Adults - your teams are watching!

Please be aware that the FLL Core Values and Gracious Professionalism are not simply words on a page but behavior that we as adults model for our children.  Over the years most escalated incidents of poor behavior and sources of altercations stem from adults, not kids. 
Adults often feel compelled to defend the kids in their charge, and this is natural.  But as with the rest of the competition, the adults (coaches and mentors) are HANDS OFF!  The kids need to learn to stand up for themselves and fight their own battles.  If you suspect a ref is out of line on a call, advise your team to raise the issue with the head ref, but try to refrain from holding that conversation for them.  What the kids bring home from this exeperience will be much more life lasting than if you step in and solve it for them.
Please observe the following guidelines:
At the competition table:
·         Only two team members allowed at the table at a time.  No adults. 
·         If the coach intervenes, the ref will ask them to step back and remind them of the rules.
·         Any disputes should be brought to the Head Ref’s attention.  Again, if the coach intervenes they should be asked to step back/ reminded of the rules
·         All scores are final when the team members leave the table. 
·         All decisions of the Head Ref are final
·         Any less than GP behavior of adults associated with the team (e.g. pushing another volunteer to the point of tears) unfortunately may impact the team’s ability to qualify for awards.  We would all hate to see a team penalized for the coach’s behavior, but refer the coach to the reminder on page 58 of the Coaches’ Handbook.