Dear Woodbury Athletic Association Families,

As the new school year begins and many of our sports kick off, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the important role we all play in creating a successful and positive experience for our young athletes. Our organization is run by countless volunteers, and it’s through everyone’s efforts that we can continue to thrive.

This past year, we’ve celebrated many successes. However, we've also faced challenges, including a record number of code of conduct violations, individuals being removed from games or practices, and volunteers stepping down due to disrespectful or negative behavior. The toll that this is taking on our volunteers from unacceptable behavior is something we cannot ignore, and we are committed to supporting those who generously give their time and talents to our kids. Let’s ensure that athletes, coaches, officials, board members, and everyone involved are treated with the respect they deserve.

Code of Conduct Policy

As we begin this new season, we kindly remind everyone to uphold the code of conduct to which we have all committed to. If there are violations to our code of conduct policy, strict enforcement of disciplinary action will occur, including but not limited to the following in any order or combination:

1. Verbal warning issued by a league or WAA.

2. Written warning issued by a league or WAA.

3. Suspension or immediate ejection from a youth sports event issued by a league or WAA.

4. Suspension from multiple youth sports events (this could include practices and/or games) issued by WAA.

5. Season suspension or multiple season suspension issued WAA.

We know how much parents care about their children's experiences—whether it’s related to team selection, playing time, or the results of games and practices. However, we ask that you channel your passion constructively. Take a moment to pause before sending a text, writing an email, or posting on social media. Please remember that we are a volunteer-driven organization with over 3,500 participants.

Behind the Scenes: The Value of Our Volunteers

As your child heads to their next athletic event, take a moment to reflect on the countless hours that volunteers put in behind the scenes. From registration, fee collection, uniform distribution, equipment management, and tournament coordination, to organizing schedules, managing teams, and responding to inquiries, our volunteers do it all. Without them, our programs would not be possible.

We’ve noticed a decline in the number of people willing to coach, serve on sports boards, or volunteer for a few hours at tournaments. The reality is that without enough volunteers, our programs will suffer. Larger teams, less playing time, and increased registration fees are just a few of the negative impacts we could face.

Our Request to You

If you have concerns about your child’s team placement, playing time, or position, or if you have questions about the organization of games and tournaments, we ask that you observe a 48-hour reflection period. Afterward, if you still have concerns, please follow the proper communication channels to discuss them respectfully.

We deeply appreciate the passion and commitment of all our families. It’s unfortunate that the actions of a small percentage can impact everyone, but by working together, we can continue to create a positive and supportive environment for all our athletes.

Thank you for your continued support.

WAA Executive Board