The safety and well-being of all participants in the NFL FLAG youth flag football program is paramount. NFL FLAG promotes a program where boys and girls of all abilities are given a chance to develop their fundamental flag football skills in a positive, inclusive, and safe environment. NFL FLAG strives to create a safe environment both on and off the field. NFL FLAG does not tolerate any type of abuse against a minor, including, but not limited to, sexual, physical, mental, and emotional abuse or any bullying, hazing, or harassment. NFL FLAG’s goal is to prevent child abuse from occurring through required background check screenings, training and education, and mandated reporting of abuse.
The Athlete Safety Guidelines applies to all Covered Persons (as that term is defined below) and players in any NFL FLAG program, including local NFL FLAG leagues and NFL FLAG regional and national tournaments. This includes League Operators (defined below) and any of their owners, officers, and directors, volunteers, coaches, referees, or anyone who provides regular services to the League Operators or NFL FLAG tournaments and has regular access to or contact with NFL FLAG players.
As part of the NFL FLAG tournament registration process, Covered Persons and players agree to comply with all aspects of the NFL FLAG Athlete Safety Guidelines. Any violation of the Athlete Safety Guidelines may result in removal from the tournament, the suspension or revocation of tournament privileges, termination of a League Operator’s League Registration Agreement, and/or sanction by RCX Sports.
Child/Minor: Any individual who is younger than 18 years of age.
Covered Persons: Any employee of RCX Sports, any NFL FLAG League Operator, or any other person who has regular access to or contact with Minors in connection with League Programs and Activities, whether through RCX Sports or an NFL FLAG League Operator, which may include: coaches, referees, League Operators (and their owners, officers, and directors), game day staff, athletic trainers, event staff.
League Programs and Activities: Any NFL FLAG games, practices, tournaments, approved activities, and/or approved special games are considered NFL FLAG programs and activities, whether operated by a League Operator or RCX Sports.
While participating in an NFL FLAG Tournament, I agree to abide by the Code of Conduct as a coach, player, parent or spectator as defined below. THIS APPLIES TO ALL COACHES, ATHLETES, PARENTS AND SPECTATORS.
It is a violation of this policy for any Covered Person or NFL FLAG player to engage in any of the following forms of misconduct (“Prohibited Conduct”).
Adhere to All Rules
All participants must comply with the NFL FLAG Tournament Rule Book.
Coach Responsibility
Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and associated spectators. Poor behavior by parents or spectators may result in team penalties (Penalties may include, but are not limited to, removal from the tournament, suspension from the NFL FLAG tournament series or Championships, and other disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate by RCX Sports, based on the severity of the situation.)
Spectator Conduct
Crowd support is encouraged; however, any inappropriate, confrontational, or unsportsmanlike behavior may lead to the disqualification of the team from the current tournament and future events.
Respect for Officials
Referee decisions must be respected. Coach’s challenges are allowed only as outlined in the NFL FLAG Tournament Rules.
Finality of Disputes
Once a dispute or challenge is resolved and play resumes, it will not be revisited. Disputes occurring on the final play of a game—including the official score—must be addressed before leaving the field.
Zero Tolerance for Harassment
Harassment, bullying, or any form of negative behavior toward athletes, coaches, spectators, event staff and/or NFL Club representatives is strictly prohibited.
Honor the Game
Show sportsmanship at all times. Respect the rules, officials, staff, teammates, and opponents.
Conflict Resolution
Resolve disagreements respectfully. Fighting or acts of violence will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Language
The use of profanity is not allowed at any time.
Prohibited Items
Possession of alcohol, drugs, or weapons of any kind is strictly forbidden. Possession of alcohol, drugs, or weapons, and/or being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol may result in team penalties (Penalties may include, but are not limited to, removal from the tournament, suspension from the NFL FLAG tournament series or Championships, and other disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate by RCX Sports, based on the severity of the situation.)
Communication
Any concerns should be addressed respectfully and calmly with the Tournament Director or event staff.
Injury Protocol
Notify staff of any injury or medical condition that may impact an athlete’s ability to participate safely. Injured or ill athletes should not take part in the event.
Responsible Social Media Use
Social media should reflect good sportsmanship. Negative posts targeting staff, players, or coaches—or any form of online bullying—are unacceptable.
Authority of Officials and Staff
Event staff and officials have the authority to pause or stop any game that is not being played in the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship.
Cancelations
Teams that register for an NFL FLAG Regional Tournament or confirm attendance for the NFL FLAG Championships but fail to show up without providing sufficient advance notice to RCX Sports staff (events@rcxsports.com) may be suspended from future events.
Different types of Child Abuse:
Physical Child Abuse means any purposeful attempt to inflict physical injury (“Physical Injury”), upon a Minor by other than accidental means. Physical Injury may include, but is not limited to, lacerations, fractured bones, burns, internal injuries, severe bruising, or serious bodily harm.
Mental Child Abuse means any conduct that reasonably causes harm to a Minor’s psychological or intellectual functioning (“Mental Injury”). Mental Injury may be exhibited by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or outward aggressive behavior, or a combination of those behaviors, which may be demonstrated by a change in behavior, emotional response, or cognition.
Sexual Child Abuse means any activity involving a sexual act (“Sexual Interaction”) with a Minor. Sexual Interaction includes, but is not limited to: rape; sexual battery; physical sexual contact; molestation; sexually explicit or offensive verbal communication; sexually oriented conversations; verbal sexual harassment; voyeurism; sexual intercourse or sexual touching; sexual exploitation (including creating or disseminating pornographic images); exposing of genitalia; viewing of sexual activity; viewing or disseminating content or imagery of a sexual nature; or permitting, allowing, or encouraging a Minor to engage in prostitution, or other forms of sexual exploitation of children.
Neglect means any activity involving the failure, refusal, or inability on the part of a caregiver, for reasons other than poverty, to provide necessary care, food, water, clothing, medical or dental care, or shelter so as to seriously endanger the physical health of a Minor.
Grooming is a tactic used by sexual predators to methodically build a trusting relationship with victims, parents, and the community to place themselves in a position of trust, which the perpetrator then uses to draw the victim into a sexual relationship. Many times, the perpetrator becomes a family friend. Grooming can be subtle and hard to recognize. It’s important to bring awareness of grooming to Lead Tournament staff.
Physical Bullying is contact and non-contact behavior that can cause physical injury to an individual. Physical Bullying includes the hitting, pushing, punching, beating, biting, striking, kicking, strangling, slapping, spitting at, or throwing objects (such as sporting equipment) at another person, tying, taping, or otherwise physically restraining another person, paddling, or other forms of physical assault.
Verbal Bullying is the act of using words to forcefully criticize, threaten, insult, or denounce another person. Verbal Bullying is any objectively inappropriate use of language aimed at another person that a reasonable person would find degrading or threatening. Such conduct generally includes ridiculing, taunting, name-calling, or intimidating or threatening to cause someone harm.
Emotional Misconduct is repeated and excessive verbal attacks against someone personally in a manner that serve no productive training or motivational purpose. Emotional Misconduct does not include professionally accepted coaching methods of skill enhancement, physical conditioning, team building, appropriate discipline, or improved Player performance.
Social Media Misconduct is the use of rumors or false statements about someone to diminish that person’s reputation using electronic communications. It includes, but is not limited to, the use of social media or other technology to harass, frighten, intimidate, humiliate, and/or socially exclude someone, and asking others to do the same. Social Media Misconduct includes what is referred to as “Cyberbullying,” or bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying includes, but is not limited to, sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else or causing embarrassment or humiliation.
Criminal Bullying is any conduct described as bullying under federal, state, or local law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, conduct may not rise to the level of Bullying if it is merely rude (inadvertently saying or doing something hurtful), mean (purposefully saying or doing something hurtful, but not as part of a pattern of behavior), or arising from conflict or struggle between persons who perceive they have incompatible views or positions. Bullying does not include professionally accepted coaching methods of skill enhancement, physical conditioning, Team building, appropriate discipline, or improved Player performance.
Physical Hazing includes (i) tying, taping, or otherwise physically restraining another person; beating, paddling, or other forms of physical assault and (ii) requiring or forcing the consumption of alcohol, illegal drugs, or other substances (or illegal/improper use of any drugs), including participation in binge drinking and drinking games; personal servitude; requiring social actions (e.g., wearing inappropriate or provocative clothing) or public displays (e.g., public nudity) that are illegal or meant to draw ridicule; excessive training requirements demanded of only particular individuals on a team that serve no reasonable or productive training purpose; sleep deprivation; otherwise unnecessary schedule disruptions; withholding of water, food; and/or restrictions on personal hygiene.
Criminal Conduct means any act or conduct that constitutes Hazing under applicable federal, state, or local law.
A Hostile Environment exists when the conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent, and/or pervasive such that it interferes with, limits, or deprives any individual of the opportunity to participate in any League Program and Activities. Conduct must be deemed severe, persistent, or pervasive from both a subjective and objective perspective. Whether a Hostile Environment exists depends on the totality of known circumstances.
Some examples include making negative or disparaging comments about a participant’s gender, mental or physical disability, race, skin color, or ethnic traits; or withholding or reducing practice or match time to a player based on his/her/their sexual orientation, gender expression, or religion.
Most child sexual abuse or grooming is perpetrated in isolated, one-on-one situations. By reducing such interactions between players and adult coaches and volunteers, you reduce the risk of child sexual abuse. To minimize the chance of an individual’s opportunity to groom or abuse a player, the League Operator must adopt a one-one-one policy relating to the interactions between a player and any Covered Person during the NFL FLAG Program and Activities.
Covered Persons are prohibited from being alone with a minor athlete during the League Program and Activities unless:
There is an emergency.
The Covered Person is the player’s parent/legal guardian, sibling, or personal care assistant.
A Covered Person’s interactions with minors must be observable and interruptible by another adult, except under emergency circumstances.
Covered Persons are prohibited from contacting players directly through social media or electronic communication, including, but not limited to, text messages and emails, unless another Covered Person or the player’s parent/legal guardian is copied on the communication.
Covered Persons are discouraged from interacting one-on-one with unrelated minor athletes in settings outside of NFL FLAG Program and Activities (such as the Covered Person’s home, restaurant, or vehicle).
Physical contact between Covered Persons and players should be very limited. Some examples of appropriate physical touch include high fives or administering appropriate first aid.
Any questions regarding the interpretation of the Athlete Safety Guidelines should be directed to RCX Sports at events@rcxsports.com. The NFL FLAG Athlete Safety Guidelines will be updated and modified as necessary.