Author: Jan Harris

Abington Township Police
Athletic League
Member
Handbook

5/2023

Abington Police Athletic League
Our Mission
The Abington Police Athletic League (PAL) is a non-profit 501C3 organized to prevent juvenile crime and violence by providing programs encompassing education, training and resources to our children. PAL’s existence is a statement to these young people that the community cares about them. Our PAL utilizes community-based programs such as activities, mentorship, and community service opportunities to keep children and families involved in a pro-active situation where law enforcement officers and volunteers work together displaying a positive image through good role models.
PAL staff supervise healthy, community-oriented, educational, cultural, social and athletic activities that provide the groundwork for the development of happy, healthy community members. PAL centers offer structured and personal guidance in a safe, friendly environment. PAL offers a wide range of physical and intellectual activities addressing the various needs of Abington’s youth.
While Abington PAL is sponsored through the Abington Township Police Department, PAL receives no direct funding from them. As such, PAL is dependent on volunteer support from local, community-oriented Individuals, business leaders, corporations and foundations.
Core Beliefs
Our PAL utilizes a recreation-oriented juvenile crime prevention program that relies heavily upon athletics and recreational activities to help kids go right and stay right. Safe, positive, fun and rewarding programs offering a supportive teamwork environment is the key to the PAL success story that builds happy, well adjusted youth and safer communities. All Members must be an Abington Township resident or attend School in Abington Township. Proof of Address and copy of School report card must accompany all registration applications. Verification will be done through the schools.
All members must be 11 years old till their High School Graduation or their 19th Birthday.
As a pre-requisite of the program, each child must be actively attending school and in good standing. PAL also builds relationships with the families of its youth and promotes parental involvement as much as possible. Any child who applies to be a member of the Abington PAL is initially accepted, unless they are engaged in criminal activity or require care we cannot provide.

Parent Permission Form
Parent/Guardian Permission and Release for Students Participation in the PAL Program
As parent or legal guardian of__________________________, I/we give permission to participate in the PAL Program, which includes all related programs and events. In consideration for our child’s participation in the program, and intending to be legally bound, our child and we agree and understand that we assume all risk in full for our child’s participation in the program, and with full knowledge of the risks inherent in such a program. We hold harmless the Abington Township Police Department, the Township of Abington, The Abington Township Parks and Recreation Department, Abington PAL and all of their employees, volunteers, assigns and heirs, from any and all liability, damages, or claims for any and all personal injury, bodily injury, and/or property damage arising or related to our child’s participation in the program. In the event of personal injury to our child, this will serve as permission for any qualified medical personnel to treat such injury to the best of their professional abilities.
Our child and we understand and agree to abide by all rules and regulations established by the Abington Township Police Department, Abington PAL and Abington Township Parks and Recreation Department.
We further understand that from time to time photographs of our child participating in PAL activities will be taken and used in various PAL Media. Cameras are recording in all rooms during PAL hours of operation.
We also understand and agree that if we as parent/guardian of the child involved provide transportation to an off-site location, that we are responsible for a timely pick-up of the child from the site of the individual activity. PAL is under no obligation to provide supervision after the conclusion of the individual activity away from the PAL site and understand that the child will be left at the off site location unattended until we pick him/her up.
Abington PAL offers the children of the community an opportunity to be involved in sports activities. Along with sports activities, we offer crafting classes, and painting. Also we will from time to time offer an off site program or Movie night. PAL will run Trivia, Bingo and game nights. Board games available for the children and also Gaming consoles are available, PlayStation, Xbox, Wii . All games available to the members are rated P-13. NO R-rated games will be played at the PAL Center.
Book Club, Kids on the Hill golf program, Gents, Gems, Youth Police Academy and other special programs are available during the year. These popular programs are available to a limited number and on a first come first serve basis.

1.	ALL members of PAL MUST be Abington Township residents, or attending Abington Public Schools. -- NO Guests Allowed.
2.	Everyone must be 10 through 18 yrs. old. / PAL Membership expires upon graduation or the PAL members 19th birthday.
3.	Every member must have a PAL ID card, cards will be kept on site. No member is permitted to leave PAL without scanning out. Once you have left PAL for the evening you will not be admitted back into PAL.
4.	NO ONE will be admitted after 8:30pm
5	Appropriate dress is required! NO short shorts, tank tops, halter tops, midriff tops, boxer shorts, or anything with obscene or foul language on it. Shirts MUST be worn at all times. ONLY sneakers on basketball court, no flip flops, sliders or Crocs.
6.	EVERYONE is responsible for cleaning up / throwing away her or his own trash. As a member of PAL, team work clean-up is encouraged.
7.	NO drugs, alcohol, smoking, foul of disrespectful language. NO fighting, harassment, bullying.
8.	Negative Police contact outside of PAL, including the filing of charges / citations, will be reviewed, and may lead to suspension from PAL.
9.	Respect MUST be shown to the PAL staff and volunteers. Respect each other.
10.	ALL Members riding in the PAL van’s MUST wear their seat belt, and follow PAL site rules.

ABINGTON PAL RULES
PAL Site is open Friday and Saturday nights 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Abington PAL is not responsible for any personal items lost or stolen while at the PAL Center.