TABLE OF CONTENTS

A.    RECREATION COMMISSION    

B.    PROGRAM POLICIES – GENERAL    

C.    REC TEAM SPORTS PROGRAM POLICIES    

D.    REGISTRATION POLICIES    

E.    VOLUNTEER COACHES    

F.    TEAM SELECTION    

G.    COMMUNICATION/MARKETING    

H.    PARKS/FIELD MANAGEMENT    

I.    PREMIERE PARTNERS
 

A.RECREATION COMMISSION

1. Commission make up - The Rumson Recreation Commission is a policy-making and advisory board made of seven members appointed by the town council who volunteer to serve their community in five year terms, which may be extended by the Borough of Rumson Council. One of these members is the designated Chair. See [40:12-1. a.]

2. Role – The Recreation Commission advises the Borough of Rumson Administration and Council on setting policies for Rumson Recreation programs. The Recreation Commission can recommend new programs or substantive changes to existing programs, including fees, change in ages or divisions, and selection and review of coaches. Final policy and program decisions are the responsibility of the Borough Administration and Council. The Recreation Commission is not responsible for day-to-day operational decisions or purchases, which is the responsibility of the Recreation Director.

3. New Member Selection – Candidates may indicate interest by submitting a brief application (Google doc?)  to the Recreation Director, which will then be circulated to the Chair and the Recreation Commission. To fill a vacant position, a designated interview committee will be appointed by the Recreation Commission and the committee will make a recommendation to the full Recreation Commission for a vote. The Recreation Commission will then make a formal recommendation to the Borough of Rumson Mayor and Council.

4. Chair and Vice Chair Selection – Candidates for Chair and Vice Chair shall be separately nominated from among current Recreation Commission members in the January meeting each year. The Recreation Commission will then vote for each position in separate votes and the respective candidates with the majority vote will assume the roles of Chair and Vice Chair for the remainder of the Calendar year.

5. Votes – Each member of the Commission present in the public meetings has an equal vote, except the Chair, who will only vote in the instance of a tie  Once a vote is determined, the Rec Director has the authority for final approval.

6. Program Coordinators – Members of the Commission will be asked to handle operational responsibilities for specific recreation under the supervision of the Recreation Director. The duties may involve field set up, help in field scheduling, attending league and coaches meetings, subcommittee meetings, establish equipment and uniform needs, and tryout planning and management. It might also involve referee recruitment, training and supervision. The coordinator will be voted on by the Recreation Commission prior to each new league season or registration period for the respective program.

7. Meetings - There are at least 10 scheduled public meetings a year on the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm, unless noted otherwise, with interim subcommittee meetings as needed. Public meetings must have a quorum of 5 Commissioners present as stated in Robert’s Rules of Order.

8. Responsibilities - Commissioners are expected to attend at least 8 of the 10 public meetings each year, a variety of recreation sponsored events, and applicable subcommittee meetings. Habitual absences will result in a committee meeting discussion regarding removal.

9. Conflict of Interest - Recreation Commissioners, coordinators, and volunteer coaches should avoid participating in decisions involving their own child, team, or immediate family where a conflict may reasonably exist. When appropriate, individuals should recuse themselves from related discussions or votes.

B.PROGRAM POLICIES - GENERAL

1. Definition – Recreation is a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment.

2. Mission- Rumson Parks & Recreation promotes affordable, community-wide recreational, cultural, and educational experiences for residents of all ages, interests, and abilities. We seek to provide a fun, safe, and inclusive environment for our diverse activities, building community through positive social interaction and volunteerism while enriching the lives of our residents. Programs are designed to provide fulfilling opportunities for all to learn and strengthen physical, social, and cognitive skills regardless of experience and ability. Additionally, Rumson Parks & Recreation strives to develop and maintain high-quality parks and recreational facilities for our residents’ enjoyment and well-being

3. Programs – Please visit the Rumson Recreation website, www.rumsonrec.org, for a full listing and description of current programs

4. Policies – The policy document is a manual created by the Rumson Recreation Commission for use by the Recreation Director to navigate particular issues within the Recreation Commission’s oversight. This document is the pillar of the day-to-day duties of the Recreation Director and will be revised at the discretion of the Recreation Director who may seek the advice of the Recreation Commission on major issues.

5. Residents Only - Programs are open to Rumson residents only, unless otherwise specified.

   1. Participants must legally reside in Rumson (or Fair Haven, if open to those residents). Owning property but residing elsewhere or non-residents paying tuition to attend public or private schools in Rumson does not qualify for resident status in terms of Recreation participation.

6. Fees – Program fees and descriptions are posted on the Rumson Recreation website. Fees are non- refundable and non-transferable. A late fee will be applied to each individual registration after the open registration period. Please see Registration Policies section for more information.

7. Accident Procedure & Insurance Coverage – The Borough of Rumson provides liability insurance covering volunteer coaches.

   1. Safety Meeting - Coaches must attend the pre-season mandatory safety meeting and obtain the Rutgers Youth Sports SAFETY CERTIFICATE led by the Recreation Director.

   2. Accident & Health secondary insurance is provided either through the applicable league (in the case of travel sports and Little League), or through the Borough of Rumson if not provided by the league.

   3. Accident Reporting – Accidents should be reported to the Recreation Director as soon as practical. An accident report FILL IN HYPERLINK out by the coach and parents and returned to the Recreation Director as soon as possible.

   4. Head Injuries – All head injuries should be reported to the Recreation Director immediately following the game or practice.

1. Code of Conduct – The Code of Conduct applies to Coaches, Parents, Players and Spectators and is available at www.rumsonrec.org Concerns or violations should be reported to the Recreation Director.

C.RECREATION TEAM SPORTS PROGRAM POLICIES

1. Volunteer Coaches – Volunteer coaches are the cornerstone of Rumson Recreation. All teams will be led by volunteer coaches and assistant coaches who have completed the certification requirements including youth safety Rutgers Certificate, background checks and a concussion class. Also, attendance is mandatory at the pre-season meeting. The Recreation Commission has designated Rowing as approved for the use of trainers or professional, paid coaches. All volunteer parent or guardian coaches and any trainers must be approved by the Recreation Commission and are subject to the same requirements of certification, training, and background check. See Volunteer Coach section for more information.

2. Volunteer Removal/Replacement - The Recreation Director, in consultation with the Recreation Commission when appropriate, reserves the right to remove or replace a volunteer coach or assistant coach when it is determined to be in the best interest of the participants or Recreation program.

3. Age Eligibility – The majority of recreation sports programs are delineated by school grade, not birth age (unless otherwise specified, such as Little League). Rumson Recreation does make exceptions to its age guidelines on a sport by sport and an individual basis.

4. Attendance –We ask that participants carefully consider their time commitments before registering for a Rumson Recreation program. Most programs are team based so lack of attendance impacts the team and repeated poor attendance may negatively affect the quality of the experience for the children, parents, and volunteer coaches.

5. Playing Time – On team sports, it is anticipated that all players present will participate in each game and receive adequate playing time in each game. Coaches have discretion with regards to starting line-ups based on but not limited to examples such as practice participation, attitude and on-time arrival.

6. Positions - Coaches will make every effort to expose players to different positions and give each child a chance at different positions within appropriate safety parameters.

7. League Rules – Coaches and players are expected to familiarize themselves with League rules.

8. Good Sportsmanship in Scoring – Coaches are asked to use common sense and good sportsmanship guidelines to make every effort to keep the score within a reasonable range and avoid “blow-outs.” While there are no “mercy” rules in many Recreation leagues we expect the coaches to use sound judgement in making the game enjoyable for both teams.

9. Registered Players Only – Only players registered with Rumson Recreation for that specific program and age division may participate.

10. Borrowing Players – Coaches may borrow players if they are registered for the current program and in the same age division. Coaches may borrow only if they have too few players to adequately field a team and would otherwise have to cancel, not to increase perceived talent on the team and the opposing coach is in agreement. Coaches may not borrow players during tournament play or big events such as World Cup, All-Stars, March Madness etc.

D.REGISTRATION POLICIES

1. Policies – Registration policies are publicly available on the Rumson Recreation web site on the Registration page and the Registration Policy page.

1. On-Line Registration – All program registration shall be via the Civic Rec on- line registration system, unless otherwise indicated.

   1. All participants must set up an on-line family account on www.rumsonrec.org, regardless if paying by credit card, check, cash or applying for a fee waiver.

2. Open Registration Dates – The open registration dates will be publicly displayed on the web site and advertised through e-blast, the public and private schools e-blast system, the Borough of Rumson Bulletin Boards,.and social media.

   1. In general, the open registration period is a minimum 3-4 weeks, except for summer camps, which may be longer.

   2. Programs may be cancelled if there is an insufficient number of volunteer coaches or participants.

   3. If a player is added after the team selection process, coaches will be officially notified by the Recreation Director and provided that player’s registration information.

3. Fees

   1. Program Fees – Fees will be publicly posted on the web site, and flyers, as practical. Fees may be changed with approval from the Recreation Commission, sub-committee thereof, or the Borough of Rumson Administrator. All fees must be paid in full at the time of registration.

   2. Late Fees – Late fees will be publicly posted on the web site and advertisements.

   3. Refund Policy - Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Borough of Rumson Chief Financial Officer.

      • Approved refunds – if refund is approved, an account credit for the full amount may be issued..

   4. Public Safety Waivers – Per the Borough of Rumson Ordinance, Rumson Recreation registration fees will be waived for approved Rumson public safety volunteers. Public safety volunteers are subject to the late fee.

   5. Financial Assistance – Residents seeking financial assistance may apply to have their Registration Fees reduced or waived. A determination will be made by the Recreation Director and/or CFO.

   6. Payment – Fees may be paid on-line by Visa, MasterCard or Discover. If participants wish to pay by check or cash or request a waiver they must set up an on-line Family Account on www.rumsonrec.org and complete a paper registration form, available on Doc and Links page of the website. Registration will not be accepted unless accompanied by complete payment or waiver request.

      • Checks must be payable to Rumson Recreation, Borough of Rumson, 80 East River Road, Rumson, NJ 07760.

   7. Cancellations – If a program is unilaterally cancelled by the Borough of Rumson, fees will be refunded in full within 30 days of cancellation notification.

4. Capacity - Program capacity is dependent on facility space and a sufficient number of volunteer coaches. Space is not guaranteed, even during open registration period. Space is allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

5. Wait List – When programs have reached capacity, registrants are encouraged to register on-line for the wait list. There is no fee to join the wait list. If and when space becomes available, the next

participants on the wait list will be notified via email. Those who are wait listed during the open registration period will not be assessed a late fee, regardless of when they are released.

1. Code of Conduct – By registering for or participating in any Rumson Recreation program or activity, all participants, including coaches, parents, players/campers, volunteers, and spectators, agree to comply with the Rumson Recreation Code of Conduct (see Appendix). The full Code of Conduct is available on the Rumson Recreation website and through individual program registrations. The Recreation Director and Recreation Commission reserve the right to review alleged violations of Recreation policies, Codes of Conduct, safety expectations, or other inappropriate conduct associated with Recreation programs, activities, facilities, or events. Depending on the nature, severity, or frequency of the conduct, disciplinary action may include a verbal warning, written reprimand, probation, suspension from participation, suspension from attendance at Recreation activities or facilities, removal from volunteer responsibilities, immediate removal from Borough property, or future ineligibility from Recreation programs or activities. Disciplinary action may be imposed at the sole discretion of the Recreation Director and/or Recreation Commission.

E.VOLUNTEER COACHES

1. Philosophy - Utilizing volunteer head coaches is the cornerstone of Rumson Recreation team-based programs. Each team will have a designated volunteer head coach and are strongly encouraged to have an assistant coach. Rumson Recreation Commission with the exception of Rowing may not hire professional coaches as a substitute for volunteer coaches.

   1. Each season, the Recreation Director will submit to the Recreation Commission a list of all coaches and assistant coaches for review and approval.

2. Required Certifications - All Rumson Recreation volunteer coaches and assistant coaches must complete the following:

   1. Rutgers SAFETY Clinic.

   2. An on-line background check every 3 years.

   3. And an on-line concussion course.

   4. More information available at www.rumsonrec.org

3. Mandatory Safety Meeting - All recreation coaches must attend a mandatory safety meeting led by the Recreation Director before each season. For recreation coaches this usually will correspond with the team selection process.

4. Code of Conduct –  All coaches, parents, guardians, spectators, volunteers, and participants are expected to demonstrate respectful, appropriate, and sportsmanlike behavior toward players, coaches, officials, volunteers, Borough personnel, and other families at all Recreation-sponsored activities and events. All participants agree to adhere to the Rumson Recreation Code of Conduct (see Appendix), which is available on the Rumson Recreation website and through individual program registrations. Unsportsmanlike behavior, abusive or profane language, harassment, intimidation, threatening conduct, unsafe behavior, or repeated disruption of Recreation activities may result in disciplinary action. Alleged violations will be reviewed and consequences determined at the sole discretion of the Recreation Commission and/or Recreation Director. Depending on the nature or severity of the conduct, disciplinary action may include a verbal warning, written reprimand, removal from an event or Borough property, suspension from participation or attendance at Recreation activities, removal from volunteer or coaching responsibilities, and/or suspension from future Recreation-sponsored programs or activities.

5. Complaint Resolution Procedure- Questions or concerns regarding Recreation programs should first be directed to the Recreation Director so that issues may be reviewed and addressed appropriately. If necessary, matters may be referred to the Recreation Commission for additional review. The Recreation Commission encourages respectful and solution-oriented communication from all participants, volunteers, and families.

6. Coaching Conduct / Child Protection- All volunteer coaches and assistants are expected to foster a positive, instructional, and supportive environment for participants. Intimidating, humiliating, demeaning, or abusive behavior toward children is not acceptable and may result in disciplinary action, suspension, or removal from volunteer eligibility.

7. Social Media / Electronic Communications- Participants, coaches, volunteers, parents, and spectators are expected to use appropriate judgment and conduct in electronic communications and on social media relating to Recreation activities. Harassment, threatening communication, public disparagement of children or volunteers, or inappropriate conduct connected to Recreation programs may result in disciplinary review.

F.  TEAM SELECTION

1. Recreation - Grade 3-8 teams are selected in a draft process by the coaches present at the team selection meeting prior to the season with the aim of equally distributing by grade, gender, town (if open to Rumson & Fair Haven) and school. The coaches/volunteers present at the team selection meeting then review the rosters for fairness and equality.

   1. Pre-designated assistant coaches – Head coaches are allowed to choose an assistant prior to the selection meeting. Trades to evenly distribute the volunteers will be allowed at the team selection meeting to accommodate those rosters devoid of assistant coaches and to evenly distribute volunteer coaches. In the spirit of fair-play, final coaching assignments may be adjusted at the discretion of the Rec Director.

   2. No Trades/Roster Stability – Coaches may not trade players after teams have been finalized and agreed upon at the Recreation team selection meeting or draft. Once teams have been finalized through the Recreation team selection process, players may not switch teams based on coach preference, friendships, carpool requests, practice schedules, perceived team competitiveness, or similar requests. After the draft and completion of team selection, the Recreation Director shall have sole authority to approve roster modifications, player movement, or other team changes in limited circumstances deemed appropriate by the Borough.

   3. Special requests for placement on a specific team based on coach, carpool, friend, practice night, etc., unfortunately will not be considered as it is not possible to incorporate individual requests into the team selection process.

   4. Notification – Parents will be notified by their volunteer coach typically within 3-5 days of the team selection meeting. Parents may also look up their team assignment on their family home page and will be notified by the Recreation Director when this information is available.

G.  COOMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING

1. General Communication - Rumson Recreation advertises Recreation and Recreation Commission/Borough approved events to the community via the Rumson Recreation web page (www.rumsonrec.org), e-blast communications and all social media outlets.

2. Rumson Recreation Approved Third Party-Run Activities – Some Rumson Recreation approved summer programs and preschool programs are run by third party directors and have been vetted by the Recreation Director.

3. Unaffiliated Third Party Marketing – From time to time Rumson Recreation is asked to help promote local not for profit events sponsored by third parties. These requests are submitted to the Recreation Commission or a sub-committee thereof for approval; if approved, they will be posted on the Around Town section of the Rumson Recreation home page. They may also be advertised via social media Generally speaking, third party requests will not be afforded an individual e-blast, but may be included in an already scheduled newsletter or related Rumson Recreation communication (i.e., soccer cleat drive sent to soccer participants). Rumson Recreation will not advertise for for-profit entities, with the exception of Rumson Recreation approved summer camps or after school programs.

H.  PARKS/FIELD MANAGEMENT

1. Rules - Rumson Borough Park rules are defined in the Borough of Rumson Ordinances

2. Field Closures –

   1. Long-Term - The Recreation Commission may impose long-term field closures (seasonal or longer) based on recommendations from the Department of Public Works and the Recreation Director.

   2. Short-Term – The decision of daily field closures due to weather, safety, staffing, field conditions, emergency situations and other adverse conditions will be determined by the Recreation Director and Department of Public Works. Field closure notifications are posted on the homepage of the Recreation website, and all social media outlets.

   3. Summer – No permits for grass fields shall be issued to individual teams in June and July so that the fields may rest. Permits may be issued to individual baseball teams or Recreation Commission-approved summer camps. Fields are open for passive recreation.

3. Field Maintenance – The Recreation Commission may vote to allocate funds toward seeding and aeration, sodding, etc., as needed, to rehabilitate a field at the end of a season. Further, the Recreation Commission may make recommendations to the Borough of Rumson Council for more substantial changes to fields, such as significant renovations, improving drainage, repurposing, etc.

4. Facility Respect/Cleanup - Participants, teams, volunteers, and spectators are expected to maintain Borough parks, fields, and facilities in a clean and respectful manner. Littering, vandalism, misuse of facilities, or damage to Borough property may result in disciplinary action and/or financial responsibility for repairs.

5. Field Scheduling – Seasonal and daily field scheduling shall be done by the Recreation Director in accordance with Green Acres Funding guidelines.

   1. Permit requests will be submitted to the Recreation Director for approval. All approvals and declines shall be noted in the log book.

6. Permits & Field Fees – Permits are required by Rumson Borough Ordinance for organized sports and professional trainers. In some cases, a Field Fee may be applicable. Anyone may apply for a facility permit by submitting a request to the Recreation Director. The request must include the official Borough of Rumson form, available at www.rumsonnj.gov/forms.html, and insurance (listing the Borough of Rumson as an additional insured). Once approved, any applicable fee must be received prior to the usage date. All requests for Victory Park will be approved by the Borough of Rumson Administrator. Permit holders agree to abide by Rumson Borough guidelines for Field Facility Usage, as described in the Rumson Borough Ordinances.

7. Park Improvements – The Recreation Commission may make recommendations to the Borough of Rumson Council and Shade Tree Commission about additional park improvements such as updating or replacing equipment, courts or path renovations, or plantings/tree removal.

8. Tennis Courts - Rumson Rec has switched to an online reservation system called playbypoint.

I.  PREMIERE PARTNERS

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          Premier Partners / Travel Sports Organizations Policy

Who They Are:
AYF/Cheer, Rumson Travel Basketball (Mid-Monmouth), Rumson FC, Rumson Travel Baseball, Rumson Travel Softball, Jersey Shore Rugby, RFH Girls Select Lacrosse, RFH Boys Youth Lacrosse, and Bulldog Wrestling.

1. Rumson Recreation may recognize one Premier Partner per sport. Once established, the partnership may continue for as long as both Rumson Recreation and the Premier Partner mutually agree to the terms and conditions of the partnership.

2. Premier Partners will be listed on the Rumson Recreation website and may include links to their respective websites.

3. The Rumson Recreation Commission reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate field access or Premier Partner status at any time as deemed necessary.

4. Premier Partners are independent organizations and are not operated, governed, supervised, endorsed, or managed by the Borough of Rumson or Rumson Recreation. Designation as a Premier Partner does not create any exclusive rights to Borough facilities, scheduling, funding, or sponsorship.

5. Premier Partners are solely responsible for their own operations, finances, staffing, registration, team selection, coaching decisions, disciplinary matters, communications, policies, and internal organization governance.

6. The Borough of Rumson and Rumson Recreation shall not be responsible for internal team decisions, playing time, roster selection, coaching decisions, financial matters, disciplinary matters, or disputes within independent Premier Partners unless such matters directly impact Borough property, facility usage, safety, or Recreation operations.

7. Premier Partners are solely responsible for maintaining all required insurance, certifications, permits, background checks, and compliance with all applicable league, state, and Borough requirements. Premier Partners shall adopt policies substantially similar to Rumson Recreation requirements related to coach certification, concussion protocols, Rutgers Coaching Clinics, and background checks.

8. All Premier Partners, coaches, players, parents, and spectators are expected to comply with all Rumson Recreation policies, Codes of Conduct, Parks and Field Management Policies and Procedures, Borough ordinances, and applicable field usage requirements, including familiarity with the Athletic Field Maintenance Manual posted on the Rumson Recreation website.

9. Premier Partners are responsible for the conduct of their coaches, players, families, spectators, and representatives while utilizing Borough facilities. Unsafe, abusive, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, disruptive, or otherwise inappropriate conduct may result in disciplinary action, removal from Borough property, suspension or revocation of field access, suspension of individuals from participation or attendance at Recreation facilities, and/or termination of Premier Partner status.

10. Each Premier Partner shall designate one or more individuals responsible for handling issues related to players, coaches, and parents and shall provide current contact information to the Recreation Director prior to the start of each season. Concerns related to a specific program shall first be directed to the designated representative(s) of that organization.

11. Pursuant to Borough requirements, Premier Partners must submit all required field and facility permit applications, including schedules for games, practices, clinics, trainers, or other organized activities, prior to the start of each season. Required forms are available through the Borough website.

12. Borough Recreation programs and activities shall receive priority consideration for field allocation, scheduling, and facility usage. Following finalization of Recreation schedules, remaining field availability may be allocated to designated Premier Partners.

13. Field allocations for Premier Partners shall generally be based on one team per age group and level unless otherwise approved by the Recreation Commission. Field allocations are not guaranteed and may be modified, suspended, or revoked at any time due to weather conditions, field maintenance needs, safety concerns, Borough programming, operational priorities, or other Recreation considerations.

14. Premier Partners are expected to cooperate with all field preservation efforts, weather closures, scheduling limitations, maintenance directives, and usage restrictions established by the Recreation Director or Borough.

15. In the event of an injury requiring medical attention occurring during a game, practice, or organized activity on Borough property, the Premier Partner shall provide a copy of the applicable accident or incident report to the Recreation Director within 24 hours via email. Text messages or verbal notice alone shall not satisfy this requirement.

16. Violations of Borough policies, permit requirements, field directives, safety expectations, or applicable codes of conduct may result in disciplinary action, suspension of field privileges, or termination of Premier Partner status.

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Last Updated 5/3/26