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>Referees and Zero Tolerance Policy

REFEREES AND ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

• All coaches, all assistant coaches, all trainers, all players, and all spectators shall support and encourage the referee before, during, and after the game. Failure to do so undermines the referee's authority and could create a hostile environment for everyone, including participants in other matches or those waiting for their turn to play next. Consequently NYSA adheres to and administers a "ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY". 

NO ONE IS TO ADDRESS THE REFEREE DURING THE
GAME ! ! !  

Allowable exceptions for Coaches/Assistant Coaches:    

During the game:

• Responding to a referee initiating a communication.
• Making substitutions.
• Pointing out emergencies or safety issues.  

At half time or at the end of the game:

• Asking a referee in a polite and positive way to explain a call or decision.
• Giving polite, friendly, and positive feedback to a referee.  

ABSOLUTELY NO HARASSMENT, SARCASM, OR INTIMIDATION WILL BE TOLERATED AT ANY TIME ! ! !  

Penalties to Coaches/Assistant Coaches:   Minor/Serious Infractions:

• 1st minor infraction - Referee should ignore.
• 2nd minor infraction - Referee should issue a verbal warning.
• 3rd minor infraction - Referee should issue a caution (yellow card).
• 4th minor infraction - Referee should issue an ejection (red card).  

• 1st serious infraction - Referee should issue a caution (yellow card) or ejection (red card) depending on the seriousness of infraction per FIFA.
• 2nd serious infraction - Referee should issue a caution (yellow card) or ejection (red card) depending on the seriousness of infraction per FIFA.  

Accumulation of two cautions (yellow cards) in one match is equivalent to an ejection (red card).  

Allowable exceptions for spectators:  

During the game:

• Responding to a referee initiating a communication.
• Pointing out emergencies or safety issues.  

At halftime or at the end of the game:

• Giving polite, friendly, and positive feedback to a referee.  

Penalties to Spectators:

• 1st infraction - Referee should stop the game and ask the coach to quiet the offending spectator.
• 2nd infraction - referee should stop the game, issue a verbal warning to the offending spectator's coach, and ask the coach to warn the spectator that the next infraction will be an ejection or possibly abandon the game.
• 3rd infraction - The referee shall instruct the coach to direct the spectator to leave the field immediately. The referee should abandon the game immediately if the spectator does not leave or returns.

COMMUNICATIONS AMONG PLAYERS AND REFEREES ARE GOVERNED BY THE FIFA LAWS OF THE GAME.  

REFEREE SUPPORT:      

Everyone, especially coaches and assistant coaches, shall provide support and encouragement to the referees at all times.

• Coaches are responsible for assistant coaches, players, spectators, and their own behavior
• Any coach who does not comply with a referee's request to deal with a spectator shall be issued a misconduct penalty as deemed appropriate by the referee
• Anyone responsible for the verbal and/or physical assault of a referee before, during, or after a game will be subject to review and appropriate punishment by the Board of Directors.
• Any team that refuses to provide the name and address of the responsible person(s) for the verbal and/or physical assault of a referee will also be subject to review and appropriate punishment by the Board of Directors.