Who Is Considered a Referee

1
Who Is Considered a Referee

• Any currently registered (USSF) referee of any
  grade serving as
• Referee
• Assistant Referee
• 4th official
• Other capacity to assist in officiating
• Any non-registered, non-licensed person serving
  in an emergency capacity as a referee
• Any club assistant referee

2
Misconduct Towards Referees

• Before a match
• During a match
• After a match
• Including travel to and from the match
• At a later time when directly related to duties
  of a game official

3
Referee Assault

• An intentional act of physical violence at or
  upon a referee
• Includes, but is not limited to
• Hitting directly or with a thrown or kicked
  object
• Kicking
• Punching
• Choking
• Spitting ON (Not at)
• Grabbing or bodily running into
• Head butting
• Damaging a referee's uniform or personal property
  (e.g., car, chair)

4
Referee Abuse

• A verbal statement or physical act not resulting
  in bodily contact which implies or threatens
  physical harm to
• A referee
• The referee's property
• The referee's equipment
• Includes, but not limited to
• Using offensive and insulting (foul and abusive)
  language
• Spitting AT
• Spewing a beverage on a referee or the referee's
  personal property
• Verbally threatening a referee
• "I'll get you after the game"
• "You won't get out of here in one piece"

5
Coaches Misconduct

• "Coach" includes
• Coach
• Assistant coach
• Team manager or other team official

6
Coaches Misconduct Means

• Persistent statements or physical acts at a
  referee at a game that do not constitute assault
  or abuse but that
• Mistreat a referee
• Are inappropriate or unacceptable statements that
  include
• Excessive incidences of offensive and insulting
  (foul and abusive) language
• Statements that diminish the authority of the
  referee
• Statements or acts that serve to intimidate with
  threatening physical harm

Note Coaches misconduct applies only to
incidents occurring in VYSA matches.
7
Coaches Misconduct

• Acts include but are not limited to
• Confronting a referee without physically
  threatening the referee
• Spitting on the ground or in the air near the
  referee
• Throwing or kicking an item as a sign of
  disrespect or dissent
• Re-entering the field

8
Coaches Misconduct

• When can a coach be found guilty of coaches
  misconduct
• If assault or abuse is charged but the action was
  not severe enough to warrant a charge of assault
  or abuse. This allows disciplinary action even if
  assault and abuse have not occurred
• If a coach is ejected from a game and, after the
  ejection, engages in conduct that is misconduct
  under this policy

Note This is the only situation for which a
referee may file a complaint for coaches
misconduct to VYSA.