League

VBL CODE OF CONDUCT 

Visions Basketball League is committed to providing a safe, respectful, inclusive, competitive, and positive environment for every athlete, family, coach, official, staff member, volunteer, and spectator.

Participation in VBL is a privilege. All individuals attending or participating in VBL games, practices, training sessions, playoffs, championships, media events, and other league activities are expected to demonstrate sportsmanship, respect, responsibility, and self-control at all times.

Everyone involved in VBL shares a responsibility to protect the safety, dignity, integrity, and positive experience of our basketball community.

PROHIBITED CONDUCT

Conduct that compromises participant safety, dignity, sportsmanship, league integrity, or the positive VBL environment is prohibited.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Harassment, bullying, discrimination, intimidation, or targeted personal abuse
• Abusive, threatening, degrading, or discriminatory language
• Threats of violence, retaliation, or physical harm
• Aggressive confrontation or behaviour intended to provoke another individual
• Fighting, striking, kicking, or intentionally attempting to physically harm another person
• Deliberate pushing, shoving, grabbing, or other aggressive physical behaviour
• Excessive taunting, mocking, baiting, or repeated unsportsmanlike conduct
• Verbal or physical abuse of players, coaches, officials, staff, volunteers, parents, or spectators
• Encouraging, escalating, or participating in an altercation
• Entering playing areas or other restricted areas without authorization or interfering with the safe operation of a VBL activity
• Refusing to comply with reasonable instructions from VBL staff, officials, coaches, or facility personnel
• Disruptive, reckless, or dangerous behaviour that interferes with an event or places another person at risk
• Intentional damage, misuse, or theft of league, facility, or another individual’s property
• Retaliation against an individual who raises a concern or participates in a league review
• Threatening, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, or retaliatory behaviour through social media, text messages, team chats, direct messages, or other digital communication
• Any other conduct that VBL reasonably determines to be unsafe, abusive, disruptive, unsportsmanlike, or seriously detrimental to the VBL environment

Competitive intensity is encouraged. Disrespect, abuse, intimidation, and violence are not.

PLAYER CONDUCT

VBL athletes are expected to respect teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, league staff, and spectators and to represent themselves and their team with sportsmanship and self-control.

Players are expected to:

• Compete fairly and respectfully
• Follow reasonable instructions from coaches, officials, and VBL staff
• Maintain appropriate behaviour before, during, and after competition
• Avoid intentionally provoking, threatening, intimidating, or harming another participant
• Disengage from confrontations and follow the direction of coaches, officials, and VBL staff when conflict occurs
• Respect facilities, equipment, teammates, opponents, and league property

PARENT & SPECTATOR CONDUCT

Parents and spectators are expected to contribute positively to the VBL environment and demonstrate appropriate behaviour toward athletes, coaches, officials, staff, volunteers, and other families.

Parents and spectators are expected to:

• Support athletes in a respectful and positive manner
• Remain in designated spectator areas
• Refrain from interfering with games, coaching, officiating, or league operations
• Avoid abusive, threatening, aggressive, or disruptive behaviour
• Follow reasonable instructions from VBL staff, officials, and facility personnel
• Respect opposing athletes, teams, coaches, officials, and families

Spectators may not enter the playing area or other restricted areas without authorization or interfere with the safe operation of a VBL activity.

Anyone instructed to leave a VBL event or facility must comply immediately.

RESPECT FOR OFFICIALS, COACHES & STAFF

Officials, coaches, volunteers, and VBL staff must be treated with respect.

Disagreement with a decision, call, instruction, or outcome does not justify abusive, threatening, intimidating, or aggressive behaviour.

Concerns should be communicated respectfully and through the appropriate VBL representative whenever possible.

DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA CONDUCT

VBL’s conduct expectations extend to league-related digital communication.

Participants may not use social media, text messages, team chats, direct messages, or other digital platforms to:

• Harass, threaten, intimidate, or target another participant
• Continue or escalate an in-person disagreement
• Encourage retaliation or confrontation
• Publish abusive, discriminatory, or degrading content directed toward another VBL participant
• Publicly target, shame, or humiliate young athletes
• Engage in behaviour that creates a safety concern within the VBL community

Serious digital misconduct connected to VBL may result in disciplinary action.

FACILITY & PROPERTY CONDUCT

All participants and spectators are expected to respect VBL venues, equipment, property, and facility rules.

Intentional property damage, theft, unauthorized access, reckless behaviour, misuse of equipment, or disregard for facility requirements may result in removal and further disciplinary action.

DISCIPLINE & CONSEQUENCES

VBL reserves the right to take appropriate action when conduct threatens participant safety, sportsmanship, league integrity, or the overall VBL environment.

Depending on the nature and severity of the conduct, consequences may include:

• Verbal or written warning
• Technical foul or game ejection
• Removal from a VBL event or facility
• One-game or multi-game suspension
• Temporary suspension while a matter is reviewed
• Behavioural conditions or probation before returning
• Remainder-of-season suspension
• Parent or spectator restrictions
• Parent or spectator ban
• Permanent removal from VBL activities
• Team-related sanctions or forfeiture where appropriate
• Referral to facility management
• Referral to appropriate authorities where warranted

Repeated misconduct may result in progressively stronger consequences.

REVIEW & DISCIPLINE PROCESS

Where appropriate, VBL may review available information before determining disciplinary action.

Information considered may include:

• Reports from officials, coaches, or staff
• Statements from participants or witnesses
• Video or photographic evidence
• Facility information
• Previous conduct history where relevant
• Other credible information relating to the matter

Disciplinary decisions will be based on the circumstances of each matter, including the nature and severity of the conduct, the individual’s actions, cooperation with league staff, participant safety, and other relevant information.

Consequences may differ between individuals based on their respective conduct and circumstances.

REFUND POLICY FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION

No refunds, credits, transfers, or prorated reimbursements will be issued when a participant loses playing, training, attendance, or participation privileges as a result of suspension, ejection, removal, or another disciplinary consequence arising from a violation of VBL rules or this Code of Conduct.

GAME & EVENT SAFETY

The safety of VBL participants takes priority over completing a game or event.

VBL officials and league leadership may stop, suspend, delay, or terminate any game or activity when participant safety is at risk or when circumstances prevent the event from continuing in a safe and orderly manner.

Safety will always take priority over completing a game.

OUR STANDARD

VBL exists to provide young athletes with a professional, competitive, developmental, and memorable basketball experience.

We expect every person who enters a VBL environment to help protect that experience.

Respect the game. Respect each other. Protect the experience.

All individuals participating in or attending VBL activities are expected to comply with this Code of Conduct, applicable league rules, facility requirements, and reasonable instructions from VBL staff and officials.

VBL reserves the right to interpret and enforce this policy and to determine appropriate disciplinary action in the best interests of participant safety, fairness, sportsmanship, and league integrity.