Referee Support Policy

Referee Support Policy

Collingwood Optimist Youth Soccer Club - (COYSC)

Issued: 2002 Season

The Collingwood Soccer Club considers the development of its youth referees as important as the development of its players. In order to endorse this belief and demonstrate a tangible means of support for youth officials, the following policy is in place and will be enforced as needed.

Policy

Any coach, parent, grandparent or guardian judged by the COYSC Discipline Board to be guilty of abusive conduct towards a game official during a COYSC House League game will be reprimanded in writing. A second conviction, during the same season will result in all playing members of the immediate family in question being de-registered from the COYSC. In extreme cases, as determined by the Discipline Board, the de-registration process may be evoked after the 1^st offense.

This policy applies to all non-playing attendees (i.e. fans) at COYSC HL games.

Policy Procedures

1.	When a game official feels that they are being abused, as per the scope of this policy, by either a coach or fan, the official will be allowed to suspend the playing of the game. If the abuse is physical, the game official is advised to inform the coaches that the game has been abandoned and then proceed with step 4.1.
2.	The official will then verbally advise both coaches that the game has been stopped due to the abuse and inform both coaches as to the source of the abuse. If the source is one of the coaches, the official will advise the coach that the next occurrence of a similar nature will result in an abandonment of the game and that a report to the COYSC Discipline Board will be sent in for review. If the source is a fan, the appropriate coach will provide the official with the name of the fan and the coach must advise the fan that the next occurrence of a similar nature will result in an abandonment of the game. Further, a report to the COYSC Discipline Board will be sent in for review. If the fan is not associated with either team, both coaches are asked to speak to the fan and ask the individual to leave.
3.	Once the prescribed action in step 2 has been completed, the game will restart with a dropped ball between the two teams at the location where the play was stopped. Or resume play with the appropriate restart if the ball was not in play.
4.	If the abuse continues, the official will be allowed to stop any further playing of the game and advise the coaches that the game has been abandoned and that a special incidence report will be forwarded to the COYSC Discipline Board. The official must clearly indicate on the game sheet that the game was abandoned due to abuse.
	4.1	The game official must contact either their referee coordinator or a member of the Executive to verbally report the incident within 24 hours.
	4.2	A special incidence report, with the assistance of the Head referee or a member of the Executive, if required, must then be forwarded to the COYSC within 72 hours.
	4.3	The COYSC Discipline Board will then review and deal with the report as per their guidelines.
	4.4	If the game was abandoned due to the conduct of a fan not associated with either team, the Executive will determine the status of the game.
5	If the game continues without any further incident, the game official is advised to inform their referee coordinator that the game was temporarily suspended due to abuse towards a game official. Further, a note should be made on the game sheet.

Extra notes:

1. Proper Uniform

· Shirts tucked in.

· Proper socks over the shin pad.