Zero Tolerance: Coaches, Asst. Coaches, & Team Managers
Read the entire Mass Youth Soccer Zero Tolerance Policy here.
All coaches are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of conduct for themselves, their players, and their supporters. As role models, coaches are expected to acknowledge the effort, good play, and sportsmanship by all players from both teams.
As part of the Zero Tolerance:
● Coaches shall not interact directly or indirectly with 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 dissent to any call made by the Officials at any time.
● Coaches are not to address Officials during the game except to:
A. Respond to an Official who has initiated a conversation.
B. Point out emergency or safety issues.
C. Make substitutions.
D. Ask the Officials, “What is the type of restart (direction and Indirect Free Kick or Direct Free Kick)?”
E. Ask for time remaining in the half.
● Coaches are allowed to ask an Official 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.A. Polite and friendly concerns can be exchanged with the referee. If the polite tone of the conversation changes, the Official may abandon the exchange at any time and the coach will cease further interaction.
B. Absolutely no sarcasm, harassment, or intimidation is allowed.
Note: It is recommended that coaches or other team members do not engage in any conversations with the match Officials once the match has concluded.
Consequences for Coaches, Assistant Coaches, & Bench Personnel
In the opinion of the lead Official, depending on the severity of the offense, the lead Official may take any of the following actions:
1. Issue a verbal warning to the offending coach.
2. Caution the offending coach, assistant coach, or bench personnel.
3. Eject the offending coach. Once ejected, the individual must leave the field area immediately.
4. Abandon the game, if the coach does not leave the field area after having been instructed to do so.
Additional consequences associated with the ejection of a coach, assistant coach, or bench personnel may be assessed by the club or league that sanctioned the match. All cases of alleged abuse or assault of a referee shall be reported to the Mass Youth Soccer State Office within 48 hours of the conclusion of the game.
Referee Abuse
(a) 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.
(b) Abuse includes, but is not limited to the following acts: 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
A. Referee Assault is an intentional act of physical violence at or upon a referee.
B. 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.
C. 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