CJSA, SWD and WSA Zero Tolerance Policy
Wilton Soccer Parents, Coaches, Managers and Players,
As we begin the Fall Season, we want to remind you of WSA’s Code of Conduct that all members of our club have agreed to uphold in all respects as part of their registration and participation in our programs. Please re-read the WSA Code of Conduct carefully and share with your players as well.
In addition, all are required to read carefully, the below renewed policy from the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) with respect to zero tolerance for unsporting behavior at all CJSA/WSA matches. The policy seeks to further enhance the environments around youth soccer games by eliminating issues with respect to sideline behavior.
CJSA and the CT Referee Program has given specific instructions to referees regarding the Zero Tolerance policy.
ANY unsporting behavior from spectators will lead to being asked to leave the field, and the game will be suspended indefinitely if they do not comply. Coaches will be subject to Caution (Yellow Card) and/or Send-off (Red Card) if they engage in unsporting behavior or refuse to deal with spectator issues. Any of these issues will also be subject to further action taken by either WSA, CJSA, or both.
Wilton Soccer Association fully supports the Zero Tolerance policy below, and will support our referees in making sure we are Giving the Game Back to the KIDS.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH OF YOU AND ALL OF US TO REPRESENT WILTON SOCCER, OUR PLAYERS AND YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF. THE GAME IS FOR THE KIDS, LET IT BE THAT.
Give the Game Back to the KIDS
In an effort to eliminate violent and inappropriate behavior in the youth game environment, the Connecticut State Referee Program has asked CJSA for help at the association, league, and club levels to implement a “Give the Game Back to the KIDS” initiative.
In the youth game environment, referees are advised that dissent is a comment, or compilation of comments that is/are personal (Hey Ref…), disruptive to the game, and public in delivery (meaning someone heard it). Because there are thousands of forms of dissent, it’s easiest to say “We can’t describe it, but we all know it when we hear or see it”. At its most basic level, dissent is expressing an opinion that is different from an official position.
Below are a few examples of dissent. This is not an all-encompassing list, and are just a few of the many examples available:
Hey Ref: that was a foul; that was a handball; call it both ways; what are you watching; that’s not a penalty; etc.
Repeatedly questioning calls regardless of the tone of voice, a sarcastic clap or thumbs up, waiving the arms up and down in a ‘what was that’ motion.
Trying to become part of the referee’s decision-making process from the technical area.
Coaches with legitimate questions should politely ask the referee if it’s okay to approach and ask a question.
Spectators should NEVER address a referee with any comments and absolutely should NEVER ccross the field boundary lines to, or at any time, approach a referee before, during, or after the match.
With this in mind, the CSRP is instructing all referees to use the following protocols:
ZERO TOLERANCE - Referee Protocols
Spectator Misbehavior
Stop the game, bring the coaches to the center circle, ask them to identify the person, and have the COACH have the person(s) leave. If the coach does not comply, or if the person does not leave, referees will not restart and abandon the game. Referee(s) should leave the field, contact their assignor, and report the situation in the game report or the referee abuse app. REFEREES DO NOT AND WILL NOT ENGAGE WITH SPECTATORS DIRECTLY.
Coach Misbehavior
At the first sign of Coach dissent, referees will not talk to the coach. Referees will show the caution (yellow card). If the dissent continues, referees will not talk to the coach - they will show the caution; since it’s the second yellow card, it will be followed by a send-off (red card). If the coach does not leave, do not restart the game and abandon the game. Referee(s) should leave the field, contact their assignor, and report the situation in the game report or the referee abuse app.
The above protocols are not administered arbitrarily, they are taken directly from the book from which referees receive their training.
“Whether decisions are right or wrong, the ‘spirit’ of the game requires that referees’ decisions must always be respected. All those in authority, especially coaches and team captains, have a clear responsibility to the game to respect the match officials and their decisions” – 2024/2025 Laws of the Game, page 11
In support of this initiative, the SWD District (WSA’s League) Discipline Committee as of now:
Requires that any game that is halted for issues regarding Spectators, will automatically be placed under Silent Sidelines protocol for the remainder of the match. As part of the conversation with spectators when the match is halted, BOTH COACHES must inform the spectators that Silent Sidelines is now in force. This is the coaches responsibility, not the referees.
Silent Sidelines- The guidelines are simple. Spectators are to be quiet, talking in a normal tone to the person next to them. What is to be avoided are comments that can be heard by players, referees or opponents. Applause is permitted and encouraged.
When a match is halted for any reason, this does not signal the start of any debate or discussion. Coaches and Spectators are expected to comply and act immediately.
Finally …
WSA is reinforcing this zero tolerance policy as follows -
Should a WSA coach or spectator, or other member, receive or be the cause of a caution card, they AND their player may be suspended for the next match at least, and possibly longer at the sole discretion of the WSA Coaching Director, President and/or Board.
Coaches or spectators receiving card(s) may also be subject to multi-game or season long bans from sidelines and games at the sole discretion of WSA.
Should you have any questions in regards to how the referees will be handling dissent please email info@ctreferee.net
Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA)
www.cjsa.org