Provo Parks and Recreation enhances the quality of life by inspiring residents through our commitment to creating dynamic parks, recreation facilities, programs, and services of the highest standard.

 

Provo Parks & Recreation youth sports programs are designed to allow all participants an opportunity to participate in a fun, organized, and safe environment. Provo Parks & Recreation is committed to developing programs that will teach sportsmanship, respect, teamwork, fair play to help create an atmosphere that will support these traits. These policies are based on equal and fair treatment for all participants. With the implementation of these policies, parents can feel confident that youth sports with Provo Parks & Recreation will be a positive experience for their child. 

Inclement Weather

In cases of inclement weather where classes, games, or activities may be canceled, parents and coaches have a responsibility to call the Parks & Recreation Rainout Hotline at 801 852 6629 after 3:30PM on weekdays and 8:00AM on Saturdays. Participants who call the Recreation Center main line before this time will be transferred directly to the hotline for information. Games or activities may still be canceled at the site if deemed necessary by the program staff. Provo Sports lightning policy states that play be suspended if there is lightning within 8 miles of the area of play. It requires a 30 minute delay, but this may vary because the time count will restart if a lightning strike occurs within the 8 mile radius. Administration uses the My Lightning Tracker app for tracking lightning in the area.

 

Air Quality

There may be circumstances where air quality may cause us to cancel or delay games. Provo Parks & Recreation uses the website www.airnow.gov/provo to determine air quality. If the current air quality is at or above 150, according to airnow.gov/provo, we will then cancel any games or activities for the day. Any games canceled due to poor air quality will also be announced via our rainout hotline. 

  

Rainout Hotline

801.852.6629

Updated Weekdays by:

3:30PM - Youth Sports

4:00PM - Adult Sports

8:00AM Saturdays (All Sports)

 

Concussion and Head Injury Policy

In compliance with House Bill 204 – “Protection of Athletes with Head Injuries Act”; Provo City has implemented the policy below which requires adherence by all coaches, volunteers, parents, legal guardians, participants, and agents of Provo City.

 

General Concussion Description

Concussions (or traumatic head injury) are caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a blow to another part of the body with the force transmitted to the head. Even though most concussions are mild, all concussions are potentially serious and may result in complications including prolonged brain damage and even death if not recognized and managed properly. 

Signs and symptoms of concussions may show up right after the injury or can take hours or days to fully appear. Some signs and symptoms of concussion can be headache, ringing in the ears, nausea, fatigue, blurry vision, confusion, or dizziness. If your athlete reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms or signs and symptoms of concussion yourself, seek medical attention right away. You cannot see a concussion and most sports concussions occur without loss of consciousness.

 

Nature and Risk
Continuing to participate in a sporting event after sustaining a concussion or a traumatic head injury can leave the athlete vulnerable to greater injury or death. There is an increased risk of significant damage from a concussion for a period of time after that concussion occurs, particularly if the athlete suffers another concussion before completely recovering from the first. This can lead to prolonged recovery, or even severe brain swelling with devastating and even fatal consequences.

 

Policy Requirements
If Provo City, its agents, coaches, volunteers, parents, or legal guardians suspect an athlete (a child who is under the age of 18) of sustaining a concussion or traumatic head injury while participating in a sporting event; the athlete will be removed immediately. Upon removal of the athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion or a traumatic head injury, a written medical clearance from a qualified health care provider is required before the athlete can return to participate in any sporting event. Each parent or legal guardian must acknowledge and agree to abide by this policy by submitting a signed consent form. Registrations completed online will be signed electronically, registrations completed by phone will require a signature in person before participating in any practice or game. Coaches will be provided with a list of required signatures and will submit them before the first game.

 

Concussion Action Plan
What should a parent and/or legal guardian do when a concussion is suspected?

1. Report the suspicion to the coach:
   a. Look for the signs and symptoms of a concussion (see traumatic head injury below) 
   b. When in doubt, remove the athlete from play
2. Ensure that the athlete is evaluated right away:
   a. Do not try to judge the severity yourself, get assistance from a qualified Health Care Professional as soon as possible
3. Allow the athlete to return to play only with permission from a qualified Health Care Provider:
   a. Repeated concussion prior to recovery can increase the likelihood of further problems
4. Both coach and parent should record the following:
   a. The cause of the head injury and with what force
   b. Any loss of consciousness and for how long
   c. Any memory loss immediately after the injury
   d. Any seizures immediately after the injury
   e. Any other pertinent information you may think will help the Health Care Provider

1) “Qualified Health Care Provider” means a health care provider who: (a) is licensed under Title 58, Occupations and Professions; (b) may evaluate and manage a concussion within the health care provider's scope of practice; and (c) within three years before the day on which the written statement is made, have successfully completed a continuing education course in the evaluation and management of a concussion.

2) “Sporting event" means any of the following athletic activities that is organized, operated, managed, or sponsored by Provo City, such as a game, a practice, a clinic, a sports camp, an educational class, a competition, a draft, or a tryout.

3) "Traumatic head injury" means an injury to the head arising from blunt trauma, an acceleration force, or a deceleration force, with one of the following observed or self-reported conditions attributable to the injury: (a) transient confusion, disorientation, or impaired consciousness, (b) dysfunction of memory, (c) loss of consciousness, or (d) signs of other neurological or neuropsychological dysfunction, including (i) seizures, (ii) irritability, (iii) lethargy, (iv) vomiting, (v) headache, (vi) dizziness, or (vii) fatigue.

 

Acknowledgment
After reading Provo City’s Concussion and Head Injury Policy; I understand what a concussion is, have been informed on how to recognize the signs and symptoms, and agree to abide by the policy. I understand if my athlete is suspected of having a concussion, he/she will be removed from the sporting event and will not be permitted to continue participating in any upcoming sporting events until a qualified Health Care Professional has determined it to be safe. I will provide Provo City with a written statement by a qualified Health Care Professional acknowledging the athlete is cleared to resume participation. Within this statement, the provider must acknowledge he/she has successfully completed a continuing education course in the evaluation and management of a concussion within three years before the day on which the written statement was made.  I understand that I will be required to provide my signature acknowledging and agreeing to this policy before my child can participate in any Provo City sports activities.

 

 

Our hope is that the emphasis will be on learning and having fun rather than winning. 

Everyone will be expected to display good sportsmanship at all times. Rude or disruptive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. 
Coaches or fans that are disruptive will be asked to leave the gym by the Site Supervisor.
Players and coaches are not allowed to switch any player(s) to a different team.
Coaches must play all their players at least 50% of each game.

 

Parent/Spectator Pledge

 

In order to participate in the upcoming season, one parent or guardian per player must review, agree to, and sign our Parent Pledge prior to the start of the season. By signing, the parent or guardian acknowledges the importance of promoting good sportsmanship at all games and agrees to uphold these standards. Additionally, the signatory is responsible for ensuring that any spectators accompanying them also adhere to the same principles of respectful behavior.

 

 

Matching Request Policy:

• Individual matching requests must be reciprocal, made before registration deadline
• There are no limits on the amount of requests a player can make
• Any requests of more than 2 players must include a volunteer parent as a coach
• Those who request more than 4 players are asked to contact league coordinators to confirm matching request accuracy
• Siblings will still be guaranteed to be together. Please indicate if siblings have different last names.
• EXAMPLE: John requests Karl, Michael, Scottie, Charles, and Patrick. Each of John’s requests must request him in return and one of the parents must indicate they are willing to coach and all parties must request that parent by name

Team Formation Process: (all who register on-time)

• Siblings/Matching Requests
• School Area
• Grade/Gender balancing where applicable (similar number of younger & older players or boys & girls)

Late registrants:

• No matching requests guaranteed
• Players will be placed on teams where they are needed 

Late Registration

Provo Parks & Recreation will accept late registration provided vacancies exist. Team placement will be done by Recreation Coordinators based upon league availability. Leagues with a draft system will take late registration and will be placed on a team by the Coordinator in draft order. Late registrants will play with the team on which they are placed or forfeit that position and are not eligible to participate on another team. Register before the deadline to guarantee a spot on a team and receive a $5 early registration discount. Some leagues can fill prior to the deadline. 

Teams

Teams will be formed by geographic school areas using a random draw with consideration given to gender, school, matching request, and grade. Coaches’ children will be put on the team they are coaching. No participants are allowed to switch teams or play on a team where they have not been assigned. Participants are asked to sign up in the appropriate grade and include the school they attend. Participants will not be allowed to “play-up” or “play down”. Provo Parks & Recreation recognizes that children come in all sizes and skill levels, but it is our policy to make every effort to place participants on teams with children of their same grade. Non-resident participants will be placed on teams that are close to their geographic area by a Recreation Coordinator. 

Coaches

Provo Parks & Recreation recruits hundreds of coaches each year for the 37 sports offered in our youth programs. These coaches are all volunteers, the majority of whom are parents.

 

Volunteer coaches form a partnership with Parks & Recreation to facilitate sports programs, to coach according to the sports policies, and to adhere to the principles of the coaching conduct application. If there are no parent volunteers from a school area, the parents of each child will be contacted and asked to coach. Parents should seriously consider coaching and ask Parks & Recreation for coaching resources if needed. If more than one parent volunteers to coach a team, the first coach registered will be assigned. Although coaches are not paid, Parks & Recreation offers a scholarship to coaches at the end of each season to thank them for their time (must meet requirements). Parents may be assigned to be the head coach in cases where they have volunteered as assistants at registration.

Mandatory Coaches Meeting

A mandatory coaches meeting will be held in order to distribute league information, equipment, and rules. Every coach is expected to attend. If a coach is unable to attend they will need to set up an appointment with a Recreation Coordinator to go over the league information and rules and watch the PowerPoint and/or videos associated with the meeting. 

Child Protection

1. An application form must be completed for all volunteers
2. Review Information, Check references provided in the volunteer’s application
3. Interview the potential volunteer. (Largely done through the coaches meeting/packet pickup)
4. Conduct a criminal history background
5. Compare results against

The following automatic disqualifiers are important to note:

• An applicant provides inaccurate information in their application; References provide unpleasant or disturbing information about the potential volunteer
• The volunteer refuses to complete the screening process
• Sex offenses and misconduct
• Violent felonies
• Felonies (other than sex or violence related) within the past 10 years
• Any child abuse or domestic violence convictions
• Misdemeanors within the past seven years
• Pending convictions and/or arrests for the above items are considered
• Be consistent and tell everyone about screening initiatives

Refund Policy

Youth sports refunds will be given in full any time before the first game/session and only upon return of any included uniform (if applicable). After the first game or session, no refunds will be given. In cases of season-ending illness or injury, refunds may be considered for these circumstances when submitted in writing and accompanied by a doctor’s note.

 

Adult Programs - refunds can be requested until the day of the coaches meeting. All requests after the final schedules are posted will not be granted.

Award Policy

Participation awards will not be given to any group where the official score is kept. Placement awards will be given to those who participate in leagues with tournaments. 

Appeal Policy

Appeals regarding team rosters, refunds, or requests must be submitted in writing to Provo Parks & Recreation. The decision of the Recreation Coordinator in each case will be considered final. Appeals regarding the final decision of the Recreation Coordinator will not be considered. General feedback regarding programs can be submitted at any time.

 

These policies and guidelines have been adopted as a way to facilitate fair and unbiased youth sports leagues. If you have any questions please call us at 801 852 6600.