FC Ellicott City Code of Conduct

At FC Ellicott City, we are committed to creating a positive, respectful, and development-focused environment for all players, families, coaches, and supporters. This Code of Conduct outlines the expectations that help us build a strong soccer community and represent our club with pride.

1. Core Values

All members of FC Ellicott City are expected to uphold:

Respect – For teammates, opponents, coaches, referees, and the game

Integrity – Honesty, accountability, and sportsmanship

Effort – Commitment to improvement and hard work

Community – Supporting one another on and off the field

Passion – Love for the game and positive energy

2. Player Expectations

Players are expected to:

Demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times

Respect coaches, teammates, opponents, and officials

Attend practices and games prepared, on time, and ready to learn

Give their best effort in all training sessions and matches

Accept coaching and feedback with a positive attitude

Refrain from the use of foul language, bullying, or negative behavior

Represent FC Ellicott City with pride both on and off the field.

3. Parent & Guardian Expectations

Parents and guardians play a vital role in our club culture. They are expected to:

Encourage and support all players, not just their own child

Respect coaches’ decisions and allow them to coach without interference

Demonstrate positive sideline behavior at all times

Respect referees and understand that mistakes are part of the game

Avoid coaching from the sidelines during games and practices

Address concerns through proper club communication channels

Promote a healthy balance between competition and enjoyment.

4. Coach Expectations

Coaches are leaders and role models within FC Ellicott City. They are expected to:

Provide a safe, positive, and development-focused environment

Treat all players fairly and with respect

Emphasize player development over winning

Communicate clearly with players and families

Model professionalism, sportsmanship, and integrity

Follow all club, league, and governing body guidelines.

5. Sideline & Spectator Conduct

All spectators must:

Cheer in a positive and respectful manner

Refrain from negative comments toward players, coaches, or officials

Respect game officials and their decisions

Follow league and facility rules at all times

Help create a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.

6. Social Media & Public Behavior

All members of FC Ellicott City are representatives of the club and should:

Use social media responsibly and respectfully

Avoid posting negative, harmful, or inappropriate content

Celebrate achievements while maintaining respect for others

Uphold the club’s reputation in all public settings.

7. Zero Tolerance Policy

The following behaviors will not be tolerated:

Abuse of referees, coaches, players, or spectators

Bullying, harassment, or discrimination of any kind

Violent or threatening behavior

Use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco at club events.

8. Accountability & Consequences

Failure to follow this Code of Conduct may result in:

Verbal warning

Temporary suspension from team activities

Removal from games or events

Dismissal from FC Ellicott City programs (in severe cases).

9. Commitment to Excellence

By participating in FC Ellicott City, all players, parents, and coaches agree to uphold this Code of Conduct and contribute to a positive, respectful, and development-centered soccer experience.

Together, we are building more than players—we are building people and a community.

Click here for more info

All travel coaches are strongly encouraged to provide playing time for every player during regular league and tournament games.

The amount of playing time will vary from player to player.

Playing time for travel players may be determined by the following factors:

• Attendance, attitude and effort at practice and games
• Technical and Tactical playing ability
• Fitness level
• Requirements of a particular game and opponent

All Recreational players are entitled to play at least 50% of the game.  Coaches will manage substitutions accordingly to ensure minimum playing time for each player is met

During games and practices, spectators may sit on the side of the field or in the bleachers. Spectators may not sit or stand behind the goals or on the end lines, or in the area between fields designated for coaches and players.

Positive cheering is encouraged. Please refrain from coaching from the sidelines.  “Good job!” is positive cheering. “Stay back on defense!” is coaching from the sidelines.

Criticism of players, coaches, or referees is prohibited.

Dogs are prohibited from practices and games. Any person bringing a dog to the field will be asked to take the pet home, or to stay at least 50 yards away from the field. This is for the safety of the pet as well as the players and other spectators at the field.

Our Club takes concussions very seriously. All players suspected to have or diagnosed with a concussion will be required to seek a medical evaluation and present a Dr. notice indicating that they have been evaluated which should include a "return to play" protocol to be given to the coach or a club official before they will be allowed to return to participate.  There are NO exceptions to this policy. See more concussion information on the following link as needed.

USYS Concussion Procedure:  https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/assets/1/6/concussion_procedure.pdf

FC Ellicott City: The majority of grass fields that FC Ellicott City uses are allocated by Howard County Rec and Parks. In cases of weather-related field conditions, FC Ellicott City will follow the decision of Howard County Rec and Parks regarding the closure of fields. In rare cases, FC Ellicott City may be instructed to make their own decision regarding field playability.

When deciding whether a field is playable, consideration is given first to player safety and next to the possibility of detrimental field impact. In cases where fields are left at a “Game Time Decision” status, referees will be the first authority as to field playability unless FC Ellicott City personnel determine otherwise. In the absence of a referee, coaches will be that authority. Referees and coaches should use the above-mentioned guidelines when making their determination. If there is ever a doubt as to player safety, then the deciding entity is to err on the side of caution and not play.

NO ACTIVITIES ARE TO OCCUR ON CLOSED FIELDS.

All coaches, parents, players, and referees are individually responsible for checking for any game cancellations and field closures. All field closures are updated and communicated via the following resources: website, communication platform, and social media outlets.

Absolutely no activity should occur in the presence of thunder or lightning. Any sign of thunder and/or lightning requires a 30-minute delay, during which all players and adults must take cover in a car or a building. Any additional sign of thunder and/or lightning resets the 30-minute delay. No one should be outside during a storm. In rare occasions, FC Ellicott City will cancel club-wide activities due to extreme inclement weather (tornado or storm warnings, extreme heat or cold, etc.).

Coaches, referees, and officials should use the above-mentioned guidelines when making their determination. If there is ever a doubt as to player safety, then the deciding entity is to err on the side of caution and not play.

Our Club shall follow the policy outlined below for teams that are scheduled to practice outdoors:

• Field Conditions must be safe and conducive for an effective and productive training session.
• All outdoor training sessions for teams U12 and younger can be cancelled if at practice time the temperature/wind chill is 32 degrees or below. The team coach and/or Club Directors will make the final determination.
• U13 and older teams can train in temperatures where wind chill is 30 degrees or warmer. If wind chill is below 30 degrees, training sessions can be cancelled. The team coach and/or Club Directors will make the final determination.
• Practices may also be cancelled due to rain, sleet, or other factors that may influence road conditions, or greatly affect the effectiveness and productivity of a training session.
• If at any time a coach feels the field conditions or weather conditions are not conducive for training, they have the option to cancel during that session.
• The club will make an informed decision of possible team practice cancellation by 4:30pm on days when inclement or severe weather is predicted. The club, team coach or team manager will immediately communicate all decisions to coaches, managers and families once the decision to cancel has been made.
• Players should always dress appropriately in cold weather.  Wear layers and stay dry.  Wear moisture wicking clothing as a base layer if possible.  The head and ears should be covered as body heat escapes from the head.  Gloves or mittens are also recommended during cold weather training.  Feet should also be kept dry with moisture wicking and/or breathable socks.

• Volunteer coaches are critical to the success and growth of the club’s Recreational program.  They are the primary influence on the development of players, both in terms of skill and enjoyment of the game.
• Coaches register each season, and are typically selected by the Age Group Coordinator (AGC), who is responsible for assigning players to teams.  Program Managers shall approve all coach selections prior to the notification of each coach’s selection, as Program Managers may be aware of circumstances that may either encourage or discourage the selection of a particular coach.  
• Several factors are considered when selecting coaches, including their experience, coaching licenses or accreditation, prior years coaching in the program, and their conduct (positive or negative).  No coach is guaranteed placement simply because they coached in a previous season, although their returning status is one of many considerations.
• Ordinarily, coaches who volunteer are placed due to the club’s desire to accommodate all registered players.  Coaches who volunteer as a Head Coach and are not assigned may be assigned as an Assistant Coach instead, or may not be assigned at all.
• All coaches MUST pass a background check before being assigned to a team.

Our coaching staff will evaluate players at tryouts. If our coaches and technical staff feel a player's development would benefit more by playing up in age, we will make that determination at tryouts. The desion is made by club officials only.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all players, coaches, families, and teams, the following items are PROHIBITED at CiTY practices and games:

Pets are NOT ALLOWED on Howard County park and school fields.  If you are at a Howard County Park that allows pets, please be kept a minimum of 50 yards from the playing field (in all directions).  It is highly encouraged to leave your pets at home if at all possible.

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are strictly prohibited on park and school grounds, and private property when prohibited by the owner.

Teams are formed at tryouts and each player is an integral part of the team and the club. Your team cannot function without you! Therefore, our refund policy is designed to protect the team and the club.

Refunds of team fees will be considered only in extreme circumstances for the following reasons: Player moving out of the area, severe injury or illness that prevents the player from participating for the remainder of the season (requires a note from a physician).  If these circumstances apply, please contact Rob Ryerson, Managing Club Director. The amount of the refund will be prorated on a case-by-case basis, and an administrative fee of $200 will be assessed.  

Uniform costs are separate from team fees and club dues and processed on a separate system. Once the uniform is ordered, it is non-refundable. Club dues and all online processing fees are non-refundable.

Our club will provide full refunds back to the registrant’s credit card provided that the request is made via email no later than midnight on July 31.

Refund requests made August 1-August 31 will be charged a $50 administrative fee. Refund requests made September 1 - Opening Day will be charged $100 to cover administrative fees and uniform costs.

There will be no refunds provided for requests made on or after Opening Day, except for in the case of injury (with a doctor’s note) or a family move out of town. Refund requests should be made via email

Our club will provide full refunds back to the registrant's credit card provided that the request is made via email no later than midnight on January 31.

Refund requests made February 1 - February 28 will be charged a $50 administrative fee. 

Refund requests made March 1 - Opening Day will be charged a $100 administrative fee.

There will be no refunds provided for requests made on or after Opening Day, except for in the case of injury (with a doctor's note) or a family move out of town.

Refund requests should be made via email