Zero Tolerance Policy

 
 

EXCERPTS FROM 2024 CYSL Game Rules  Section 12

 CODES OF CONDUCT

  1. CYSL has adopted the Codes of Conduct and Zero Tolerance Policy as directed by the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association Board of Directors

  2. These policies apply to all coaches, team officials, adult personnel, parents, spectators, players, and other supporters and referees. Abusive and obscene language, violent play/conduct, fighting, and other behavior (including, but not limited to, sarcasm, taunting, bullying, etc) deemed detrimental to the game between the groups as mentioned above will not be tolerated.

Zero Tolerance Policy -Link to Policy

Player’s Code of Conduct - Link to Code

Coach’s Code of Conduct - Link to Code

Parent’s / Guardian’s / Spectator’s Code of Conduct -Link to Code

Soccer Official’s Code of Conduct - Link to Code

Each Team’s Head Coach is responsible for the team’s spectators and bench personnel. Any misconduct by spectator or other unidentified team personnel shall be enforced against the Head Coach per the Policies defined within.

A coach or spectator may not express any disagreement or dissatisfaction whatsoever with the officiating to any Official, directly or indirectly. A coach or spectator may not, before, during, or after a match, discuss with or voice within earshot of an Official any critique of the Official's performance other than to thank and positively compliment the Official. Any other critiques may only be voiced or communicated through the appropriate league’s reporting channels.

The coaches are responsible for providing all Officials with support and spectator control, and the member clubs are responsible for instructing their coaches on how they are expected to carry this out. This policy applies before, during, and after the match at the soccer field and its immediate in surrounding areas.

Coaches are not to address the Officials during the match except to:

  • Respond to an Official who has initiated a conversation.

  • Point out emergency or safety issues.

  • Make substitutions.

  • Ask the Officials, “What is the type of restart (direction and Indirect Free Kick or Direct Free Kick)?” on a limited basis (i.e., not every stoppage).

  • Ask for the time remaining in the half.

No parent, guardian, or spectator shall address the Officials at any time. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Parents, guardians, and spectators shall not dispute calls during or after the match.

  • Parents, guardians, and spectators shall not make remarks to the Official(s) or advise the Officials(s) to watch certain players or attend to rough play.

  • Parents, guardians and spectators shall never yell at the Official(s), including criticism, sarcasm, harassment, intimidation or feedback of any kind before, during or after the match.

The only allowable exceptions to the above are:

  • Parents, guardians and spectators may only respond to an Official who has initiated a conversation, until such time as the Official terminates the conversation.

  • Parents, guardians and spectators may point out an emergency or safety issues, such as a player apparently injured on the field or observed fighting.

  • Parents, guardians and spectators may compliment the Official after the match.

Additionally, parents, guardians and spectators shall not make derogatory comments to either team's coaches, players, or spectators.

Spectators, coaches, players, and team officials may not use social media to criticize/abuse a referee.