We will respond to adversity.

We will do what is right.

We will put the team first.