GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP is a must for all Mustang Soccer participants. Mustang Soccer monitors and recognizes good sportsmanship. Disciplinary action may be brought against coaches whose teams consistently rate poor in sportsmanship.
MODEL APPROPRIATE CONDUCT TOWARDS REFEREES
Providing a core of well-trained, certified referees for over 160 (U10 through U19) Division 1, Division 3, and Division 4 teams is a tremendous task. The referee organization in Mustang represents over 400 dedicated youths and adults who are on the field during games to provide safety and fairness for our teams. Referee coordinators work diligently all season long to provide coverage for the high volume of games that are played.
We parents and coaches need to keep in mind how difficult it is to be a referee, especially if you are young. We continue to lose many referees every year because of the harassment they receive from coaches and parents.
The role of referee must be recognized and respected by the coach, the team and the parents. Youth referees must be given the same respect as the adult referees. New referees must LEARN positioning, signals, timing of calls, flow of the game, command of the sidelines, and administrative issues. If you are patient and positive, that referee will become experienced and confident. That referee could be YOUR child! The referee in a soccer match has complete authority over players and coaches from the moment the referee enters the grounds to the time the referee leaves.
Coaches, players, parents, and spectators shall never argue or dispute the decision of the referee or parent official, make negative or derogatory remarks or gestures towards a referee or parent official, or otherwise behave irresponsibly, or bring the game into disrepute.
If the above should occur, the referee or parent official may do the following:
- Report the incident to the League for further action.
- Dismiss the coach from the game.
- Terminate the match and leave.
In addition to the action by the referee or parent official, the League may take further action including:
- Warning or probation.
- Suspension from one or more games.
- Suspension for one or more seasons.
Like all of us, referees will make mistakes. You are entitled to be disappointed when you think the referee is doing a poor job, but don’t express these feelings at the game. It is the coach’s responsibility to contact the Director of Referees if he or she feels a referee needs to improve on skills.
MANAGE PARENTS & SPECTATORS
Coaches are responsible for the behavior of your parents, players, and other spectators at the games. MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE EVER HARASSES THE REFEREE, or walks onto the field during a game. All spectators should remain on the sidelines (about five (5) feet back) in the designated spectator area (between the 18 yard lines), and never behind the goal lines or nets. The game is supposed to be for the players. When the parents put pressure on the players and/or the referees, it takes the fun of the game away from the kids. For further information, see the Parents Handbook at www.mustangsoccer.com under Parents Corner.
Parents, coaches, and players are entitled to a difference of opinion; but they are not permitted to display their dissent through word or action. Additionally, coaches are expected to be role a model and teacher of proper behavior to both the players and parents.
PROMOTE “POSITIVE” BEHAVIOR FOR COACHES & PARENTS
The stated goals for coaches are many, and NONE include arguing with the referees. Every one of these goals deals with the coach’s responsibility to teach players about soccer using skill, reason, fitness, and logic. Some specific goals request coaches to:
- Inspire a love for the game and the desire to compete fairly.
- Realize that you are a teacher (and role model) and that the soccer field is a classroom.
- Develop respect for the opponents, opposing coaches, and of the officials.
DISCOURAGE “NEGATIVE” BEHAVIOR OF COACHES & PARENTS
As a role model and teacher, it is expected that all coaches, as well as the parents, will not exhibit any negative behavior by shouting and arguing with the officials on their games. The CYSA Rules of Play (3:08:03) specifically prohibit this behavior and a coach sent off can be awarded a minimum of a three game suspension and a three game probation by the proper authorities. Since the coach is responsible for the behavior of the parents, it will be the coach who is sent off when it is a parent who has violated the rule.
It appears that many verbal confrontations revolve around coaches and the official’s difference in opinions. Referees are trained to make calls based on FIFA Instruction of the Application of the Laws of the Game. FIFA and CYSA specifically recognize the decisions of the Referee regarding facts connected with play are final.
SHOW ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ABUSE
Many parents and coaches believe that commenting negatively, yelling at, or arguing with the decisions of the game officials, whether they are parents or licensed referees, is proper behavior and a normal part of youth sports. This is absolutely not true and is in violation of the CYSA Codes of Conduct. Everyone should realize that just like the players, the referees are a part of the game. A negative comment during a game to a referee reduces the pleasure and heightens the tension for officials, players, spectators, and other coaches. These comments accomplish nothing except to diminish the Good of the Game.
Mustang Soccer has adopted a ZERO TOLERANCE response toward any coach or parent verbally abusing a referee before, during, or after a game. Specifically, all of our referees have been instructed to take the following action:
- If possible, first warn the coach.
- Next caution the coach & record on the game card.
- Dismiss the coach from the game. Coaches will be disciplined per CYSA guidelines as mentioned above.
- If the problem is larger than one or two people, especially if the problem involves both teams, then the referee is to terminate the match and leave.
It is vital that all coaches understand that they are the focal point for their team and their actions, positive and negative, greatly influence the enjoyment of the youth players and parents
It must also be noted that a coach’s abusive language on the sidelines, spills onto the playing field and increases the chance of youth players being Cautioned or Sent Off for Dissent or worse – use of foul and abusive language. Section 4:08:02, of the CYSA Team Manual, assigns a minimum for a send off of one game for dissent or two games for the use of foul and abusive language. Help your players stay in the game by setting the appropriate example.
