Long Island Junior Soccer League Zero
Tolerance Policy
Long Island Junior
Soccer League
Zero Tolerance Policy
Purpose
To help
prevent physical assault and verbal abuse during sanctioned events the
Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), has adopted a ZERO TOLERANCE
POLICY. This policy applies to all coaches, players, parents, spectators
and other supporters and referees effective immediately.
Abusive
and obscene language, violent play/conduct, fighting and other behavior
(including, but not limited to sarcasm, taunting, etc.) deemed
detrimental to the game will not be tolerated. The ultimate
responsibility for the actions of coaches, players and spectators
resides with all LIJSL member clubs. It is the responsibility of the
coaches to provide referee support and spectator control, and it is the
responsibility of the LIJSL member club to provide instructions to their
coaches on how to implement sportsmanlike behavior.
This policy
applies before, during and after the sanctioned event at the soccer
field and its immediate surrounding areas.
Remember; the referee
does not have to show a yellow card before showing a red card.
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.
Additionally, parents and spectators shall not make derogatory
comments to players, spectators or coaches 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 which will result in the offending team forfeiting
the game and being assessed the appropriate fees and/or fines.
The
ultimate responsibility for the actions of the spectators resides with
LIJSL member clubs. Clubs will be held accountable for the actions of
their parents/spectators and may be subject to penalties and/or fines
for grievous actions. A club taking NO action with a parent/spectator
after being issued a warning by LIJSL may be put in bad standing with
LIJSL. Additionally a team, player or coach may be suspended from all
future competitions until such time appropriate action has been taken
with the parent/spectator to the satisfaction of the LIJSL.
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 or LIJSL
but may in no case be less severe than penalties established by FIFA,
USSF, ENY or the LIJSL. In severe cases of unsporting behavior and
violent conduct players will be called into a hearing with either LIJSL
arbitration and or the LIJSL supervisory committee with his/her coach
and/or parents for further disciplinary action. A club may also be fined
for such matters. A player called to a hearing that does not appear,
will be suspended from play until such time of appearance.
Coaches, Assistant Coaches & Trainers
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, trainers and parents/spectators.
As role
models for all of the participants and spectators, coaches participating
in a LIJSL, ENYYSA or USYSA 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 game. By
example, coaches, assistant coaches and trainers 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 Long Island
Junior Soccer League 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 disciplinary action by the Long Island Junior
Soccer League. Additional sanctions may be imposed by the club that the
coach or assistant coach represents, or as allowed by Long Island Junior
Soccer League policies.
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:
a. Respond to a referee who
has initiated a conversation.
b. Point out emergency or safety
issues.
c. Make substitutions.
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 referee(s) once the game has concluded.
Penalties (Coaches,
Assistant Coaches, Trainers)
In the opinion of the referee,
depending on the severity of the offense, the referee may take any of
the following actions:
a. The referee may issue a verbal warning
to the offending coach, assistant coach or trainer.
b. The
referee may eject the offending coach, assistant coach or trainer. Once
ejected, the individual will be required to leave the field immediately.
c. The referee should abandon the game, if the coach, assistant
coach or trainer does 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 trainer may
be assessed by an LIJSL member club in accordance with their documented
policy. These penalties may be no less stringent than sanctions and/or
fines as may be imposed by LIJSL following a review of the incident.
All cases of alleged assault of a referee shall be reported to the
ENYYSA Office and State Referee Administrator within 48 hours of the
match. LIJSL will also conduct a verification of the complaint and
subsequent actions and may at their discretion impose additional
penalties to the coach, assistant coach, trainer and or club.
LIJSL member clubs are responsible for the behavior of their coaches,
assistant coaches, and trainers at all times.
Games Disbanded
Prior to the Conclusion by the Referee:
When a game is disbanded
by the referee prior to it’s conclusion due to unsporting behavior on
the part of one or both teams, the LIJSL will conduct an investigation
and will issue a forfeit to either one or both teams and possibly from
further competitions. The offending club(s) will also be assessed a fine
which must be paid prior to the next team registration or the LIJSL
member club will be put in bad standing with LIJSL. In cases of extreme
unsportsmanlike behavior, in the opinion of the LIJSL, a team, player,
coach, assistant coach or trainer may be banned from any further LIJSL
or ENY sanctioned events and competitions.
Suspension, Banning of
Players, Parents/Spectators, Coaches, Assistant Coaches or Trainers
If a player, parent/spectator, coach,
assistant coach or trainer is suspended/banned by LIJSL or any LIJSL
member club he/she is not be allowed to participate or have any
interaction with their team until they are reinstated. If a player,
parent/spectator, coach, assistant coach or trainer is suspended they
are suspended from all LIJSL and ENY sanctioned events.
If a player, parent/spectator, coach, assistant coach or trainer
wishes to attend a tournament they may request a temporary pass in
writing from either the player or coach arbitration committee. The
arbitration committees reserve the right to refuse to issue a temporary
pass for a tournament if the suspension has resulted from a grievous
action or the issuance of a temporary pass could endanger the health,
welfare and safety of those attending the tournament. Tournament games
missed will not be considered as part of the suspension.
LIJSL as
a youth organization reserves the right to suspend/ban any participant
that endangers the health, welfare and safety of its membership.
