Zero Tolerance - Abuse
The Grimsby Town Youth Soccer Club Inc. (GTYSC) is a strong supporter of making the sport of soccer safe for all our youth. Over the past number of years, verbal abuse directed towards match officials has been a particular problem. Accordingly, the GTYSC has set up the following program to help ensure the safety and enjoyment of all:
Policy
Any coach, parent, grandparent, guardian or spectator judged by the GTYSC Discipline Committee to be guilty of abusive conduct towards a match official during a GTYSC Recreational or Developmental match will be reprimanded in writing. A second conviction, during the same season, will result in the individual being restricted from all services rendered by the GTYSC including attendance at all soccer related activities within the Club. In extreme cases, as determined by the GTYSC Discipline Committee, a member/individual may be reinstated subject to a review hearing.
Policy Procedures
When a match official feels that they are being abused, as per the scope of this policy, by either a coach, parent, grandparent, guardian or spectator, the match official will be allowed to suspend the playing of the match. If the abuse is physical, the match official is advised and required to inform the coaches that the match has been abandoned and then proceed with step 1.1.
The match official will then verbally advise both coaches that the game has been stopped due to abuse and inform both coaches as to the source. If the source is one of the coaches, the match official will advise the coach that the next occurrence of a similar nature will result in an abandonment of the match and that a report to the GTYSC Discipline Committee will be sent in for review. If the source is parent, grandparent, guardian or spectator, the appropriate coach will provide the match official with the name of the individual and then must immediately advise that individual that the next occurrence of a similar nature will result in an abandonment of the match. Further, a report to the GTYSC Discipline Committee will be sent in for review. If the parent, grandparent, guardian or spectator is not associated with either team, both coaches are asked to speak to the individual and request that they leave field and area of play. Once the prescribed action has been completed, the match will restart with a dropped ball between the two teams at the location where the play was stopped.
If the abuse continues, the match official will be allowed to stop any further playing of the match and advise the coaches that the match has been abandoned and that a Special Incidence Report will be forwarded to the GTYSC Discipline Committee (1.2). The match official must clearly indicate on the game sheet that the match was abandoned due to abuse.
1.1 The match official must contact either the Club Head Match Official or a member of the Executive to verbally report the incident within 24 hours.
1.2 A Special Incident Report, with the assistance of the Club Head Match Official or a member of the Executive, if required, must be forwarded to the GTYSC within 72 hours.
1.3 The GTYSC Discipline Committee will review and deal with the report as per the published guidelines.
1.4 If the match was abandoned due to the conduct of a parent, grandparent, guardian or spectator not associated with either team, the Club Head Match Official and Executive will determine the status of the match.