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Conflict  &  Crisis  Management

2015  Athletics  Directors  Workshop  -­‐‑  NCRPA Wilmington,  NC

About  Me David  Guthrie,  CYSA  &  CPP Youth  Sports  Director,  MCAS  Cherry  Point,  2002-­‐‑Present Previous  Recreation  Experience ~  Asst.  Director,  Carteret  Co.  P&R,  1994-­‐‑2002 ~  Recreation  Specialist,  MCAS  Cherry  Point,  1983-­‐‑1987 ~  Director,  Morehead  City  P&R,  1978-­‐‑1981 NAYS ~  Clinician  since  1985 ~  CYSA  since  2002 ~  Member  of  the  CYSA  Leadership  CommiVee  

Public FacilitiesPublic Facilities

Public Facilities

Public Facilities

Public Facilities

Public FacilitiesLittle League

Public Facilities

Public FacilitiesAYSO

• Local  government  (public  entity)  provides  majority  of  facilities

• Approximately  80,000  publicly  owned  recreation  facilities  in  US

The  Youth  Sports  Landscape  Today  

88%  of  public  entities  has  independent  youth  sports  leagues/programs  using  

their  facilities* *2012  Facility  Usage  Survey,  NAYS

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Organizations  offering  Youth  Sports

Religious Organizations

Religious Organizations

Community Based Organizations

PAL

Community Based Organizations

Boys & Girls Club

Community Based Organizations

YMCA/YWCA

Private Facilities

Private Facilities

Private Facilities

Public FacilitiesPublic Facilities

Public Facilities

Public Facilities

Public Facilities

Public FacilitiesLittle League

Private FacilitiesAYSO

Public Facilities

Military

Public FacilitiesAYSO

• Park & Recreation Departments

• Volunteer, parent-run leagues

• Military Bases

• Community-Based Organizations -Police Athletic Leagues -Boys & Girls Clubs

• Religious Organizations -YMCA/YWCA -Jewish Community Centers -Catholic Youth Organizations

• Private For-Profit Providers

• Others too

Ñ  Remarkable  transformation  in  recent  years  (not  all  for  the  beVer) Ó  Some  communities  have  multiple  programs  that  overlap  and  

compete  with  each  other  

Ó  Some  areas  are  underserved  

Ó  Age  of  initial  introduction  is  lower  (age  3  in  some  programs)  

Ó  More  focus  on  elite  vs.  recreational  opportunities Ô  Proliferation  of  travel  and  all-­‐‑star  programs Ô  Year  round  programming Ô  Sport  specialization

Today’s  Youth  Sports  Landscape(continued)

What  “Desired  Outcomes”  would  you  want  children  to  gain  from  youth  sports  participation?

ü  FUN!!! ü  self-­‐‑confidence ü  self-­‐‑esteem ü  skill  building ü  social  skills ü  sportsmanship ü  fitness ü  respect ü  discipline

ü role  models ü responsibility ü play  by  the  rules ü communication ü teamwork ü winning/losing ü motivation ü commitment ü leadership ü And  so  on!

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As  professionals,  how  do  we  ensure  positive,  safe  and  fun  sports  for  everyone?

Proactive vs.

Reactive

Step  1  –  Adopt  a  community  philosophy  that  makes  youth  sports  safe  and  positive  for  children

Step  2  –  Appoint  a  professional  youth  sports  administrator  to  ensure  

adherence  to  the  philosophy  -­‐‑    Certified  Youth  Sports  Administrator  (CYSA)  credential:  A  professional  certification  opportunity  available  ONSITE  and  ONLINE  to  provide  a  foundation  of  information,  knowledge  and  resources  for  professionals  who  oversee  youth  sports  at  the  local  level

Step  3  –  Hold  everyone  associated  with  the  program  accountable  for  their  

behavior

Download  your  copy  at:    hVp://www.nays.org/Resources/recommendations.cfm

Developed  as  the  Outcome  from  the    National  Summit  on  Raising  Community  Standards    

for  Children’s  Sports

Recommendations  For  Communities

Policies  &  Procedures  –  Playing  Rules

To  be  effective  ,  they  must  be:

1)  Well  thought  through  and  not  knee  jerk  reactions  to  issues. Ask  these  questions…. ~  Who  will  enforce  the  policies/rules? ~  Do  those  enforcing  them  buy  in? ~  Who  will  the  polices/rules  affect  and  how? ~  Are  penalties  for  violations  to  be  rigid  or  flexible?     (They  can’t  be  subjective)  

Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

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Policies  &  Procedures  –  Playing  Rules To  be  effective  ,  they  must  be:

2)  Clearly  wriVen. Get  someone  outside  of  the  world  of  the  sports  and  see  if   the  policies/rules  make  sense  to  them…. ~  There  can  be  no  ambiguities  or  contradictions. ~  Penalties,  whether  rigid  or  flexible,  need  to  be   clearly   spelled  out.  

 

Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

Policies  &  Procedures  –  Playing  Rules To  be  effective  ,  they  must  be:

3)  Distributed  and  reviewed  with  the  people  who  need  to  see  them. It’s  critical  to  review  polices/rules  to  make  the  people   involved  understand  them…. ~  Staff. ~  Coaches  &  other  volunteers. ~  Athletes  and/or  parents.

Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

Education Is  essential  &  must  deal  with  the  issues  of  the  day:

1)  Education  for  staff. Must  stay  up  to  date  with  current  trends  and  issues…. ~  ADW  &  Conference. ~  NAYS  Certified  Youth  Sports  Administrator. ~  CPR  &  First  Aid. ~  National  Center  for  Sports  Safety  Prepare  courses.  

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Education Is  essential  &  must  deal  with  the  issues  of  the  day:

2)  Education  for  volunteers. Must  make  volunteers  aware  of  their  duties  &   responsibilities  as  well  as  giving  them  the  tools  to  deal  with   issues  and  situations…. ~  NYSCA ~  CPR  &  First  Aid ~  NAYS

Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

Background  Checks Are  a  critical  tool  in  the  screening  process:

1)  Mandatory  for  all  volunteers  &  officials  for  keeping  and/or  geVing  the  people  of  out  sports  –  especially  youth  sports  –  who  shouldn’t  be  involved. Background  checks…. ~  Identify  convicted  criminals. ~  Serve  as  an  indicator  of  potential  future  problems. ~  Are  not  a  guarantee  that  you  will  be  able  to  keep  all   undesirables  out  of  your  organization  or  league.

Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

Background  Checks Are  a  critical  tool  in  the  screening  process:

2)  Legal  responsibilities  –  consider  the  actions  a  reasonable  person  would  take. Ask  yourself  these  questions…. ~  What  can  I  do  to  help  protect  those  for  whose  safety   I  am  responsible? ~  If  it  is  youth  sports,  how  would  I  want  my  children   protected? ~  What  can  I  do  help  protect  the  integrity  of  my   organization?

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Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

Background  Checks Are  a  critical  tool  in  the  screening  process:

3)  Running  the  program. Make  sure  you  have  your  I’s  doVed  and  t’s  crossed…. ~  Ensure  you  have  procedures  in  place  that  have  been   approved  by  appropriate  person  in  authority   (director,  manager,  aVorney)  before  you  conduct   B/C’s. -­‐‑  How  will  you  protect  PII? -­‐‑  Who  sees  the  results? -­‐‑  How  do  you  handle  reports  with  derogatory  info? -­‐‑  What  will  determine  a  volunteer’s  disqualification?

Background  Checks Are  a  critical  tool  in  the  screening  process:

3)  Running  the  program. Make  sure  you  have  your  I’s  doVed  and  t’s  crossed…. ~  Use  reliable  agencies  to  conduct  the  checks. -­‐‑  Human  resources  department. -­‐‑  Police  or  sheriff’s  department. -­‐‑  Professional  organization  such  as  Protect  Youth   Sports.  

Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

Be  Proactive You  cannot  sit  around  hoping  nothing  bad

 will  ever  happen:

1)  Staffing  facilities. Anticipate  bad  situations  &  the  number  of  folk  required   to…. ~  Staff  your  facilities  adequately. ~  Have  security  on  hand  if  needed. ~  You  be  there.  

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Be  Proactive You  cannot  sit  around  hoping  nothing  bad

 will  ever  happen:

2)  Communicate  with  the  participants  &  spectators. Warn  coaches,  players,  parents  and  spectators  of  the   consequences  if  trouble  occurs…. ~  Put  it  in  writing. ~  Talk  to  them  in  person. ~  Don’t  leave  this  on  your  staff  –  you  do  it.

 

Preventing  Conflicts  &  Crises

Preparing  for  Conflicts  &  Crises

Training  for  a  Crisis Conflicts  will  happen  –  the  only  question  is  how  

well  prepared  you  are  to  handle  them:

1)  How  can  you  best  prepare  for  a  conflict  or  crisis?   Think  through  potential  situations  that  may  occur….

~  Anticipate  issues  that  are  inherent  with  athletics  –  the   “normal”    problems.

~  Then  think  through  worst  case  scenarios.

Training  for  a  Crisis Conflicts  will  happen  –  the  only  question  is  how  

well  prepared  you  are  to  handle  them:

2)  Rehearse  possible  scenarios.   Make  them  lifelike  as  possible….

~  Review  what  to  do  when  bad  situations  occur ~  Rehearse  the  worst  case  scenarios.

Preparing  for  Conflicts  &  Crises

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RESPONSE This  is  why  you  get  paid  the  big  bucks:

1)  Know  what  is  going  on  in  your  programs  and  events. Be  proactive….

~  Don’t  allow  a  situation  to  get  out  of  hand  if  you  can   prevent  it  from  doing  so.

~  If  things  happen  suddenly,  act  quickly  to  keep  them   from  geVing  worse.

Dealing  with  Conflicts  &  Crises

RESPONSE This  is  why  you  get  paid  the  big  bucks:

2)  Do  your  best  to  stay  calm,  be  objective,  and  if  possible,  don’t  make  it  personal. Act  like  a  professional…. ~  Follow  your  P&P  as  well  as  your  game  plan. ~  Stick  with  the  rules  of  the  game. ~  Be  wise  with  your  decisions  –  you  may  be  seVing  a   precedent  that  can  be  used  against  you  in  the  future.

Dealing  with  Conflicts  &  Crises

Dealing  with  Conflicts  &  Crises

RESPONSE This  is  why  you  get  paid  the  big  bucks:

3)  Some  circumstances  require  going  with  the  intent  or  spirit  of  the  rule  and  not  the  leVer. Be  prepared  to  flexible  if  the  situation  calls  for  it…. ~  The  leVer  of  the  rule  may  be  exploited  for  the  purpose   of  benefiVing  one  team  or  hurting  another..

~  Such  cases  required  sound  judgment  on  your  part.

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Dealing  with  Conflicts  &  Crises

RESPONSE This  is  why  you  get  paid  the  big  bucks:

4)  Understand  the  possible  consequences  of  the  conflict  and  your  decision. No  maVer  how  solid  your  decisions  are,  not  everyone  will  see   you  as  the  next  Solomon…. ~  Don’t  necessarily  expect  rational  thought  from  some   people. ~  Expect  the  unexpected  –  just  when  you  think  you  have  the   issue  solved,  you  may  not.