502.DISCIPLINE – GAME CONDUCT 

When Discipline/Sanctions are imposed, they must meet the required minimums as specified by FYSA and/or USSF. The Disciplining body must evaluate the incident as to intent, severity and past misconduct to determine the appropriate disciplines/sanctions. More severe disciplines/sanctions shall be imposed for multiple red cards during a season and for misconduct directed towards officials or administrators. 

502.1 One Game Suspension: 

  1. Resulting from a second caution; (i.e., persistent infringement or dissent by word or action).
  2. Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area).
  3. Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving toward the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick.
  4. Serious Foul Play is defined as using disproportionate and       unnecessary strength in a            manner likely to hurt or injure an opponent; any tackle from behind which endangers the safety of an opponent.
    1. Offensive or insulting or abusive language:

    1. One (1) game suspension — Offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures not directed.
    1. Three (3) game suspension — Offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures directed toward a player, referee, assistant referee, administrator, spectator or game and /or tournament official.
    1. Six (6) game suspension — Adult directed to a youth referee.

502.3  Violent Conduct:

  1. One (1) game suspension (minor infractions) — dead-ball foul that is neither violent or with intent to harm or injure; attempting to strike, hit or punch.
  2. Two (2) game suspension (minor infractions) — is defined as the aggression of a player towards an opponent with clearly no intent to play or fight for the ball, threatening gestures.
  3. Four (4) game suspension (major infractions) – striking with the intent to injure; fighting; any intentional exposure of the anatomy considered lewd and lascivious; all gestures with any part of the body which implies visual profanity.
  4. Six (6) game suspension (major infraction) — Entering a fight in progress or action resulting in law enforcement being called; entering the field of play and committing any additional offense (e.g., violent conduct, foul or abusive language; this will be in addition to the sanction for the subsequent violation).

502.4  Spitting – 4 (four) game suspension: 

Spitting is defined as spitting on or at an opponent or another person as well as spitting onto their own hand prior to shaking hands with their opponent and/or the referees or other game officials.

502.5  FYSA affiliates shall notify the FYSA Office within seven (7) days of any player or coach red card/ejection for violent conduct (major infraction), foul and/or abusive language/gestures directed, spitting, or referee abuse. If the player or coach has two such ejections during a seasonal year or a third within two seasonal years, FYSA will notify the player, coach, affiliate agent of record and reporting affiliate that an additional suspension for thirteen (13) games or six (6) months, whichever is longer be applied to the end of the current suspension. Multiple offenses relating to the same red card/ejection will qualify under this rule. The action may be appealed to the FYSA Protest and Appeals Committee.

502.5.1 Any player who attempts to conceal their identity either before, during or post game, shall be suspended for a minimum of sixty (60) days or eight (8) games whichever is longer.

502.6 GAME OFFICIALS 

502.6.1 

Misconduct toward a referee may include, but is not limited to, all registered referees, assistant referees, forth officials or other duly appointed to assist. It also includes any unlicensed or unregistered person serving in an emergency capacity as a referee under USSF Policy 531, Section 2 and any club assistant referees.

Any act committed before, during, or after a match, even at later times, if it is match related, such as at work or at home may constitute misconduct toward game officials.

REFEREE ABUSE 

Referee abuse is a verbal statement or physical act not resulting in bodily contact which implies or threatens physical harm to a referee or the referee’s property or equipment.

Abuse includes, but is not limited to, the following acts committed upon a referee; using foul or abusive language toward a referee (must imply a threat of physical harm), spewing any beverage on a referee’s personal property; spitting at (but not on) the referee; verbally threatening a referee with remarks that carry imply or direct threats of physical harm.

Verbal threats are remarks that carry the implied or direct threat of physical harm. Such remarks as “I’ll get you after the game.” or “You won’t get out of here in one piece.” shall be deemed referee abuse.

Discipline: Minimum sanctions
a. Six (6) games or three (3) month suspension, whichever is longer.
b. Spitting at a referee or game official, six (6) games or six (6) month suspension, whichever is longer.
c. An adult upon a youth referee, minimum of one (1) year suspension.

REFEREE ASSAULT 

Referee assault is an intentional act of physical violence at or upon a referee committed before during, or after a match, even later times if it is match related such as at work or at home. “For the purpose of this rule, “intentional act” shall mean an act intended to bring about a result which will invade the interests of another in a way that is socially unacceptable. Unintended consequences of the actions are irrelevant.” Assault includes, but is not limited to, the following act committed upon a referee: hitting, kicking, punching, choking, spitting on, grabbing or bodily running into a referee; the act of kicking or throwing any object at a referee that could inflict injury; damaging the referee’s uniform or personal property (i.e., car, equipment, etc.).

The player, coach, manager, spectator or official committing the referee assault is automatically suspended as follows:

  1. For a minor or slight touching of the referee or the referee’s uniform or personal property, at least six (6) months from the time of the assault.
  2. Except as provided in above, for any other assault, at least twelve (12) months from the time of the assault.
  3. For an assault committed by an adult and the referee is seventeen (17) years of age or younger, at least three (3) years; or
  4. For an assault when serious injuries are inflicted, at least five (5) years.

REFEREE/ASSISTANT REFEREE MISCONDUCT 

502.6.2 

502.6.3. 

502.6.3.1 Misconduct, charges or allegations shall be filed immediately with the Site Director or Official in charge of the competition. The complaint shall also be filed in writing to the Local Referee Administrator with copies addressed to the State Referee Administrator within forty-eight (48) hours of identifying the offense. Hearings may be held as specified by the SRA or his/her designees.

502.6.3.2 Failure to act by any Local, Regional or State Referee organization gives jurisdiction to FYSA to Page 59 of 118 As of 8/17/18 2018-2019 Seasonal Year conduct hearings, discipline and/or sanction any Referee found to be in violation of FYSA Rules or for any misconduct at any FYSA sanctioned event.

502.7 PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING REFEREE ABUSE AND ASSAULT
Section 1: Procedures to be followed for any alleged incident of referee assault or abuse for any FYSA sanction club/league/Cup event. 

The referee, or a member of the referee crew (should the referee be incapacitated), will report any incident of alleged referee assault/abuse to the FYSA State Office within seventy-two (72) hours of the incident. The written report submitted must be postmarked within seventy-two (72) hours of the incident (excluding legal holidays) and must include the official game report, supplemental referee report, any other information the referee wants to submit, and the FYSA/US Youth Soccer pass of the player/coach/manager or the name of the non-player under investigation (if known). The FYSA Representative must, in turn, forward the report to the FYSA office. FYSA will in turn notify the SYRA, within 48 hours of receipt of the report.

Upon receipt at the FYSA office, a file will be opened to contain a copy of the initial report and the player/coach’s pass, if applicable. The original report will then be immediately forwarded to FYSA’s Review and Discipline Committee. The Review and Discipline Committee will make a determination within seven (7) days of receipt of the report as to one of the following: (i) possible referee assault did occur; (ii) possible referee abuse did occur; or (iii) documentation provided did not warrant a determination of either assault or abuse. (FYSA will inform the SYRA as to the determination of the Review and Discipline Committee.)

In the event the Review and Discipline Committee determines a possible referee assault case exists, the Committee will forward its findings to the FYSA office. Upon verification of an allegation of assault by FYSA, the person is automatically suspended until the hearing is held on the assault. FYSA will immediately notify the applicable RVP with the direction to schedule a hearing on the matter within thirty (30) days. Any delay in scheduling the hearing within the thirty (30) day timeframe must be approved by the chairperson of the FYSA Review and Discipline Committee. Failure to hold the initial hearing shall not rescind the automatic suspension. 

At the completion of the hearing, the RVP will forward a copy of the findings to the FYSA office and will notify the accused in writing of the findings of the hearing panel. (FYSA will inform the SYRA of the results of the hearing.) FYSA’s State Office upon verification that all requirements of Section 600 have been complied with will send a copy of the decision to the FYSA Review & Discipline Committee in order that its file may be also closed

If the accused is found guilty of assault, notification will include information as to the next level of appeal, as per USSF Bylaw 705 which is directly to the Appeals Committee of the USSF.

In the event the Review and Discipline Committee determines a case of referee abuse exists, the Committee will forward its findings to the FYSA office. FYSA will immediately forward the report along with the player/coach pass, if applicable, to the appropriate RVP who will, based on the report, immediately impose sanctions of not less than a six (6) game or three (3) month suspension, whichever is longer. The RVP may impose greater sanctions for repeat offenders or if the situations warrant; however, sanctions of more than six (6) games or three (3) months will require that a hearing be held, unless waived by the accused. When sanctions are imposed, the RVP will, within seven (7) days, notify the accused in writing of said sanctions and the right of appeal of this decision to FYSA’s Protest and Appeal Committee as per FYSA Rule 605 inclusive. The player/coach pass will be forwarded to the FYSA State Office to hold until proper notification of games served is presented. Proper notification is accomplished by way of game reports indicating that a red card/sanction is being served. When such notification is presented, the pass will be immediately returned to the player/coach/manager.

In the event that the Review and Discipline Committee determines that neither referee assault nor abuse occurred, the Committee will notify the FYSA office of such. FYSA will immediately forward the player/coach/manager’s pass to the appropriate club/league. If sanctions are required as a result of actions not determined to be that of referee assault or abuse, the club/league will handle these separately and according to FYSA, and/or or club/league rules.

If an allegation of referee assault/abuse occurs during a tournament under sanction of FYSA the followings actions are to be completed:

Section 2: Procedures to be followed for any alleged incident of referee assault or abuse for any FYSA Event/Tournament, not covered above 

  1. For players/coaches not registered to FYSA: 

In the event an assault on or abuse of a referee occurs in a tournament/event outside the alleged offender’s home state, or from a soccer organization not under the authority of FYSA, the referee shall (A) immediately notify the Event/Tournament Chairman, and (B) forward a copy of the game report, supplemental referee report, and his/her comments on the incident to the Event/Tournament Chairman. 

The Event/Tournament Chairmen shall have the right to immediately convene a hearing at the site of the Event/Tournament, at which the alleged offender, the coach of the alleged offender when the offender is a player, and the game official should be present. Information presented at this hearing shall promptly be relayed to the alleged offender’s National State Association by the Event/Tournament Chairman, both orally and in writing; however, failure to provide written information shall not restrict the offender’s home National State Association from taking action with regard to any referee abuse or assault. The Event/Tournament Chairman shall also, within 72 hours of the incident, notify FYSA in writing, by fax, of the incident with copies of all game reports, supplemental reports, and findings as to any hearing held at the Event/Tournament. (FYSA will copy the SYRA on all reports concerning this incident.) 

  1. For players/coaches registered to FYSA: 

For players/coaches under FYSA’s jurisdiction, the Event/Tournament will retain the player/coach pass to be forwarded to the FYSA State Office, along with copies of all game reports, supplemental reports, and any other information concerning this incident, within 24 hours of the completion of the Tournament/Event. The review process of the incident will then follow the procedures as outline in Section 1 above. 

502.8 ABUSE AND/OR ASSAULT UPON NON-GAME OFFICALS 

Abuse and/or assault upon any affiliate member, league/tournament official, FYSA state staff, FYSA board member/official or any other person acting in an official capacity at any FYSA-sanctioned event.

Abuse shall be defined as under Rule 502.6.1. Assault shall be defined as under Rule 502.6.2.  

PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING ABUSE AND ASSAULT
Section 1: Procedures to be followed for any alleged incident of assault or abuse for any FYSA sanction club/league/Cup event. 

The official, or event director, will report any incident of alleged assault/abuse to FYSA, or its designee, (i.e.,RC, RVP) within seventy-two (72) hours of the incident. The written report submitted must be postmarked within seventy-two (72) hours of the incident (excluding legal holidays) and must include the official game report, supplemental reports, any other information the parties want to submit, and the FYSA/US Youth Soccer pass of the player/coach/manager or the name of the non-player under investigation (if known). The FYSA Representative must, in turn, forward the report to the FYSA office.

Upon receipt at the FYSA office, a file will be opened to contain a copy of the initial report and the player/coach’s pass, if applicable. The original report will then be immediately forwarded to FYSA’s Review and Discipline Committee. The Review and Discipline Committee will make a determination within seven (7) days of receipt of the report as to one of the following: (i) possible assault did occur; (ii) possible abuse did occur; or (iii) documentation provided did not warrant a determination of either assault or abuse.

In the event the Review and Discipline Committee determines a possible assault case exists, the Committee will forward its findings to the FYSA office. Upon verification of an allegation of assault by FYSA, the person is automatically suspended until the hearing is held on the assault. FYSA will immediately notify the applicable RVP with the direction to schedule a hearing on the matter within thirty (30) days. Any delay in scheduling the hearing within the thirty (30) day timeframe must be approved by the chairperson of the FYSA Review and Discipline Committee. Failure to hold the initial hearing shall not rescind the automatic suspension. 

At the completion of the hearing, the RVP will forward a copy of the findings to the FYSA office and will notify the accused in writing of the findings of the hearing panel.

In the event the Review and Discipline Committee determines a case of official abuse exists, the Committee will forward its findings to the FYSA office. FYSA will immediately forward the report along with the player/coach pass, if applicable, to the appropriate RVP who will, based on the report, immediately impose sanctions of not less than a six (6) or three (3) month game suspension, whichever is longer. The RVP may impose greater sanctions for repeat offenders or if the situations warrant; however, sanctions of more than six (6) games or three (3) months will require that a hearing be held, unless waived by the accused. When sanctions are imposed, the RVP will, within seven (7) days, notify the accused in writing of said sanctions and the right of appeal of this decision to FYSA’s Protest and Appeal Committee as per FYSA Rule 605, inclusive. The player/coach pass will be forwarded to the FYSA State Office to hold until proper notification of games served is presented. Proper notification is accomplished by way of game reports indicating that a red card/sanction is being served. When such notification is presented, the pass will be immediately returned to the player/coach/manager.

In the event that the Review and Discipline Committee determines that neither official assault nor abuse occurred, the Committee will notify the FYSA office of such. FYSA will immediately forward the player/coach/manager’s pass to the appropriate club/league. If sanctions are required as a result of actions not determined to be that of official assault or abuse, the club/league will handle these separately and according to FYSA, and/or or club/league rules.

If an allegation of official assault/abuse occurs during a tournament under sanction of FYSA the followings actions are to be completed:

Section 2: Procedures to be followed for any alleged incident of official assault or abuse for any FYSA Event/Tournament, not covered above 

504.COMPLETING GAME SUSPENSIONS 

504.1  Red card suspension or send off suspensions can only be served with the team with which the suspension was earned in games played by their team. Until the suspension is served the player/coach is suspended from any other team(s) to which the player/coach may be registered. Games may not be scheduled to “work off” suspension. Players may not serve suspensions as “guest players” nor may they “guest play” with any other team(s) until such time as the original suspension is served.

  1. Issued during league game must be worked off during next scheduled league, Cup or tournament game(s).
  2. Issued during President’s Cup or Commissioner’s Cup, they must be worked off during remainder of the competition. If no competition remains, suspension must be worked off in next scheduled league and/or tournament game(s).
  3. Issued during Tournament Play: Tournament Red Card Report filed along with game reports as required by post-Tournament rules. FYSA office to send copy of Red Card Report and appropriate game reports to the appropriate RC in the next immediate mail out. RC will notify club of a discipline/sanctions remaining.
  4. Issued during “friendly games” must be worked off during the next scheduled league, Cup or tournament game(s). “Friendly games” may not be scheduled to work off game suspensions nor if previously scheduled, used to work off suspension given during league, cup or tournament games.
  5. Issued during the US Youth National Championship (State Cup), at any level, shall not be allowed to participate in the next immediately following National Championship (State Cup) game played by the player’s team. A player may receive more than one (1) game suspension. Local club/league may issue additional discipline to be served in other than National Championship (State Cup) games.
  6. A red card suspension issued during a small, sided tournament which cannot be served during the event shall be served during the player/coach’s next scheduled club, league or cup game(s). For a suspension issued during a normal league/cup game, the player must sit out the first game of any small, sided tournament previously entered. The player shall then be able to compete in the remainder of the tournament. The player shall not receive credit for the small, sided game(s) against the original suspension.

504.2  Red card suspensions received as a “guest player” may only be served with the player’s primary team. If the player’s primary team is not active in competition, with the permission of the RVP, the player may serve the suspension with a secondary team if dual rostered. Suspension received as a guest player may carry forward to the player’s primary team during the next seasonal year the player is registered.

504.3  Red card or ejection issued due to Referee Assault/Abuse shall require:

Player pass, game report and other documents sent to FYSA’s State Office within seventy-two (72) hours. (Referee shall also send a copy of the report to the SRA/SYRA.) A determination as to probable cause to proceed to a hearing shall be forwarded to the appropriate RVP.

Disciplinary hearing shall be scheduled within thirty (30) days of the notification by the FYSA Review and Discipline Committee. Any delay in scheduling a hearing within the thirty (30) days must be approved by the chairperson of the FYSA Review and Discipline Committee.

Player/coach suspended immediately upon receipt by FYSA of the initial report.

402.3 JEWELRY 

It is the policy of FYSA that no player be allowed to wear ANY jewelry while participating in any FYSA sanctioned match. The only exception that may be allowed is a medical alert bracelet or necklace when taped to the body. The referee shall make the decision as to the safety of the player and the referee’s decision is final. (The taping of any earring shall not be permitted under any circumstances.) If the referee notices a player wearing jewelry while the match is under way at the next stoppage of play, the referee will instruct the player to remove the item. If the referee deems the jewelry to be dangerous to any player, the referee must stop the match to correct the situation

HEADING GUIDELINES

Deliberate heading is not allowed in age groups U12 and younger.

If a U12 or younger player deliberately heads the ball in the game, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.

If the deliberate header of a U12 or younger player occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infraction occurred. 

CONCUSSIONS:

  • Pursuant to Florida Statutes (FS 943.0438) Florida in 2012 enacted a very stringent Head injury and Concussion Law. If the referee (or assistant referee) believes that, in her/her opinion, a player has suffered a head injury or possible concussion, the match must be stopped IMMEDIATELY.
  • The injured player if able to leave the field on their own must be escorted to their coach, and the coach must be told that the player cannot return for the duration of the match. If a trainer is brought onto the field because the player is incapacitated, the referee must still notify the coach that the player cannot return to the game. It is the responsibility of the coach and the player’s parent(s) or legal guardians to seek medical attention.
  • The player may not resume participation until he/she has been cleared by a medical doctor. The Referee HAS NO FURTHER responsibility beyond removing the player from the match in which the player was injured. The referee crew must ensure, that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES or due to the appeal from any coaching staff that the player is allowed to return to the game

Orthopedic Policy 402.2:

  • b) Orthopedic casts can be worn at any sanctioned FYSA tournament with written approval from a doctor and written permission from a tournament official, final judgement as to its safety is at the discretion of the referee.
    • c) Soft braces can be worn with written approval from a doctor, and judgement as to safety is at the discretion of the referee.

The Technical Area/Box, Laws of the Game, FIFA Rules:

The technical area relates to matches played in game fields with a designated seated area for team officials, substitutes and substituted players as outlined below:

The technical area shall only extend 1m (1yd) on either side of the designated seated area and up to a distance of 1m (1yd) from the touchline

  • markings shall be used to define the area, temporary or Permanent.
  • the number of persons permitted to occupy the technical area is defined by the competition rules
  • the occupants of the technical area:

Are identified before the start of the match in accordance with the competition rules must behave in a responsible manner must remain within its confines except in special circumstances, e.g., a physiotherapist/doctor entering the field of play, with the referee’s permission, to assess an injured player

Only one person at a time is authorized to convey tactical instructions from the technical area