Non negotiable rules

Steal from your teammates and you're gone. Completely non-negotiable.

Yea, I get that every rule might have an exception once in a while, even if it is called "non negotiable".  I am referring to something like If you miss 2 practices without letting any of the coaches know=automatic suspension.  That would be pretty non negotiable in my opinion.  

All rules should be non-negotiable. That's what makes them rules and not "suggestions."

The rule of thumb on rules is to not make a rule unless you're ready to enforce it with firmness and consistency... but also try to avoid locking yourself into consequences that are so rigid that you have absolutely no wiggle room to account for context. Try to avoid having too many and pulling a Josh McDaniels or it becomes impossible to track or enforce them all.

The only times you should lock yourself into a specific consequence are when your administration or association puts in front of you and says "you and your players need to follow this policy." Things like a minimum number of credits or GPA to play, no practice or playing time on days you're suspended, etc.

Most good rules are either common sense stuff or they address particular issues plaguing your team. You can have your senior leaders work with you to determine what your rules will be, since they'll probably come up with about the same ideas you will.

The obvious non-negotiable rules are:

1.  No disrespecting coaches, trainers, or teammates.

2.  No stealing or vandalism.

3.  No missing practice or workouts without clearing it with a coach first.

4.  No loafing in games or in practice.

5.  Stay out of trouble in school (fighting, not doing work, disrespecting teachers, etc.).

You can sum them all up as "be excellent" but sometimes kids don't see how that applies.

Respect all women.

Bullying

I think most of them do now I know or school is extremely strict about even play wrestling or play fighting they have cameras in the hallways

We simply tell our kids if you get caught bullying there's nothing we can do to help you it's up to the school

No sticking your dork into a bun at the team bar b q,  Sorry, I couldnt play for you, tight a$$!!!!  No syrup from my tiny little bird lips (Super Troopers)  No hot tubbin other wives, who are you, Mother Theresa?  I'll coach somewhere else,  unless of course your hiring?

I am guilty of it too with some of my rules, but I find it interesting how many of us have these ambiguous rules (be a good teammate, work hard, respect coaches). I think we tend to use these as catchalls that tend to be enforced more sporadically; moreover without specifically defining what each of these exactly means they become nothing more than platitudes that we use to dole out punishments at times.

As I wrote, 'I am guilty of them too', but I feel it is best to be as complete and meticulous with the articulation of all rules as possible. Or at the very least define the levels of relative terms (how exactly does one display respect or disrespect in their actions).

FWIW, I think we tend to do better with safety based rules as we can clearly define them, ie: there is to be no chewing gum while participating in physical, sport related, activities.

Apparently it happens thousands of times a year.  That's a Ball Park figure.

Understand what you're looking for but think its nearly impossible to come up with based upon the circumstances & environments that so many of our players exist in day-to-day.  Would approach it more from a set of 'team expectations' and then feel that you're going to have to look at a lot of issues on a case by case basis.

Not saying to have a program that runs half-a## but non-negotiable rules (as some other posters have stated) need to be universally enforced--extremely hard to really do that in all situations that arise in a season.

I think your rules are going to end being whatever the school and or District rules are, because they won't back you on anything extra you come up with. Shoot, they usually don't back you on their own rules.
That being said, we always had a rule that if you miss practice you don't start. If you miss a Wednesday practice(before a Friday game) you won't suit up for that game. It worked pretty well, and the Wednesday rule kept us from trying to play an in injured or sick player before he was ready, or the kids using a sniffle to miss practice.

1 - Live clean (drugs, alcohol, vaping, etc.)
2 - Follow/Abide by all laws and rules (real world and on campus)
3 - Respect all humans, especially women

covers everything in my opinion

and they are stated as to what TO do, not what not to do



SIDE NOTE:
When it comes to my players and rules, I may not always be equal, but I will always be fair

- stolen and modified from Tony Dungy

Not the SEC--standard is too high