Without regard to whether any automatic sanctions have been imposed, discretionary sanctions may be taken against any MYS individual player, spectator, team official, or team, as described below. In addition to notice to the individual involved, notice of discretionary sanction shall also be sent by mail or e-mail to the coach, to the Age Group Coordinator and the House League Commissioner in a house case and to the Travel Director and appropriate travel league MYS representative in a travel case.
1. Verbal Warning.
The Director of R&D may issue a verbal warning to an offending party. A written record of such warning shall be made and may be referenced in any future actions against that party.
2. Written Warning.
Based on a decision of the R&D Committee, the Director of R&D may issue a written warning to an offending party.
3. Suspension From Play.
The R&D Committee may suspend a player, spectator or team official for up to three (3) games. The MYS Board may suspend a player, spectator or team official for periods beyond three (3) games. Suspensions begin with the next game played. The offending party may not appear at the game site or its vicinity before or during a game for which the offending party has been suspended. If a suspended spectator, player or team official appears at the game(s) site or vicinity for which he/she was suspended, the suspension shall be doubled and the R&D Committee may impose further discretionary sanctions.
4. Bans From Participation.
Upon the recommendation of the R&D Committee, the MYS Board may ban a player, spectator, team official, or team from participation in MYS activities for a specified period of time. A coach or team official may also be banned for any actions inconsistent with the VYSA KidSafe Policy Guidelines. A banned person may not participate in any games, practices or other MYS sponsored activities during that period. A house team that does not comply with the ban of a player, team official or spectator may be required to forfeit all remaining games in the season or some or all games that have already been played. If a travel team does not comply with the ban of a player, team official or spectator, the R&D Committee may impose discretionary sanctions in addition to any imposed by the applicable league.
5. House League Results For Terminated Games.
The Director of R&D or the Director’s designee has the authority to determine game results of any house game terminated due to participant, team official or spectator behavior.
D. PROCEDURES
1. Notice Of House Automatic Sanctions
House coaches and referees shall report cautions, ejections and removals to the Referee Director and House Commissioner on a timely basis. “Team Penalty Points" (see B.1.a. and b.) and suspension(s) will be recorded by the R&D Director and the offending party shall be notified by mail or e-mail addressed to the coach. In the case of suspension, the coach of the next opposing team(s), the Age Group Coordinator, the House Commissioner (or appropriate travel league MYS representative) and the Director of Referees shall also be informed.
2.House Protests
(a.) Protests of House League Referee Decisions. Protests of referee decisions based on disagreement with a referee's judgment of the facts will be denied as a matter or rule. Protest of a referee's decision based on misapplication of rule will be considered on the merits by the R&D Committee. The appeal must be mailed to the Director of the R&D Committee within 48 hours of the game and must be accompanied by a filing fee of $100. The appeal will be acted upon by a minimum of three members of the Committee, including the Director. An adverse ruling may be appealed to the Board of Directors. The appeal must be mailed to the Chairman of the Board within 48 hours of notice after receiving the written notice of the action and must tender a filing fee of another $100 with the appeal. The Chairman of the Board may (1) appoint a committee of Board Members to consider the appeal and report to the Board or (2) refer the matter to the Board for review. In considering the appeal, the committee of Board members or of the Board will deliberate privately to decide the case. Fees will be refunded only if appeals are successful.
(b.) Further Appellation of Protests of House League Referee Decisions. If the Board either denies the appeal, in whole or in part, the individual should be advised of his/her right to appeal the action to VYSA (Virginia Youth Soccer Association). Appeals must be made to VYSA and must be filed with the appropriate filing fee on a timely basis after receipt of the Board decision. All such appeals are to be filed with VYSA. Appeals to VYSA are subject to VYSA rules and are subject to change.
3. Procedure for Taking Discretionary Sanctions
(a) Before the Director or the Committee takes action against an individual under Part C of these Rules, the individual should be notified of the proposed action and the reasons for the proposed action. The individual should be provided an opportunity to respond. In the case of Committee action, the Committee will privately deliberate to decide the case after reviewing the individual's response.
(b) If the Director or the Committee takes any action against an individual under (a) above, the individual should be advised of his/her right to appeal the action to the McLean Soccer Board of Directors. To file an appeal with the Board of Directors, the individual must mail the appeal to the Chairman of the Board within 48 hours after receiving the written notice of the action and must tender a filing fee of $100 with the appeal. The Chairman of the Board may (1) appoint a committee of Board members to consider the appeal and report to the Board or (2) refer the matter to the Board for review. In considering the appeal, the committee of Board members or of the Board should deliberate privately to decide the case. Fees will be refunded only if appeal is successful.
(c) If the Board either denies the appeal, in whole or in part, or approves a recommendation under paragraph C.4., the individual should be advised of his/her right to appeal the action to VYSA. Appeals must be made to VYSA and must be filed with the appropriate filing fee on a timely basis after receipt of the Board decision. All such appeals are to be filed with the VYSA. Appeals to VYSA are subject to VYSA rules and are subject to change.
(d) If a discretionary sanction is under appeal, implementation of the sanction shall be delayed until the appeal has been acted on.
(e) In all proceedings related to disciplinary actions, particularly with respect to the KidSafe proceedings, all MYS representatives shall take every reasonable precaution to protect the privacy of all persons involved.
4. Exhaustion of Remedies
No player, spectator, parent or team official may employ the aid of any lawyer or the courts of any State or of the United States without first exhausting all available remedies within McLean Soccer, VYSA and the United States Youth Soccer (USYS). Should any player, spectator, parent or team official employ the aid of any lawyer or court before exhausting all available remedies within McLean Soccer, VYSA or USYS all attorney fees and court costs shall be borne by said player, spectator, parent or team official if said action is unsuccessful.
5. Physical Violence, Assault or Abuse
Any incident of assault or abuse directed against a referee or linesmen by a player, coach, or other team official falls within the sole jurisdiction of VYSA and must be reported by the Club to the State Referee Administrator. The R&D Committee could subsequently entertain the same incident on the grounds that the conduct was not "for the good of the game." Any other incidents of assault or abuse will be subject to review by the R&D Committee. The terms "'abuse" and “assault” shall be as defined in the United States Soccer Federation's Official Administrative Handbook, Rule 3042, Section 2, or its successor regulation applicable to the VYSA.
Approved--March 2008
