Discipline and Protest

Section # 1

Sanction Determinations

All sanctions will be determined based on those reports submitted to the commissioner by the referees, the coaches, and other key witnesses at the game. It is requested that all reports be as precise and as concise as possible. The submitted reports will be your testimony to the commissioner and will allow the commissioner to afford those involved their due process during the determination process; so it is essential that all reports be submitted in a timely manner (i.e. within 24 hours of the match). Reports will be turned in at the soccer complex office.

“In-house” Hearings

An individual is required to attend an in-house meeting for any of the occurrences listed below. This meeting may be with the commissioner, the league president and/or the formal D&P committee. Except where stated differently, the individual is not permitted to participate in (player) or be in attendance at (coach, spectator) any games played by the team until after attending an in-house meeting and being notified of the determination. In fairness, it will be expected that the matter be resolved in a timely manner.

• For assault against a referee. These individual(s) involved may not participate in any league functions (i.e. team practices, team games, etc.) until being notified of the determination.
• After receiving a second dismissal (spectator or coach) or a third send-off (player) within the GYSA calendar year that runs from July 1 through June 30.
• For abuse to a referee
• For assault against a participant. These individual(s) involved may not participate in any league functions (i.e. team practices, team games, etc.) until being notified of the determination.


Suspension Guidelines

Coach or Spectator Dismissal Requirements:
For disciplinary sanctions, a coach is defined as any active official of the team (coach, trainer, manager, etc.). This includes any person who is officially representing the team by being in the immediate vicinity of the players’ bench: either in or near the “technical area”. Any coach or spectator that is removed during a game must, immediately and completely, remove himself or herself from sight and sound of the field of play, and may not return to the field until after the players and referees have left the field of play.
A coach dismissed from a game may not attempt to communicate with anyone at or near the field during the remainder of the game. This includes the use of notes, cell phones, walkie-talkies, runners, etc. A coach or spectator removed from a match cannot attend the next officially scheduled and played game (excluding scrimmages), this includes pregame and post-game activities, nor may the coach attempt to  communicate with anyone at or near the field during the game. If this “sit-out” game is not played to completion, then they are required to sit out the rematch, when rescheduled, in the same manner. If the individual receives any additional suspensions, then the above applies to those games as well.

Player Send-Off Requirements:
A sent-off player is expected to, immediately and completely, remove him or herself from sight and sound of the field of play, and may not return to the field until after the players and referees have left the field of play. With the permission of the referee, the player may remain at the game in the technical area under the supervision of a team official. A sent-off player must attend the next officially scheduled and played game (excluding scrimmages), sitting with his or her teammates and dressed in street clothes, before the player can play in another match for that team. If this “sit-out” game is not played to completion, then the player is required to sit out the re-match, when rescheduled, in the same manner. If the player receives any additional suspensions, then the above applies to those games as well. Please note that this suspension carries over to the next season, if the send-off happened during the last game of the previous season. The game suspension continues until the player serves his/her penalty.