The philosophy of BCSA is players want to play games. Parents want to see their children play games. The players will not improve their skill level by not playing games.
Teams must be registered with New York State West Youth Soccer Association (NYSWYSA) or an approved National State Association affiliated with the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA).
All games shall be officiated by referees who are registered with USSF.
The spring season will run from April through June. The schedule is designed with the following factors considered:
- Availability of players to play games
- Travel time of teams
- Field availability
- Referee availability
- Conflicts with school events
- State Cup, President Cup and Cup play down matches
- Club or team requests
- All teams will play 8 games.
The participation fee in the BCSA Spring League is $60 per team for teams using Binghamton Group Soccer Referees (BGSR) for assigning referees to games and $35 per team for teams using another referee assignor or referee association. All Under 8 teams are charged $35 regardless of which referee association is used. BCSA reserves the right to charge a higher participation fee to teams entering from state associations other than NYSWYSA if there are associated costs with accepting those teams. BCSA will pay the assigning fee for clubs using BGSR as established in the current contract. The league fee, regardless of cost, must be paid on or before the date of the annual coaches meeting, typically held in mid-March. Fee must be paid to “BCSA” with a single club check for all teams entering the league from that club and must be delivered to the league treasurer. If the fee is not paid with a “club” check, the club name must appear on the memo field of the check. Failure to pay this fee will result in the club being put in bad standing with the league at the next scheduled meeting. Other than BGSR, referee associations that provide referees for BCSA league games may charge an assigning fee to member clubs whom they serve. It is not the responsibility of the league to track which teams have paid participation fees, only how much was paid by each club.
Fines are assessed to member clubs throughout the season due to performance deficiencies of teams and players registered with said club. These fines are due within 14 days of the date the fine was incurred. Fines may be paid by either a club check or personal check from the offending party but in all circumstances must be made out to “BCSA” and mailed to the league treasurer. All fine payments MUST be accompanied with a notation of the game number (if appropriate), team, and player (if a send off) for whom the fine is being paid. This notation can either be on the memo line of the check or as a separate note included with the payment. BCSA assumes no responsibility for payments made without proper notation included.
The club shall be responsible for any checks from participating members that are not honored by the financial institution upon which the check was drawn. Any checks returned to BCSA from a financial institution shall incur a $50 service fee that will be added to the fine or participation fee originally charged. The league may refuse to accept any future payments made from said participant or financial institution at the discretion of the treasurer.
A player’s age is determined by policies set forth by USSF, USYSA and the USYSA state associations.
Under 8, Under 10 and Under 12 have no roster limits. The roster is a “recreational roster,” must be in the state approved format, and be approved by the club registrar.
All other rosters must be “certified rosters” and as such must meet the certification criteria established by the USYSA state youth association in which the team is domiciled. Certified rosters must bear a state stamp, seal or signature of approval.
Any changes and/or questions regarding team rosters shall be submitted to the League Coordinator.
A player may play for more than one team provided the requirements of USYSA and the National State Association the player is registered with for multiple registrations are met. In BCSA however, no player can play for more than one team at the same level of competition. Level of competition in BCSA in this case means a player cannot be simultaneously rostered for 2 different teams in the same division. This restriction does not apply to U8, U10 and U12 teams.
A maximum of three non-players or non-substitutes will be allowed on the team side of the field. Anyone who is not a player on the team MUST have a valid USYSA State Association Risk Management pass. Furthermore, there must be one adult (age of 21 years or greater) on the team side of the field the entire time the team that they are with are on the field, including the warm-up time before the match until all of the players leave the field. Any youth coaches on the team side MUST carry a valid USYSA State Association Risk Management pass which identifies them as an Under 21 coach. Should the league subsequently find that a youth coach is participating with an adult Risk Management pass, it will be carry the same penalty as a send off from the match. The league also reserves the right to take further action against the club that sponsored the team.
If, however, any player that is classified as Under 11 or below is playing for any team that is Under 12 or above, that player IS NOT ALLOWED to head the ball either in practices or in games. Neither the league nor match officials can possibly enforce this rule therefore it is up to the coach and the player’s parents or guardians to carefully instruct that player to avoid heading the ball at all times. The risk of concussion to any player that is Under 11 or below is significantly greater than it will be to his or her teammates that are Under 12 or above in this situation. The responsibility for enforcement of this policy rests squarely and solely with the club that is sponsoring the team and that team’s coaches and parents. BCSA will not be liable for any injuries sustained by a young player put into that situation by the sponsoring club, it’s coaching staff or the parents or guardians of said player.
All players (on teams older than U12) must have a player’s pass bearing the approved mark of the USYSA State Association Registrar, and sealed with a photo of the player that is no more than 2 years old, in order to participate in any BCSA game and/or be on the team sideline. The pass need not be signed by the player.
TEAM OFFICIALS PASSES:
All team officials must possess a valid USYSA State Association Risk Management Pass. If a team official comes from a state that either does not have a Risk Management program or if the team officials is less than 21 years old and cannot obtain a Risk Management pass from their home state, they must apply to NYSWYSA for a pass in order to be on the team sideline during any BCSA match.
If a team official is 21 years of age or older, he or she must possess a valid USYSA State Association Risk Management pass, bearing the approved mark of the USYSA State Association Risk Management officer, signed by the team official, sealed with a photo of the team official that is no
more than 2 years old.
If the team official is less than 21 years of age, the team official must possess a valid USYSA State Association Risk Management pass, bearing the approved mark of the USYSA State Association Risk Management officer, signed by the team official, and stamped by the State Risk Management Officer indicating that the team official is not as yet of age. A photograph of the team official does not need to be affixed to the pass in this case.
No game may start or continue unless there is at least one team official for each team that possesses a valid Risk Management pass and is 21 years of age or older present on the team’s sideline.
PLAYERS AND TEAM OFFICIAL PASSES AND GAME ROSTERS:
Teams that are participating in any age group that is Under 12 or below must present the referee crew with a recreational roster in the format approved by their home state association. Teams that are participating in any age group that is Under 14 or above must present the referee crew with a USYSA State Association certified (or official) team roster listing all players. Referees are to check to be certain that the passes and the roster match. Guest players are not allowed to participate in any BCSA match. At the conclusion of the match the roster will be returned to a team official. Any team official may be on the team sideline without being on the roster however they MUST have a valid USYSA State Association Risk Management pass. BCSA does not at any point freeze team rosters during the season.
There are no exceptions to the rules regarding passes and rosters above except as stated herein. Rules regarding passes are not to be interpreted and must be strictly enforced by all referees at all BCSA league games, including the games on opening weekend.
Any team appearing without full documentation shall be deemed as forfeiting the game and will be fined the forfeit penalty plus applicable referees fees per occurrence except as noted below. Any individuals who do not possess a valid pass will not be allowed to remain on the team side of the field.
In the event that a team appears at a game site with passes but without the certified roster, a neatly printed roster with the players’ names and pass numbers shall given to the referee who, in turn, will file a report with the League Coordinator attaching said roster to the report. A $5 fine will be imposed on the team for each such instance. NOTE: This rule exception only applies if the all players have USYSA State Association passes.
There will be a 15 minute grace period at the beginning of the match for each team and team official to present their required documentation or the game shall be deemed a forfeit to all parties who were unable to provide the proper and required documentation. The game shall not start until the documentation is complete. If a team official at the game site refuses to provide said documentation AND said team is not at full strength BUT has enough players to start the match (typically 7), the referee shall have the authority to abandon the match and the match shall be considered a forfeit.
DOCUMENTATION SHALL NOT BE USED AS A DELAYING TACTIC. If a team official is not normally going to be the person responsible for providing the required documentation, they must carry with them a photocopy of all pertinent documentation that may be used to check the team into the match should the person who normally carries the documentation be delayed arriving at the match site, BUT the originals of all of the required documentation must be provided at halftime or the match shall be deemed a forfeit. In said case the match may be completed as a scrimmage. In any case, the team officials must always have the original risk management pass. No photocopy of said Risk Management document will be considered valid.
If for whatever reason, a team is unable to have an adult with a valid Risk Management pass on the team side of the field at any point during a match, the game shall be terminated and considered a forfeit by said team with all the penalties that any forfeit implies.
NOTE: Adults who are properly on the sideline with the team will be responsible for the actions of all members of the team; including youth team officials. Should an adult team official refuse or be unable to control the actions of his or her team, the game shall be terminated and the adult team official will automatically be penalized for failure to control the bench area. This penalty shall be the same as if the team official had been sent off from the match.
REFEREES’ PASSES:
All referees that are assigned to officiate BCSA league matches are required by USSF to be certified in the current year and assigned to said match by a USSF Certified Assignor; and are required by NYSWYSA to have a current and valid risk management pass. Referees on BCSA matches within the boundaries of NYSWYSA are also required by NYSWYSA to possess said pass at all games they officiate. If the referee is an adult, the pass must bear the seal of the USYSA State Association Risk Management officer, be sealed with a photograph of the referee that is not more than 2 years old and be signed by the referee. If the referee is not as yet 21 years old, the pass must still bear the signature of the USYSA State Association Risk Management officer and stamped that the referee is not as yet of age, but need not be signed by nor bear any photograph of the referee.
Under certain conditions described below, a coach or other adult bench personnel who is listed on the team roster may request to see the referees’ passes.
- The team official must first present the team roster and his or her Risk Management pass to the referee so that the referee can validate that the team official is allowed to make the request.
- The match must be taking place within the territorial boundaries of NYSWYSA. A team official has no right to see the passes of any referees outside of those boundaries regardless of where said referee is domiciled. Should such a request be made, the team will be completely responsible for any action the league takes because of said inappropriate request or subsequent actions of the team officials or the team.
- The team official must request to see the passes prior to his or her team taking the field at the start of the match. No request made after that time shall be honored and may be construed by the referee as irresponsible behavior by the team official and punished as such by both the referee and BCSA.
- If the referee does not have his or her pass with them, the team official has several options:
- Since referees are required to be assigned to matches by a USSF certified assignor, and all certified assignors have a listing of all referees’ risk management status, and are prohibited by NYSWYSA to assign an official to any match that does not possess a valid risk management pass; it can be assumed that the referee does possess a pass but neglected to bring it to the game.
- The team official may decide to play the game with said referee and report the absence of a referee pass to the state association. The league does not have the authority to take any action in said cases, but should be informed of the action via email to the League Coordinator. Such action will not be considered grounds for a protest of the match result, any incidents that took place during the match nor decisions made by the game officials during the match.
- The team official may decide to not allow said referee to participate. If there are no other adults with a current risk management pass in attendance at the game who are willing to take said referee’s place, the game will be abandoned with no penalty to the team but said match MUST be rescheduled according to BCSA policies which may involve a financial risk to the team if the game is not so rescheduled. Note that by USSF policy under no circumstances can an uncertified volunteer in said circumstance replace the center referee. They can only assume the position of a club lines person. The team official can report the absence of a referee pass to NYSWYSA. The league does not have the authority to take any action in said cases, but should be informed of the action via email to the League Coordinator.
- The team official may decide to not play the game. Note that any match played without a certified official assigned to the match in accordance with USSF policies cannot in any way be treated as an official match by BCSA. In said instances, the team will not be penalized for refusing to play the match BUT may be penalized if the match is not rescheduled according to BCSA policies. The team official can report the absence of a referee pass to NYSWYSA. The league does not have the authority to take any action in said cases, but should be informed of the action via email to the League Coordinator.
Investigation of player eligibility shall not be construed as a protest. For the good of youth soccer and BCSA, any questions concerning player eligibility must be reported within 5 days of the match in question. If it is found that an ineligible player checked into any match, all matches that player checked into shall be deemed to be forfeits by the team that checked said player in. This includes players in excess of the check-in limits for any game.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL GAME RESCHEDULES CONSIST OF A GAME CANCELLATION AND A GAME SCHEDULING.
After the 2-week grace period, each team can make only 3 changes as long as the League Coordinator receives notification of the cancellation of the original match at least 14 days prior to that scheduled game to be changed.
No request to cancel a game will be honored by the league with less than 14 days notice unless the requesting team’s club president requests the change of the league president explaining the nature of the emergency and the league president agrees to allow the emergency change. If this permission is not obtained, the game shall be either played or deemed a forfeit.
THERE IS ONE EXCEPTION TO THE ABOVE RULE THAT INVOLVES TEAMS THAT ARE ENTERED INTO THE USYSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (NCS.) To be considered for this exception, you MUST comply as follows:
- There are two types of teams that may be exempt to the 14 day rule:
- A team that is using BCSA as their qualifying league for the NCS.
- A team that has dual rostered players on their BCSA roster that are also rostered on a team that has entered the NCS and the BCSA team would not be able to field a legal team on a date those players are not available due to NCS commitments.
- In both of these cases, the team must check the "State Cup" checkbox when entering the league, and they will be automatically placed in the highest level competition of their age group regardless if the “high” checkbox is selected or not.
- In both of these cases, the team will be exempt from league forfeit and expulsion fines for games that need to be rescheduled due to NCS play, BUT will still be responsible for paying late game cancellation and late game scheduling fees as per league policy.
- If the team is not able to change the game to a date that they can play, a 0-1 loss will be recorded on the game against that team at the end of the season.
To reschedule a game the team coach or manager MUST:
- Contact the opposing team and mutually agree to cancel the original game and schedule a make-up game and notify the League Coordinator and Age Group Coordinator of the decision to cancel. (Remember-All game changes will consist of a game cancellation and a game scheduling. Either or both of these acts may involve fines.)
- Contact the Field Coordinator for the game field to get dates and times the field may be available.
- Arrange a make-up date acceptable to both teams and notify all persons listed above in a reasonable time cycle prior to the new date. Failure to notify the league in the proper time cycle will result in a fine.
- For each game not made up, there will be a forfeit and fine will be assessed to the team or teams refusing or unwilling to make up the game. The check for this fine is made payable to BCSA and sent to the BCSA Treasurer.
- If the fine is not paid, the club sponsoring that team will be deemed ‘not in good standing’, which will prevent that club from entering any teams in any BCSA league until the fine is paid.
All make-up games must be scheduled for a specified date within 2 weeks from the date of the decision to cancel. The game does not have to be played within the 2 weeks, but the new date must be established and recorded with the Age Group Coordinator within 2 weeks of the original game date. A forfeit fine will be paid by the team or teams refusing or unwilling to make up or reschedule the game. The check for this fine is made payable to BCSA and sent to the BCSA Treasurer.
If two teams decide to use State Cup matches or any local outdoor tournament as a BCSA league game, this decision on the part of both teams must be in writing to the League Coordinator before the Cup or tournament game takes place. Note: Prior to making this decision remember that tournament rosters generally allow up to 3 guest players (this means that the team roster for the tournament game may differ from the Spring League roster.) Also one should consider that the rules for the tournament will take precedence in that game.
WIN = 3 points LOSS = 0 points TIE = 1 point
No score or standings are kept for Under 8 or Under 10 games.
Both team coaches are responsible for filing a game report for each match played in age groups above the Under 10 level. This report must be filed on-line at the internet address which will be provided to each coach by the respective Age Group Coordinators. Failure to report a match shall result in a $5 fine assessed to any team not reporting any match. The match report will consist of the game score and a feedback form for each assigned referee. Each week, every game that is completed by Sunday midnight must be reported by 9:00 pm on Monday night immediately following that Sunday.
If teams are tied at the end of the season and they played 85% of their games, the division winner will be the winner of the head to head game. If the head to head game(s) was (were) indecisive then both teams will be declared champions. Score differential does not matter in BCSA standings. If one team forfeits, the result will be a 1-0 score for the team not forfeiting. If both teams are at fault, the result will be a 0-1 result for both teams.
If a team disbands or for any reason has not played 85% of its scheduled games, the games that the team played will not count for or against opposing teams.
Example: A team has an eight game schedule and played only three games that were all wins. The losing teams will drop those losses from their record. If the three games were all losses, the winning teams would drop the wins from their record.
BCSA will provide 21 tees for each team that wins in an Under 12 Division and 25 tees for each team that wins a U14 or higher division in the spring league. These tees will be made available to the club sponsoring the team but it is the responsibility of each club to collect those tees from the league coordinator.
Coaches and players are encouraged to report instances of violations of this policy. Reports of raiding must include the date that the activity happened and will be acted upon with the coaches and clubs involved. It is the intent of BCSA to promote and maintain competitiveness and balance among clubs/teams, avoiding select mentality.
- Stop the match.
- Summon help.
- Inform the coach that a head injury occurred.
- If the player is reentering the match, ask if the player has been cleared by a healthcare professional.
- If the answer is no, do not allow the entry. If the coach protests, remind the coach that the referee has the authority to terminate the match. If the coach persists, terminate the match.
- If the answer is yes, request a copy of the clearance that can be filed with the match report to the league. This could be as simple as a phone photo! Then allow the re-entry. If no clearance can be provided, then do not allow the entry. If the coach protests, remind the coach that the referee has the authority to terminate the match. If the coach persists, terminate the match.
- Should a team official notice such an incident, they need to get the attention of the referee immediately so that the protocol can be followed.
- Referees are reminded that a USSF report must be filed for any serious injury and any game that does not reach it’s natural conclusion. Any incident involving hard head contact is deemed to be a serious injury. Reports of this nature are critical and must be filed on the evening of the match with the League Coordinator.
- When said report is received by the League Coordinator, a message will be sent to the club that sponsored the team that the injured player is participating with through the club president.
- The club president should use all means available to assure that the player does not return to physical activity until the player has been duly cleared by qualified medical professional. We recommend that the president immediately get the player’s pass and hold it until that has been assured.
The home team is responsible for the proper preparation of their fields. This means that grass must be cut, fields properly lined, goals properly anchored in all areas, corner flags installed, spectator and technical lines clearly visible, no obstacles on the playing field, and that the field is in playable condition. At game time a referee may declare the field unplayable. If unplayable for above reasons, not acts of God, the home team club is responsible for payment of the referees for the canceled game, reporting to the League Coordinator and scheduling a make-up game.
If an occasion should arise that is not fully covered by BCSA Policies and Procedures in any section of the coach’s manual, then the league shall have absolute power to decide that case.
- For purposes of these rules, a match is considered to be the time from when participants begin to arrive at the field until the field and it's surroundings (including the parking area) is cleared of all participants at the conclusion of playing time. This is generally considered to be 30 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time of the match until 30 minutes after the match actually completes. A participant is any player or substitute on either team and all technical staff affiliated in any way with that team. An adult is defined as a person who is 21 years of age or older. The officiating crew is all certified officials and mentors who were assigned to the match. A spectator is defined as anyone that is not a participant or member of the officiating crew that is attending a BCSA match.
- All suspensions carry over from one season to the next season if the penalty was not served during the season when it was imposed.
- If a player is sent off during any match they must sit out the remainder of that match (while their team plays short) plus they cannot be within sight nor sound of that team's next match at that level of competition. In NYSWYSA, level of competition is defined as any game in which that player would play with the pass that he was playing with when the send off was issued. The only competition that is specifically excluded is the USYSA National Championship series. The sit out must be served in whole matches where the total playing time is at least the same amount of time as the full BCSA game in which they were suspended. A player sent off may remain with their team in the technical area but must remain silent for the remainder of the match and must not confront any other participant including any member of the referee crew until the match is complete.
- If a substitute is sent off, they cannot participate further in the match. A substitute sent off may remain with their team in the technical area but must remain silent for the remainder of the match and must not confront any other participant including any member of the officiating crew until the match is complete.
- If an adult participant is sent off, they must leave the sight and sound of the field and must not confront either the officiating crew or any other participant until the match is complete. They must also not be within sight or sound of that team's next match.
- If a youth participant is sent off, they may remain with their team in the technical area but must remain silent for the remainder of the match and must not confront any other participant including any member of the referee crew until the match is complete. They must also not be within sight nor sound of that team's next match.
- Any person sent off or dismissed from a BCSA game will result in that person’s affiliated member club being fined $75 for the first occurrence during a season and $200 for each subsequent occurrence during the season, payable to BCSA. The fine must be paid before the participant can be within the sight or sound of any BCSA match.
- Failure to meet any of the above criteria will result in that participant being immediately expelled from BCSA, fined the expulsion fee and will be considered as having committed a second sending off offense during the same season.
- Any person who is sent off or dismissed more than once during the season shall be expelled from the league until they request and appear at a hearing before a review committee appointed by the President consisting of three or more members. This review committee shall have the power to suspend the person from further participation or reinstate that person's ability to participate in the league. Failure to request or appear at such a hearing shall result in immediate perpetual suspension.
- Any send off issued will result in that person’s State Association pass being sent to the League Coordinator. The pass will be returned after that person has sat out the suspension and paid all fines to BCSA. It is the responsibility of the club to see that this fine is paid to the BCSA Treasurer.
- Strong or vulgar language is punishable for all participants with a send off.
- Any participant who is sent-off or removed from a match shall not communicate with anyone at any match from which they are banned using any means, electronic or otherwise. If it is found that they did, it will be considered a second sending off offense.
- Every member of the organization is responsible for the actions of its coaches, players, officials and spectators during all matches.
- Each coach during the game is responsible for the verbal and physical actions of its team, technical staff and spectators. All players and youth coaches who are sent-off or dismissed from a match shall not be required to leave the team side of the field but must remain silent until the match is complete and all persons in attendance have left the field and its surroundings including the parking area. All said persons are still under the authority of the adult who is present on the sideline and said adult is solely responsible for their actions. If a spectator is ejected, the team shall be fined $75 for each occurrence. If a game is terminated due to the inability of the coach to control the team's spectators, said coach shall automatically considered to have been sent off and all send off fines and penalties shall be applied to said coach.
- There will be a maximum of 3 non-players allowed for each team in the technical area. This includes coaches, assistants, managers, photographers, spectators, trainers and parents. ALL SUCH PERSONS MUST HAVE A VALID USYSA STATE ASSOCIATION RISK MANAGEMENT PASS. IF SUCH A PERSON IS UNDER THE AGE OF 21, SAID PASS MUST IDENTIFY THAT PERSON AS BEING UNDER THE AGE OF 21.
- If participant in a match assaults a referee or an official referee assistant, the state association has sole right and authority to adjudicate the matter. Any such person will be expelled immediately from participating in any BCSA activity for a minimum of one year and the President or League Coordinator of BCSA, having information about such assault will, on completion of an investigation and determination that an assault did occur, immediately notify the proper state association authorities and give them all of the information BCSA has compiled as well as actions taken against said person by the league.
- The President and/or League Coordinator of BCSA retains the right to take additional actions against any participant who has been reported by match officials to the league of irresponsible or inappropriate behavior based on the severity or volume of the actions reported.
Not only is this type of behavior contrary to the spirit of the game and examples we are trying to set for the participating youth, it also creates situations which could place BCSA in bad standing with New York State West thereby threatening the continuation of high level competition in the Southern Tier of New York.
While BCSA does not dictate the internal administrative rules and regulations of member clubs, it must provide the framework for governing undesirable behavior within which member clubs must administer their teams.
Players are expected to perform in a manner consistent with the principles of good sportsmanship. Coaches and spectators should act in a manner which reinforces this concept. While aggressive play should not be discouraged, physical and/or verbal abuse of opponents will not be allowed. Verbal or gesticulative dissent with referee’s decisions will not be tolerated.
If carded, a player is expected to observe the presentation of the card without comment, and the player should be determined not to repeat the behavior which elicited the card. Coaches, parents and spectators must also show respect in disagreeing with referees’ decisions. While one cannot expect all referee calls to be accepted without reservation, loud or abusive dissent is unwarranted and reprehensible.
Under no circumstances should a player, parent or spectator come onto the field unless invited by the referee. The same level of constraint should be observed after the game is over. Parents and spectators should be made aware that the coach is responsible for their actions on the sideline, and can be warned, sent off or suspended from future games for their misbehavior.
Member clubs will ensure that the approach to playing the game, which is discussed above, is fully disseminated and understood throughout their club. Member clubs will also establish internal procedures, consistent with each clubs’ regulatory process, which provide for suitable controls and punishment for proscribed behavior.
Each club must also ensure that, as warranted by specific events, swift and appropriate action is taken to ensure that members of its club do not repeat their mistakes. Repetition of occurrences of misconduct which shows a disregard for these guidelines could lead to long term penalties.
BCSA Board of Directors
NYSWYSA is and will always be, a place where all races, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations can come together and feel welcome to enjoy the game of soccer, compete and grow together. Our organization maintains the highest standards and all our players, parents and coaches are expected to demonstrate the utmost level of respect and sportsmanship.
The use of racial epithets and offensive language has no place in NYSWYSA. Use of racial epithets and other insensitive language is especially harmful for members of underrepresented groups. Permitting such language is incongruous to the culture of respect, dignity and belonging we strive to create for all athletes, staff and volunteers who support our youth.
It is the responsibility of the coaches to provide referee support and spectator control, and it is the responsibility of the member clubs to provide instructions to their coaches on how they are expected to carry this out. This policy applies before, during and after the game at the soccer field and its immediate surrounding areas.
Parents & Spectators
No parent or spectator shall persistently address the referee or assistant referees at any time. This includes,but is not limited to:
- Parents and spectators shall not dispute calls during or after the game.
- Parents and spectators shall not make remarks to the referee(s) or advise the referee(s) to watch
certain players or attend to rough play. - Parents and spectators shall never yell at the referee(s), including criticism, sarcasm, harassment, intimidation or feedback of any kind before, during or after the game.
- Parents and spectators may respond to a referee who has initiated a conversation, until such time as the referee terminates the conversation.
- Parents and spectators may point out an emergency or safety issues, such as a player apparently injured on the field or observed fighting.
- Additionally, parents and spectators shall not make derogatory comments to players of either team.
Penalties (Parents & Spectators)
In the opinion of the referee, depending on the severity of the offense, the referee may take any of the following actions:
- The referee may issue a verbal warning to the coach of offending party’s team.
- The referee may stop the game and instruct the coaches to direct the parent / spectator to leave the field.
- The referee may abandon the game if the parent/spectator does not leave the field.
- Players
The conduct of the players is governed by the Laws of the Game as stated by FIFA and USSF. The Laws themselves describe penalties associated with violating the Laws of the Game.
Additional penalties for players who engage in misconduct may be established by the club and/or league but may in no case be less severe than penalties established by FIFA, USSF, or NYSWYSA.
Coaches, Assistant Coaches & Bench Personnel
It is the responsibility of all coaches to maintain the highest standards of conduct for themselves, their players and supporters in all matches. Failure to do so undermines the referee’s authority and the integrity of the game resulting in a hostile environment for players, the referee(s), coaches, assistant coaches, bench personnel and spectators. As role models for all of the participants and spectators, coaches participating in a New York State West Youth Soccer Association sanctioned event are expected to be supportive of, and to acknowledge the effort, good play and sportsmanship on the part of ALL players from either team in a contest. By example, coaches, assistant coaches and bench personnel are expected to show that although they are competing in a game, they have respect for their opponent, referees and spectators at all times. The New York State West Youth Soccer Association will not tolerate negative behavior exhibited either by demonstrative actions and gestures, or by ill-intentioned remarks, including those addressed toward the referees or members of an opposing team.
Coaches exhibiting hostile, negative, sarcastic or otherwise ill-intended behavior toward referees, opposing players or coaches will be subject to sanction by the match official. Additional sanctions may be imposed by the club that the coach or assistant coach represents, the league that the match is being played under, or as allowed by New York State West Youth Soccer Association policies after a review of the match report.Coaches shall not interact directly or indirectly with the coaches or players of the opposing team during the game in any manner that may be construed as negative, hostile or sarcastic either by way of demonstrative actions and gestures or by ill-intentioned remarks.
- Coaches shall not interact directly or indirectly with the coaches or players of the opposing team during the game in any manner that may be construed as negative, hostile or sarcastic either by way of demonstrative actions and gestures or by ill-intentioned remarks.
- Coaches shall not offer dissent to any call made by the referee(s) at any time.
- Coaches are not to address the Referee(s) during the game except to:
- Respond to a referee who has initiated a conversation.
- Point out emergency or safety issues.
- Make substitutions.
- Ask the referee, “What is the proper restart (i.e. direction and Indirect Free Kick or Direct Free Kick).
- Ask for the time remaining in the half.
- Coaches are allowed to ask a referee after a game or during the halftime interval, in a polite and constructive way, to explain a law or foul, but not judgment calls made in the game.
- Polite and friendly concern can be exchanged with the referee. If the polite tone of the conversation changes, the referee may abandon the exchange at any time.
- Absolutely no sarcasm, harassment or intimidation is allowed. NOTE: It is recommended that coaches or other team members do not engage in any conversation with the match official once the match has concluded.
Penalties (Coaches, Assistant Coaches & Bench Personnel)
In the opinion of the referee, depending on the severity of the offense, the referee may take any of the following actions:
- The referee may issue a verbal warning to the offending coach, assistant coach or bench personnel.
- The referee may eject the offending coach, assistant coach or bench personnel. Once ejected, the individual will be required to leave the field immediately.
- The referee should abandon the game, if the coach, assistant coach or bench personnel do not leave the field or any immediate adjoining area after having been instructed to do so.
Additional penalties associated with the ejection of a coach, assistant coach or bench personnel may be assessed by the local club or league which sanctioned the match in accordance with their documented policy. These penalties may be no less stringent than sanctions as may be imposed by NYSWYSA following their review, if conducted, of the incident.
All cases of alleged abuse or assault of a referee shall be reported to the NYSWYSA State Office and State Referee Administrator within 48 hours of the match that engendered said behavior. NYSWYSA will then conduct a verification of the complaint and subsequent actions as required by applicable sections of USSF Policy in effect at the time of the incident.
Although NYSWYSA is continually bound by USSF Policy and its various revisions, definition of referee abuse and referee assault found in USSF Policy 531-9 as of the creation date of this Zero Tolerance Policy is offered by way of information as follows:
- 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 that implies or threatens physical harm; spewing any beverage on a referee’s physical property; or spitting at (but not on) the referee.
- Referee Assault is an intentional act of physical violence at or upon a referee.
- For purposes of this Policy, “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 act are irrelevant.
- Assault includes, but is not limited to the following acts committed upon a referee: hitting, kicking, punching, choking, spitting on, grabbing or bodily running into a referee; head butting; 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.