Good Sportsmanship

• Sportsmanship is being honorable and courteous while striving to win, ensuring that opponents have an equal and fair opportunity, and knowing when to forego an advantage.
• Knowledge that the game’s rules are mutual agreements observed by all participants.
• Respecting the officials’ decisions and understanding the rules of the game vest them with final authority.
• Considering opponents to have honest intentions, although you may not agree with their points of view or approve of their actions.
• Pursuing a course of individual conduct and team action honorable to opponents or the public.
• Understanding that players and spectators represent DFHA and our community and should give suitable recognition to the skill and sportsmanship of players regardless of their team affiliation.
• Controlling your emotions at all times at games and events.
• Respecting your umpires, positively communicating with them, and encouraging others to do the same.
• Being a positive role model.
• Being responsible and sensible, and keeping your priorities in order. Much more is at stake than a win or a loss.
• Being gracious in defeat, modest in victory, and maintaining complete control at all times.
• Being kind and behaving like an adult.

Every athlete and fan must understand that we represent the Delaware Field Hockey Association organization and programs. Participation in our tournaments, leagues, pick-up games, travel opportunities, and other programs is a “privilege.” If you violate our Code of Conduct or Good Sportsmanship Expectations, your participation in our leagues and programs may be revoked without a refund.

Our governing committee, team captains, and/or DFHA staff or league officials may decide to remove participants from games, leagues, tournaments, or other programs.

Disciplinary Sanctions

DFHA has a two-strike policy, meaning that on the first strike, you will be warned or may immediately be ejected from the game. The incident will be investigated in a open hearing by the committee. You will later be notified of a time for the virtual hearing via zoom or over the phone. After the investigation and hearing the governing committee may deem no action is necessary, sanction a player or team with an appropriate, fair and reasonable sanction to rectify the situation, or in a more severe case will place them in probation pending their removal/dismissal from the program, should you/they violate our Code of Conduct, Rules, and Good Sportsmanship Expectations. A first strike will remain with a player or team across all DFHA programs regardless of length of the sanction and will lead to a second strike on any subsequent offense. 

On the second strike, a more severe sanction will be determined, and you/they may be removed/dismissed from the game, league, tournament, or program for the remainder of the event or duration set forth by the committee with no refund. If the governing committee deems it fit, you/they may also be told to refrain from returning to future opportunities.

Sanctions may include:

• Immediate ejection from the game
• Temporary suspension from sport
• Contract for player improvement
• Suspension from the sport for the remainder of the season
• Suspension from DFHA for the year
• Suspension from all DFHA programs in perpetuity
• Other appropriate sanctions determined by the committee, especially in the case of lesser offenses. 

CAUSE FOR IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL

The following acts are considered severe enough and may cause an athlete to be dismissed from the athletic program or for us to engage legal authorities. Each player should be aware of the severity of punishment for these acts:

• Immorality, profanity or obscenity, derogatory or racist comments.
• Possession, threat, or use of a dangerous weapon.
• Fighting, assault, and battery.
• Conduct that jeopardizes the safety of others.
• Disrespect to a captain, official, opponent, or any person of authority.
• Harassment of any kind including sexual or any sexual violence or abuse.