Rules and Disciplinary Policy

Definitions:

Ejection of a player shall mean that the player shall not be allowed to play for the remainder of that game.

Ejection of a parent or coach shall mean that the parent or coach shall remove himself/herself entirely from the spectator area for the balance of the ongoing game.

Suspension of a player shall mean that the player shall not play for one or more of the next games.

Suspension of a parent or coach shall mean that the parent or coach shall not be present in the spectator area for one or more of the next games.

Expulsion of a player shall mean that the player shall not be allowed to play for the remainder of the season.

Expulsion of a parent or coach shall mean that the parent or coach shall not be present in the spectator area for the remainder of the season.

Forfeiture of a game shall mean that the game shall be immediately ended and the non-offending team shall be declared the winner of the game.

Laws of the Game shall mean the FIFA Laws of the Game as amended by Middletown Youth Soccer, Inc.

Imposition of Penalties:

The penalties of ejection, suspension, expulsion and forfeiture may be imposed by referees, coaches, directors, and/or the Board of Directors of Middletown Youth Soccer, Inc. as follows:

Referees may eject any player, parent or coach from any game for any major infraction of the Code of Conduct. Minor infractions of the Code of Conduct should generally be handled as follows:

1st minor infraction: Referee should ignore

2nd minor infraction: Referee should issue a verbal warning

3rd minor infraction: Referee should issue a caution

4th minor infraction: Referee should issue an ejection

Referees may declare a game forfeited as follows:

Whenever a player, parent or coach, after being ejected, refuses to remove himself/herself from the spectator area.
Whenever as a result of a major infraction of the Code of Conduct the referee believes that his/her safety or the safety of any player, coach or parent is at risk.

Referees may suspend any player in the A, B, L and M divisions for one game for any violation of the Laws of the Game justifying the imposition of a red card. The referee shall notify the coach of the offending player’s team of the suspension and it shall be the responsibility of the coach to ensure that the offending player does not play in the next game.

Coaches may suspend any player on their team for one game for any serious infraction of the Code of Conduct.

Directors may suspend any player, parent or coach in their division for one game for any violation of the Code of Conduct.

Suspensions of more than one game and expulsions may be ordered by the Board of Directors. Any director, coach or referee who believes that any coach, parent or player has committed a serious infraction of the Code of Conduct may request that the Board of Directors consider suspension or expulsion by notifying any director of the infraction and requesting that the Board consider suspension or expulsion. The Board of Directors shall promptly hold a meeting to consider an appropriate sanction and may, but is not required to do so, allow the person and/or the person making the complaint to address the Board. At such meeting, the Board of Directors may issue suspension or expulsion of any player, parent or coach. In order to preserve safety and enforce rules, the Board of Directors may suspend or expel any player whose parent refuses to obey any suspension or expulsion.

It shall be the responsibility of the coach to ensure that any sanction issued against any player parent on his/her team is fully complied with.