PAYSL Zero Tolerance Policy
Physical violence or physical abuse of any person will be cause for permanent suspension from PAYSL facilities and legal action may be filed.
Unsportsmanlike and unacceptable conduct by players, coaches, referees, or spectators will not be tolerated at any time on Pflugerville Area Youth Soccer League (PAYSL) fields, surrounding areas or public forums like websites or social media.
Unsportsmanlike and unacceptable conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following actions towards any player, coach, referee, spectator, club or club representative:
Booing, ridiculing, using sarcasm, intimidation or any other remarks gestures that are inappropriate and demeaning
Using profanity, racial slurs, or other abusive language or gestures directed at an individual
Threatening physical violence through words or gestures
Throwing of any object onto the field or surrounding areas
Aggressively questioning a referee before, during or after a game by any person who is not a coach
Stepping onto the field, or intentionally disrupting play during a game
Displaying excessive signs of dissatisfaction with a referee’s decision
Aggressively confronting any club representative, coach, team manager or referee before, during or after training or a match. Follow the 24 hour rule before confronting a coach, club representative, or referee assignor.
Bringing or consuming alcohol at training or games, or using tobacco or alternative tobacco products at or near the playing fields.
Publicly posting images, videos, audio recordings, or comments on social media of another person from the club that are deemed in the sole discretion of the PAYSL Board of Directors to be offensive, critical, or demeaning to that person or the club as whole.
Refusing to comply with a request, excessively arguing, verbal harassment, threatening, or committing physical violence against a PAYSL Officer on Duty, club or league representative, referee, or coach.
First Infraction
If, in the sole discretion of the referee or appropriate PAYSL representative, a first infraction is considered to be minor, then a verbal warning may be given. In the case of a minor infraction by a spectator at the fields, the referee or club representative will ask the coach to warn the spectator. If, in the sole discretion of the referee or appropriate PAYSL representative, the first infraction is more serious, then the person will be asked to leave the fields immediately (outside of perimeter fence if applicable) and a two week suspension will be issued. If the ejection occurs after a game, the ejection will be enforced on the next scheduled game. If the person refuses to leave or returns before ejection period is completed, the referee will leave the field, the game will be abandoned, and the police may be called.
Second Infraction
The person will be asked to leave the fields immediately (outside of perimeter fence if applicable) and a two week suspension will be issued. If the ejection occurs after a game, the ejection will be enforced on the next scheduled game. Failure to leave the fields, or returning before authorization has been given, will result in the referee leaving the field, the game will be abandoned, and the police may be called. If the ejection is the second ejection by the same person during a season, then the person may not return to PAYSL facilities for the remainder of the season AND the following season. Furthermore, the person will not be allowed to coach any team at PAYSL in the future.
Ejection
When an ejection occurs, all referees and/or PAYSL representatives involved must complete an incident report outlining reasons and/or circumstances for the ejection. The person ejected and any witnesses will also have an opportunity to file an incident report if they choose to do so.
The person ejected may appeal to the PAYSL Board of Directors.
Furthemore Paysl will enforce STYA’s guidelines for Misconduct of players, parents and coaches.
Below is the guidance from STYSA Administrative Handbook Section 4.9
4.9. DISCIPLINE SYSTEM
4.9.1. Purpose.
Misconduct of players, coaches and fans continues to be a problem in soccer. More emphasis is needed to promote proper conduct and good sportsmanship, especially in our youth competition. The following system is an effort to discourage violent play and misconduct.
4.9.2. Responsibilities of Coaches, Players and Associations
a.Maintain Control of Fans and Sideline. Coaches are required to maintain control of their players and the team’s fans on the sideline. A coach or an assistant coach may be cautioned and / or ejected by a referee for the misconduct of a fan of the team which he / she coaches.
4.9.3. Misconduct by Fan / Supporter.
The parents, fans or supporters of any STYSA team by attending a STYSA sponsored event subject themselves to the jurisdiction of the member association and its affiliates, the STYSA Appeals Committee, Executive Committee and the STYSA Governing Board. Therefore, misconduct by a spectator, parent, fan or supporter can be investigated and disciplinary action can be taken by any of the various levels which have jurisdiction over the team involved. Spectators, parents, fans, or supporters of any STYSA team who are sent away from the field of play by a referee or a competition official shall receive an immediate two (2) week suspension or until a hearing is held, whichever comes first, and may not be present at any STYSA or USYSA sanctioned activity, including but not limited to games, practices, practice games, tournaments, or friendly games, during such period.If disciplinary sanctions in addition to the above automatic suspension are not imposed at the local level, the STYSA Appeals Committee may investigate the matter and hold a hearing to determine what disciplinary actions, if any, should be provided, and pursuant to such hearing, may impose such additional disciplinary sanctions as it determines to be appropriate. Such discipline can include, but is not limited to, prohibiting - 11 - the spectator, parent, fan or supporter from attending any STYSA sponsored event, including games, practices and tournaments, for a period of time or indefinitely. The failure to comply with the discipline imposed, either automatically or at any level of authority, shall be sufficient cause for the STYSA Appeals Committee to discipline the player related to the spectator, parent, fan or supporter; the team which the spectator, parent, fan or supporter supports; and/or the coach of such team. (Changed 2.22.2015) 4.9.4.