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| "Zero Tolerance" Policy on Youth Referee Abuse |
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Purpose of the Policy: |
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Youth development is the central focus of the AYSO program. This includes |
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development of youth whether they are soccer players or soccer referees. |
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All the AYSO guidelines and policies on providing a "Safe, Fair and |
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Fun" environment for players also apply to youth referees. Only "Positive, |
| Instructive, and Encouraging" comments are allowed to be directed at youth players or youth |
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| referees. The purpose of this policy is to make clear that verbal abuse of youth referees is as |
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| unacceptable as verbal abuse of youth players and to adopt basic standard sanctions for improper |
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| conduct. |
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| This policy is not intended to imply that youth referees are always "right" and the adult |
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| spectator or coach is always "wrong". Just as youth players will make mistakes during play, |
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| youth referees will make mistakes in officiating, particularly in the younger divisions where |
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| they are learning how to referee. In addition, sometimes youth referees are "in over their |
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| head" because of a particularly challenging game, an assignment beyond their experience or |
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| comfort level, etc. |
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| Policy on Youth Referee Abuse Policy on Youth Referee Abuse Policy on Youth Referee Abuse |
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| 1. It is never acceptable to abuse youth referees verbally or otherwise, in any situation. Region |
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| 1225 will not tolerate any verbal or other abuse or criticism of a youth referee by any |
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| coach or spectator. Abuse includes any verbal or other conduct, which is defined or characterized |
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| as abusive conduct under the AYSO National Guidelines. |
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| 2. Should such abuse occur, the incident will be reported immediately by the Regional Referee |
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| Administrator who will implement the "Region 1225 Disciplinary Sanctions for Youth Referee Abuse." |
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| 3. Any Board Member or AYSO certified adult referee shall, if necessary, intervene if any |
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| coach, spectator, or other adult is abusing a youth referee, verbally or otherwise and may take |
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| immediate appropriate action to include directing the offender to leave the site, and/or to |
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| suspend or terminate the game. Handling general dissent is part of the referee's job. If the |
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| offensive conduct constitutes dissent rather than abuse and the youth referee appears to be |
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| managing the dissent appropriately, no intervention is necessary. However, serious, repetitious |
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| dissent to provoke an argument shall be regarded as a type of abuse and is deemed unallowable |
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| and will be dealt with according to the Disciplinary Sanctions for Youth Referee Abuse. |
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| 4. A Coach may only communicate in a positive way with a youth referee. The coach is responsible |
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| for ensuring all spectators follow the AYSO Guidelines relating to communication |
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| with a youth referee. A coach/ spectator may not express disagreement or dissatisfaction with the youth referee's officiating. |
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| 5. AYSO adult volunteers (any coaches, Board Member, other referees, Division Commissioner, etc.) |
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| shall report any incident of youth referee abuse to the Regional Referee Administrator within 24 hours of the incident. |
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| 6. There are appropriate avenues for coaches or spectators to share concerns about the quality |
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| of officiating. The region 1225 Referee Staff welcomes constructive comments about youth |
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| referees. However, any criticism or critique of a youth referee's performance may only be |
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| communicated to the youth by the Regional Commissioner, a designated Referee |
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| Mentor, or the Regional Referee Administrator. A Coach or Spectator should not, before, during or after a game, |
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| discuss with the youth referee the coach's critique of the referee's performance, other than to thank and compliment the referee. |
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