Newton Little League (NLL) Zero Tolerance Policy (ZTP)

Newton Little League (NLL) runs its programs for the benefit of the children it serves. Our goals are to teach the fundamentals of baseball, provide a fun and safe environment for our children and promote good sportsmanship.   With this in mind, NLL has adopted a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY. This Policy is found on the NLL website under the section entitled “Zero Tolerance Policy”. All parents are required to read, discuss with their children playing in NLL, and agree to this Policy as part of the registration process as a condition of their children playing in NLL.

1. Goals 

Newton Little League (NLL) runs its programs for the benefit of the children it serves. Our goals are to teach the fundamentals of baseball, provide a fun and safe environment for our children and promote good sportsmanship.  Our T-Ball and Farm League programs are instructional and non-competitive. Our Minor and Major League programs are instructional and competitive.  

While our Minor and Major League programs are competitive, Little League is not all about winning. Good sportsmanship is our most important value. It is important that all of us (managers, coaches, players, parents and spectators) cheer good plays by all players and not criticize or call attention to bad plays or mistakes by anyone.   


2. NLL Umpire Sourcing Philosophy 

NLL uses a combination of middle and high school students, many of whom played in our program, paid adult umpires (in the Majors and AAA/Cooperstown) and adult volunteers.  NLL believes that just as playing the game is an important developmental opportunity for our kids, umpiring can be equally constructive in developing an array of important skills. In addition, the use of student umpires addresses a critical shortage of umpire availability throughout our region.

All student umpires attend a training clinic and receive written materials prior to the start of the season. We observe and work with our younger, less experienced umpires during the early part of the season to improve their performance. As a result, new umpire game command and call quality may be inconsistent as they gain experience. Regardless of umpire tenure, NLL has a policy of zero tolerance related to criticism of umpires. Managers, coaches, players, and spectators should not complain, make comments, or in any way criticize our umpires.  The umpires in the AA/AAA division are often our children - treat them as you want your children treated by others. If you have a complaint about an umpire, please contact the respective league commissioner.  

3. Zero Tolerance Policy (ZTP) as it relates to UMPIRES

All persons associated with the team, including players, managers, coaches and spectators, shall support the umpires. No one is to address the umpire during the game with the following exceptions:  

1. Managers or players responding to the umpire.
2. Managers making substitutions.
3. Managers, coaches, players or spectators pointing out emergencies or safety issues.
4. Managers asking for a rule interpretation. 

A manager may ask an umpire in a polite way to explain a rule. Constructive feedback may be given to the umpire if done respectfully following the game. Absolutely no demonstrative behavior, sarcasm, harassment or intimidation of umpires by managers, coaches, players, parents or spectators will be tolerated. Any such behavior should be reported to the league commissioner.  

The umpire has the right to immediately expel a manager or coach who violates this policy. Umpires are to report any violation to the Umpire Coordinator within 24 hours. The Umpire Coordinator should immediately report the violation to the appropriate League Commissioner.

§  A coach's first offense will result in them being expelled from the current game, but also an additional one-game suspension.

§  A coach's second offense will incur an additional three-game suspension.

§  A coach's third offense will incur a lifetime ban from coaching any NLL team.

§  Coaches who have concerns about an umpire's ability are encouraged to contact the Umpire Coordinator, Justin Feinberg  ([email protected]), or NLL Board Umpire-in-Chief Dave Southiere ([email protected]).

4. Zero Tolerance Policy (ZTP) as it relates to PLAYERS

There shall be no criticizing or belittling any players preceding, during, or following a game. Managers are responsible for enforcing this rule, making sure the coaches, players, parents and spectators are not directing negative comments to either team.  

Examples of such behavior can include things such as saying, loud enough to be heard, “he/she can’t hit,” “pitcher can’t pitch”, calling attention to a miscue by a player, sarcasm, etc. This is unacceptable by anyone - managers, coaches, players, parents, or spectators. 

If the other team exhibits such behavior toward a manager’s team, the manager should bring it to the attention of the other team’s manager immediately at the end of that half inning.  

Any parent or spectator who observes a Zero Tolerance Policy incident should:

 1. If requiring immediate attention, the matter should be brought to the attention of the manager at the end of that half inning.
 2, If NOT requiring immediate attention, the matter should be brought to the attention of the manager privately after the game.
 3. If the inappropriate behavior continues after a manager is notified, or if it involves a manager, the matter should be communicated to the appropriate League Commissioner.